Paid for by Citizens for Colburn Committee. Authority John W. Phillips, Jr., Treasurer

Flood cleanup nearly completed
By SUSAN WESTERMAN
Assistant Community Editor - Star Democrat
July 2, 2006

FEDERALSBURG, HURLOCK —Less than a week after the rain hit hard in local areas, the cleanup process is going well.

In the Town of Federalsburg, repairs on Railroad Avenue finished at 3 p.m. Friday, and the street was scheduled to be paved next week. Railroad Avenue was one of the hardest hit areas in the town. All other damage was repaired or close to being repaired.

On Friday, Gov. Robert Ehrlich asked President Bush to declare parts of Maryland major disaster areas. The request, which is a step toward receiving federal money to help pay for cleanup and loans for residents and businesses hit by the storms, was made for Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford and Montgomery counties. Other counties may be added later, Ehrlich said in a letter to the president.

State emergency officials spent Friday trying to assess the damage to uninsured property and public infrastructure such as roads, dams and bridges, according to Ed McDonough, a spokesman for the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.

A final disaster total wasn’t expected for several days. Ehrlich’s letter, however, estimated state expenditures on the storm would exceed at least $10 million.

Steve Dyott, Federalsburg public works supervisor, said the damage, overtime and fuel costs from the flooding is close to $70,000.

George “Happy” Mayer, Federalsburg Main Street manager, said the town had learned its lesson after experience with 1999’s Hurricane Floyd. Preparation and knowing what to expect helped the town suffer less damage.

“This is a very close-knit community,” said Mayer. “Everyone has pulled together.” Mayer said the town officials made an extra effort to keep the drains open, as other problems were taken care of quickly.

Mayer congratulated the efforts of state Sen. Richard Colburn, who also is Federalsburg’s town manager, in his flood relief efforts, for visiting the flood-hit areas and constituents, and informing the governor of the state of affairs and need for funds.

“It could have been worse,” Colburn said. “We have recovered remarkably.”

The waters have receded from Marina Park, although mud residue was still scattered on the pavement. No picnic tables floated away from the park because they were chained down.

Mayer and Colburn credit the quick clean-up and assistance to the effort of the state, National Guard, public works, emergency management and especially the volunteer fire companies. The Federalsburg, Hurlock, East New Market, Eldorado-Brookview, Secretary, Madison and Cambridge fire departments and companies responded to help the town’s efforts.

Thanks to efforts by Federalsburg economic development, the Solo Cup Company plant, which employs 640 full-time workers, did not have to shut down because of transportation problems. The trucks delivering paper to the plant were able to be rerouted to make their shipments.

In Hurlock, no lingering problems affected the town. Public Works Director Steve Willey said the town suffered a little road and shoulder damage. Willey said he didn’t have any damage estimates at this time.

Residents of the town still cleaned out their houses in the hardest hit areas on the south end of town. The outside foundation of a house on Noble Street collapsed and was condemned after the heavy floodwaters.

Associated Press writer Stephen Manning contributed to this report.