Tropical Storm Debby has again thrust Annapolis into the spotlight, but not for the reasons its residents would prefer. The storm has brought unprecedented flooding to the historic city on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay, leaving devastation in its wake. Streets turned into rivers, businesses faced potential ruin, and the city’s infrastructure was tested to its limits.
The most vivid illustration of the storm’s impact occurred on Compromise Street, where a woman was trapped in her car, surrounded by rising waters. Local resident Will Sizemore ventured out in his boat, stunned by the scene before him. "I’ve never done this before. I’ve never seen Annapolis this flooded before," he told WMAR-2 News, capturing the disbelief shared by many who witnessed the city’s transformation.
Annapolis is no stranger to flooding. Over the years, its residents and business owners have become adept at fortifying their properties against rising waters. Sandbags and waterproof barriers are familiar sights, reflecting a community that has learned to live with the constant threat of floods.
Sveinn Storm, owner of Storm Brothers Ice Cream, has taken flood prevention to the next level. His proactive measures have proven effective, sparing his 40-year-old business from significant damage during Tropical Storm Debby. “It’s like a plastic wood,” Storm explained. “Then what we do is put weather stripping around so all we have to do is place it against our door frame, which we’ve waterproofed inside, along the edges when we installed it.”
This level of preparation has become necessary for businesses that wish to survive in a city that is increasingly at the mercy of the elements.
Tropical Storm Debby brought what could be the ninth-worst flood in City Dock’s history, with water levels reaching 4.2 feet above normal during high tide, according to the Annapolis Office of Emergency Management.
While some businesses were able to protect themselves, the broader economic impact of the floods has been severe. According to Emergency Management officials, Annapolis has experienced two of its top ten worst floods in a year, a sobering statistic highlighting the increasing frequency and severity of such events. Earlier in the year, the city experienced what was ranked as the third-worst flood in its history.
After these events, local establishments like Dock Street Bar and Grill face significant challenges. The flooding has led to event cancellations during key weekends, a critical time for generating income. Kiri Lynch, an employee, voiced her concerns about the financial strain on her colleagues: “It’s not just the water; it’s the timing. We depend on these weekends to make ends meet, and losing them is a huge blow.”
The devastation wrought by Tropical Storm Debby extended beyond Annapolis, impacting communities throughout Anne Arundel County. Southern Anne Arundel County resident Deb Carbott remarked, “Worst I’ve seen in the 17 years I’ve lived here,” highlighting the widespread nature of the storm’s effects.
In the county, local crab fishing businesses reported the loss of hundreds of crab pots, displaced by the storm’s powerful currents. Julia Robbo Howes, a business owner, described the challenges they face in recovering these valuable assets: “For the past 3 days we have been searching for our lost crabs pots that have moved dramatically, a mile in some cases. The pots are tangled around pier pilings, pound nets, & other pots or structures in the water. Some ropes have broken, causing the pot to be lost on the bay floor hence the term ’ghost pot.'”
The loss of these crab pots, valued at around $55, represents a significant financial burden for local businesses. The process of recovery and repair will take over a week, adding to the strain already placed on these small enterprises. "We want to have crabs available," Howes emphasized, "that’s our sole purpose of the business, to sell crabs, but sometimes these other things get in the way & impact our business day."
In 2019, nearly 100 stakeholders, business leaders, and experts formed the City Dock Action Committee (CDAC) to address increasing flooding in Annapolis’ historic downtown waterfront. Through public meetings and work sessions, the committee developed a plan to reimagine City Dock as a more resilient and inviting public space. The plan includes transforming the existing asphalt into an elevated park with resilience features stretching from Gate 0 to Newman Street. The redesigned City Dock aims to create a central hub, honor Annapolis’ history, and demonstrate that resilience infrastructure can be practical and aesthetically pleasing.
Construction is set to begin in Winter 2024/2025. The $71 million project, funded by federal and state grants and the Public Private Partnership (P3) concession from the Hillman Garage rebuild, will protect Historic Downtown from flooding for the next century. A $16 million pumping project on Compromise Street will also be installed to manage water runoff from roads and buildings.
As the community continues to deal with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby, some are looking to the future with cautious optimism. The proposed City Dock project is viewed by many as a potential solution to Annapolis’s chronic flooding issues.
