Anne Arundel County
Annapolis
~~~~~ September 26, 2003 ~~~~~
U.S. Naval Academy Storm Damage Photos [opens in a new browser window]
Annapolis: Hurricane Photo Gallery
Mayor Ellen Moyer’s office reports the storm surge crested at 7.58 feet, easily surpassing the prior record from the 1933 hurricane of 6.35 and the 5.5 feet recorded during Hurricane Hazel in 1954.
Annapolis Maritime Museum: Museum Director Jeff Holland reports the museum’s main facility, the McNasby Oyster Company building, was severely damaged, with three large holes in the north wall another in the wall facing Back Creek (east). The 7.5 foot storm surge and 6-foot waves caused by estimated 65 mph winds tore the museum’s pier from its pilings and washed up on the end of Second Street. The 600-square-foot Barge House was flooded about knee deep. Volunteer crews had removed the museum’s collection prior to the storm and returned on September 20th to clear debris from the site. The Museum’s Board of Directors is undaunted and is already making plans for repairs and improvements, estimated to cost $1.5 million. For details, visit the museum’s web site at www.annapolismaritimemuseum.org.
~~~~~ September 23, 2003 ~~~~~
 The storm surge breached the seawall at 2230 Thursday night and peaked shortly after noon on Friday, reaching 7 feet. Flooding extended 50 yards or so up Main Street and overwhelmed sandbagging efforts, inundating the city market house and commercial shops facing Market Space, Dock Street, and Compromise Street.
Annapolis Maritime Museum: Anticipating up to 4 feet of water in the museum, volunteers cleared collections from the building last Tuesday. Water exceeded expectations, causing significant damage. A small quantity of paper files were damaged by water. These are being transferred to the MAC lab at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum (JPPM) for conservation.
Banneker-Douglass Museum reports no damage.
The Museum Store operated by Historic Annapolis Foundation sustained flood damage. Staff had prepared for the likelihood that sandbagging would be insufficient and moved all interior contents to the second floor, so damage was confined to building fabric. The Museum Store sustained 12 to 15 inches of water above first floor level, resulting in damage to flooring, insulation, and electrical outlets. The building at 99 Main Street (formerly the Sign of the Whale) escaped water damage. Staff battened down Paca House but report no damage.
U.S. Naval Academy: The waterfront campus in Annapolis took up to 8 feet of water and most buildings facing the harbor and the Severn River sustained significant water incursion and extensive damage to mechanical equipment, classrooms, and those computers and furnishings that could not be evacuated. The Baltimore Sun (9/23) reports Rickover and Chauvenet halls were especially hard hit.
Throughout the County
~~~~~ September 26, 2003 ~~~~~
 Deale: Several historic buildings were destroyed by a combination of nearly 7 feet of storm surge and the wind-driven waves breaking over this exposed peninsula. MHT staff Marcia Miller and Tom Reinhart report that a center-passage house constructed in 1860 (following loss of the owner’s previous house to a storm) was battered by water and wave action. The porch and first story framing were destroyed, causing failure of the second story framing. The house will almost certainly be demolished. A one-story cottage on the same property was washed off of its foundations and lost much of its front and rear walls. An adjacent boat building shop was reduced to rubble by the waves and an oyster house was destroyed.
~~~~~ September 25, 2003 ~~~~~
Hancock’s Resolution: Donna Ware reports no damage to historic building. Damage to waterfront is being checked.
Herrington Harbor Historic Village: Inundation of historic and museum buildings is likely. Donna Ware will report on extent of damage.
London Town Public House: Donna Ware reports minor planking damage to pier. No damage to buildings or collections. Some damage to outdoor garden plantings. Museum is open to the public.
~~~~~ September 23, 2003 ~~~~~
Shady Side: Capt. Salem Avery House escaped damage, except to pier.
Baltimore Sun (9/23) quotes county officials: 72 houses collapsed and 600 others are uninhabitable.
Highland Beach: Flooding was extensive across the waterfront and reached the foundations of waterfront houses. Debris indicates the water reached the foundation piers of the Frederick Douglass House but caused no visible damage.
Arundel on the Bay: Flooding from the storm surge extended from one to three blocks into this waterfront community. Three houses on the easternmost point sustained significant structural damage; two of these are pre-World War II framed cottages. Numerous houses sustained water damage at first floor level.
Bay Ridge: The high bank along the eastern shoreline was sufficient to protect waterfront houses, but erosion has forced the closure of one section of road.
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