By Ahmar Khan
ST. MARY’S TODAY
Hugging politicians:
Democrat St. Mary's Commissioner President candidate Jack Russell, left, with St. Mary's Commissioner Kenny Dement
(R. Piney Point) outside the meeting held to assist victims of last month's sudden storm. ST. MARY'S TODAY photo by Ahmar Khan.
VALLEY LEE — Delegate John Bohanan (D- District 29B) and county commissioner president candidate Jack Russell were among the local luminaries present, and doing volunteer work.
The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners held a community meeting at the Second District Volunteer Fire Department in Valley Lee Monday to help residents hit by Storm Ernesto, which Senator Roy Dyson (D-District 29) prefers to call Hurricane Ernesto.
Three area residents showed up at the meeting.
A representative of the Small Business Administration said the SBA has opened up an office at Leonardtown on Thursday.
“I have given them information on how to apply for a loan,” said Michael Dejole, SBA representative who arrived in the area from Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday night. Dejole said he would remain in St. Mary’s as long as his presence will be required.
Public safety director Tim Cameron and Sheriff David Zylak were also present at the meeting.
Teresa Chapman, regional administrator of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, said she was in the area when Ernesto struck and have been visiting St. Mary’s once or twice each week.
“We did coordinate with FEMA,” Chapman said. She said she has not yet given up on a federal declaration. “We are still working with them. Frankly it does not look very good.”
One resident, who claimed he was way under-insured said his home was badly damaged and equipment “totaled”, but did not want to give out his name.
Jason Decker, assistant chief, property and casualty at the Maryland Insurance Administration, could not make it to the meeting and arrived after it was over as he said his car got punctured while he was on way from Baltimore.
During the storm there were 16,000 cases of outages, but most of them were fixed within three days.
Cynthia Brown, recovery coordinator for Tropical Storm Ernesto efforts at the local level, said more than 150 people called the hotline.
“There are two officials at the governmental center who accepting walk-ins and phone calls. They can be reached at 301-475-4200 extension 1304.”
All five commissioners Tommy McKay (R. Hollywood), Dan Raley (D. Great Mills), Larry Jarboe (R. Golden Beach), Tom Mattingly (D. Leonardtown) and Kenny Dement (R. Piney Point) were present on the occasion. McKay lauded the efforts of Cameron during the storm.
A second community meeting for Ernesto Storm Victims will be held at the Golden Beach
Volunteer Fire Department Sub-station, 29848 Theresa Circle, Mechanicsville.