By Ahmar Khan

ST. MARY’S TODAY

SCOTLAND BEACH -- Senator Roy Dyson, Maryland State Comptroller and former governor William Donald Schaefer, and Delegate John Bohanan Tuesday afternoon visited the storm-hit home of St. Mary's County resident Merv Hampton in Scotland.

“The situation is bad,” said Dyson. Dyson deplored no other state official other than Schaefer took the trouble to visit St. Mary’s county. “It’s been really hard on the people,” the senator said.

The damage to St. Mary's County during the storm, which turned into a northeaster, was just as severe as Hurricane Isabel for many area residents.  Winds were almost as great, were more sustained and water levels rose at St. George's Island to within six inches of the levels reached during the hurricane three years ago.

Schaefer promised he would intervene with the Board of Public Works to find ways of helping out people in St. Mary’s with the relief work.

When Ernesto hit with winds of 52 miles, the Hampton family had to leave their house. Pictures from what was a flourishing garden on the river front property, now shows a scene of destruction.

Dan Raley (D. Great Mills) said St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners have set aside $300,000 to help with the clean-up efforts.

Dyson and Bohanan also visited the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department where firefighters Francis Raley, “Peanut” John Gatton and Eddie Raley told them about the damage to a fire engine when it went to help a cancer patient during the storm.

The fire truck slipped into the rising waters as it was used to rescue a resident.  The truck was pulled from the water and is believed to be salvageable.

Ernesto disrupted power supply in as some areas for as many as two days. “I got my power back on Sunday night,” said Gatton. “But I understand, that’s alright.”