Crisfield Apartment Building Shut Down By Storm

CRISFIELD, Md– residents of an apartment complex came to pick up their belongings after their building was shut down due to storm damage.

Now many of them are scrambling to find some place else to go.

Crisfield resident Tony Mcgirr says almost all of his belongings were damaged by water.

“The beds and everything, it was a lot of stuff that had water damage and my whole entire door i thought it was sweating from the heat and it was actually water coming down as soon as I opened it,” said Mcgirr.

Mcgirr also says they are trying to find another place to live for all of their kids.

“We’re trying to get another apartment and everything, trying to get a four or five bedroom soon, we have 4 kids,” Mcgirr said.

This all stems from tropical storm isaias which came through on august 4th and damaged the roof.

“This hurricane came and it was already messed up and then all of sudden the whole roof went up and smashed back down on everything,” Mcgirr said.

We are told the storm caused severe water damage to the floors, bedrooms and ceilings. Tenants also say there is mold everywhere you look.

Other crisfield resident John L. Maynard says the inside of the building is covered is heavily damaged and suffocating

“The ceiling collapsed, I walked up there and there was water all over the floor and it’s all moldy, you walk up there all you smell is mold,” said Maynard.

Between the tropical storm and the excessive rain that followed, the building became inhabitable and was boarded up to prevent anyone from living in unsafe conditions.

But on Thursday, the first half of tenants were allowed to start moving out.

Mcgirr also says other tenants are trying to find other places to live as well.

“They’re kind of doing the same thing, going to place to place trying to get to a hotel and there were eight families in this spot,” said Mcgirr.

The property managers say the Red Cross is helping with housing but of course they can only do so much for so long, and tenants say covid-19 is making this situation even harder.

“The shelters are either full, you have to get tested and all the other stuff, we have 4 kids, we aren’t trying to go to a shelter so we are waiting for an apartment to open up,” Mcgirr said.

Tenants were also given there security deposits back after they signed a waiver saying they have officially moved out and refunding them the rent for the this month.