CONTENTS

BAY BULLETIN

chesapeakebaymagazine.com/baybulletin

The Seventh District VFD help flooding victims in Clements. Michael Montillo Photography.

ISAIAS SPAWNS TORNADOES, FLOODING IN BAY REGION

Southern Maryland is Hit Hard by Tropical Storm

Most people in the Chesapeake region are breathing a sigh of relief now that the threat of a damaging tropical storm is behind us. But others are still cleaning up from tornadoes, fallen trees and high water.

At the height of the storm, the ports of Wilmington, Virginia, Baltimore and Delaware Bay were all shut down. The Bay Bridge was closed to all traffic, a measure the Maryland Transportation Authority only puts in effect when there are “sustained winds of 55 miles per hour for 10 minutes or wind gusts persistently exceed 55 mph over a period of 15 minutes.”

The National Weather Service confirmed “numerous” tornadoes near the Bay, including two on the Delmarva Peninsula, three in Southern Maryland, and two confirmed by radar on Virginia’s Northern Neck. One of those in Southern Maryland was an EF-1 that touched down at 7:30 a.m. in North Dares Beach, with sustained winds of 90 miles per hour.

Wind damage was reported to the National Weather Service in many parts of Bay Country, including Huntingtown and Londontowne. The worst winds brought a tree crashing down onto a moving car in Mechanicsville, St. Mary’s County, killing the driver. Rain totals ranged from about two to an eye-popping nine inches (also in St. Mary’s County—in Sotterley along the Patuxent River).

In Calvert County, Prince Frederick saw rainfall of 8.42 inches and Plum Point recorded 6.25 inches. Cape St. Claire registered Anne Arundel County’s highest rainfall total at 5.75 inches.

Tropical storms don’t pass this close to the Chesapeake Bay often, and there’s no question Isaisas’ impact could have been worse. The predicted one- to three-foot storm surge was a far cry from Hurricane Isabel’s in 2003, which sent a storm surge from six to over eight feet over our waterfront cities and towns.

But vulnerable places like Annapolis and Crisfield saw water up and over roadways. Near Annapolis City Dock, Compromise Street was shut down and the city warned drivers to, Turn around, don’t drown! Sandbags were handed out to businesses and residents ahead of the storm.

Hurricane season isn’t over yet: September is the most active month for Atlantic hurricanes, and NOAA’s National Hurricane Center predicted this season to be above average.

—MEG WALBURN VIVIANO Collapsed road, St. Mary’s. Photo by Sheriff Tim Cameron

Anew research project aims to extend the shelf life of Chesapeake Bay blue crab meat, making the region’s seafood industry more competitive globally.

In recent years, the U.S. blue crab industry has faced increasing competition from imports, especially Venezuelan fresh pre-cooked crab for its longer shelf life.

The University of Maryland, College Park has secured nearly $300,000 through NOAA, from the 2020 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Grants Program, to study a new crab meat processing technology. The goal? To help local seafood get back its market share.

In a joint statement announcing the funding, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (all D-Md.) said, “Few things are as iconic as the Chesapeake Bay blue crab, and its harvest is a cornerstone of Maryland’s local economies. This grant will expand the competitiveness of domestically produced crab meat in the face of intense foreign competition, and will help unlock new markets for an important Maryland industry.”

The new high-pressure processing technology UMD is researching will extend shelf life of domestic crab products, while improving food safety and helping local watermen, processors and seafood sellers compete with for

A UMD research project will help extend the shelf life of Chesapeake crabs. Photo by University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

eign crab meat.

The Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program is used by the Secretary of Commerce to give grants for fisheries research projects related to harvesting, processing, marketing and associated business infrastructure.

More information on the grant program can be found at https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/ saltonstall-kennedy-grant-program.

—MEG WALBURN VIVIANO

In light of storm predictions, the tournament’s fishing days have been extended by two days, allowing boats to fish through Sunday. Boats will still be allowed to fish on any three out of the seven days.

A record number of boats are competing in the 2020 White Marlin Open and a record $6.7 million purse is up for grabs.

WHITE MARLIN OPEN UNDERWAY WITH CHANGES DUE TO COVID-19 AND ISAIAS

Ocean City’s 47th White Marlin Open, the world’s largest billfish tournament, has officially begun with record turnout despite two large forces of nature working against it.

An unprecedented 433 boats are entered to fish for a world record purse of $6.7 million, compared to 404 boats and a $6.1 million purse last year. And among the 433 boats is Catch 23, basketball legend Michael Jordan’s 80- foot Viking sportfisher.

Jordan was the talk of Ocean City when he entered his boat in last year’s tournament. Catch 23 has already competed in one mid-Atlantic marlin tournament this summer, as Bay Bulletin reported in June.

This bigger-than-ever White Marlin Open comes with some concessions to the coronavirus pandemic as well as Tropical Storm Isaias, which could pose a significant threat to the coast.

To allow for safe distancing, spectators aren’t allowed at the docks for the tournament’s popular weigh-ins, which usually draw 5,000 people each night. Instead, the tournament has opened a new family-friendly viewing site at the 3rd Street Bayside Ballpark that will show the live stream of the weigh-ins. Dubbed “Marlin Village,” the 3rd Street location will have White Marlin Open merchandise as well as other vendors. It will be open Monday through Friday.

In light of storm predictions, the tournament’s fishing days have been extended by two days, allowing boats to fish through Sunday. Boats will still be allowed to fish on any three out of the seven days.

Tournament President Jim Motsko suggested that many captains “feel the fish bite is better before a front goes through.” Those conditions may have been ripe ahead of Isaias.

