Crisfield residents react to flooding conditions

CRISFIELD, Md – Residents in Crisfield are enduring flooded streets, and damaged cars and properties, following a Nor’Easter that dropped more than three inches Sunday night into Monday morning.

The flood conditions, which remain as of Monday night, have left some streets inaccessible, businesses without parking, and residents with serious frustration. “I’ve lived here 17 years. I’m disabled, my wife is retiring. It’s these storms that have us asking if it is worth it to stay,” said Resident George Friedly.

Friedly tells 47 ABC WMDT he lost two lawnmowers due to flooding damage. He says his home and shed remain unimpacted by the storm water. However, Friedly says motorists in the town need to exercise caution to keep properties on the brink of the waterline from suffering damage.

“These wakes – you see people can push that water out. If you do not need to be driving, don’t. If you do, slow down,” Friedly said. “I’ll have to clean up from debris floating, from wherever people’s trash cans floating, fallen over and bags floating, wherever.”

Cafe Carry Out owner King Whittington tells 47 ABC WMDT he is glad his business sits on a high-lying area in town; that’s compared to a restaurant across the street, that saw its entire parking lot submerged under several inches of storm water.

Whittington says he knows it can be days before the waters clear, and says they are digging in for multiple days of disrupted businesses. “We’ve got less folks coming, in fewer deliveries. I’ll just pray that the water goes down. That’s all we can do, you know? So, in the meantime, I will make deliveries as much as I can, you know, without tearing up my vehicle,” he said.

Crisfield Mayor Darlene Taylor tells 47 ABC WMDT that Public Works staff were out in the community working to speed up drainage at multiple sites across the city. There is no official estimate from the City or emergency officials on when those waters are expected to recede.