Some of 2019’s biggest success stories are returning for the 2020 White Marlin Open, including top boat Big Deal out of Brielle, New Jersey and runner-up Uno Mas. Top money winner Fish Whistle from Indian River, Delaware, which won more than $1.5 million for a white marlin, will also be back.

While there is no public viewing site open on Saturday and Sunday, you can watch the live webcam at https:// whitemarlinopen.com/. Winners will be announced Sunday evening, wrapping up around 9:15 p.m.

—MEG WALBURN VIVIANO

Outdoors Better for Virus Protection, But Not for Heat Illness

BY JILLIAN AMODIO

With the pandemic far from over and temperatures soaring, spending more time in the outdoors may come with an additional risk—the heat.

A local paramedic says that there has been an increase in calls for heat-related illnesses especially among the elderly. The source stated that since the start of the pandemic “the older population has been trying to do more work for themselves and are spending more time outdoors than they usually would.”

Area restaurant owners and their patrons are also striving to find a balance ensuring safe dining opportunities both in terms of social distancing and environmental factors. With many area restaurants offering limited, or in some cases, no dine-in options, they have turned to using or expanding their outdoor space or creating completely new spaces for outdoor dining. Summer is full of opportunities to enjoy these outdoor spaces, but you

Electronic vehicle charging at a BGE EV charging station at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library. Photo credit AACPL.

must take proper precautions to avoid health-related incidents due to heat.

Rik Squillari, owner of Harvest Thyme Modern Kitchen and Tavern in Davidsonville is doing everything he can to ensure his customers are taken care of. Outdoor dining is not something they typically offer, but under the circumstances Rik and his staff have added tables under the building’s awning with shade umbrellas.

While the restaurant still offers limited indoor seating, Squillari says that many regulars who would usually prefer to sit inside have been choosing to dine outdoors. Squillari goes above and beyond for some of his older and at-risk customers who don’t do well in the heat or are nervous about being indoors. While the restaurant is currently not open for lunch he tells his customers that if they don’t feel comfortable dining indoors with others right now to give him a call: with 24 hours’ notice he will have lunch ready, giving them an opportunity to dine indoors before the restaurant opens to the public.

Dr. Ron Elfenbein, owner of FirstCall Medical Center, says that as far as outdoor dining goes it’s all about looking at the big picture. Is it risky? The risk is higher than dining at home, but dining out can be done safely. In addition to suggestions of using hand sanitizer, wiping down tables, staff wearing masks, and proper distancing, he suggests restaurants use oscillating fans to circulate air as well as help keep staff and patrons cool.

Elfenbein cautions against mixing alcohol and heat and encourages diners to avoid alcoholic drinks when outdoors on hot days or, at the very least, to drink ice water as well. He suggests staff and customers use cooling towels on their necks, under the collar, or over their heads. “Heat illnesses do not discriminate. Young people can get overheated as well,” he says.

And one factor you may not have thought about is the effect of wearing a mask on your body’s ability to cool. Elfenbein says that given that facial coverings are hot and sweaty many people do get dehydrated more quickly while wearing them and therefore need to ensure they are staying cool and taking in liquids.

Those working outdoors must be especially careful stay on top of their hydration. Elfenbein advises, “Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Drink water continuously throughout the day.”

Anne Arundel Makes Commitment to Clean, Green Vehicles

BY KRISTA PFUNDER

Agreener Chesapeake may start with plugging in. Anne Arundel County will begin converting its fleet of vehicles to fully-electric models over the next few years in the name of efficiency, cost and environmental impacts.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman directed the office of Central Services to replace conventional vehicles in the fleet—which numbers more than 1,600—to more efficient models where possible.

“We realized we don’t have a single hybrid vehicle in the fleet,” says Matt Johnston, Pittman’s environmental policy director. “We have an obligation to the environment, to citizens and the fiscal responsibility to at least get hybrid vehicles.” A hybrid vehicle uses a mixture of electric and fuel sources.

“80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide are due to transportation,” says Elvia Thompson, president of Annapolis Green, an Annapolis-based non-profit advocating for electrification of cars, trucks, and buses to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Thompson points out that the grid for electric vehicles already exists. “Utilities are preparing for the near future when electric vehicles will be the ride of choice for everyone,” she says. “The car and truck manufacturers, and even the bus manufacturers, are preparing. At the moment the upfront cost can be somewhat higher, depending on the model, but the long run operation of electric vehicles is cheaper.”

Earlier this year, the Anne Arundel County Library installed five BGE electric vehicle charging stations outside of the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library.

“The county is working with BGE to install a number of charging stations on publicly-owned property as part of a broader push to electrify transportation in the county,” Johnston says.

The conversion of the fleet will be a gradual process. By 2032, all non-emergency light and medium-duty vehicles purchased must be all-electric models, and by 2037, all light and medium-duty emergency vehicles purchased must be all-electric models.

“An item will be requested in the budget to study what it will take to service an all-electric fleet,” Johnston says. “It would include requirements such as training, charging and infrastructure.”

The Office of Central Services has been tasked with producing an annual report with performance metrics and recommendations that will allow the program to be adapted as needed. The group will also develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavier vehicles such as vans, trucks and heavy equipment. “There is little to no maintenance and there is no expense for gasoline or diesel associated with electric vehicles,” Thompson says. “Best of all, though, is the benefit to the atmosphere and public health.”

The State of Maryland agrees and is setting the pace. Maryland is committed to having 300,000 plug-in vehicles—currently, there are about 30,000 in the fleet—on the road by 2025.  p