Hurricane Isabel brought a massive storm surge and flooding to the Baltimore region in 2003, and Fells Point was one of the areas that would see the worst of it.While Isabel churned up the East Coast with sustained winds of 165 mph at one point, by the time it made landfall in Maryland, the winds had reduced quite a bit.It was the storm surge that did the most damage as it hit many areas during high tide, and that was evident in Fells Point along the waterfront or with the flooded streets of downtown.These areas look much different today, but many still remember.In Annapolis, the Market House by City Dock was flooded out. Ten years later, it recently celebrated a grand reopening.One of the hardest-hit areas, which has made a huge comeback, is Bowleys Quarters. Resident Rose Klapka said she remembers Isabel all too well. She and her husband evacuated and couldn’t get back to their home for a week.”It was sad to see all the piles of debris coming out of people’s houses — their furniture, all sorts of things, sitting out to the road,” Klapka said.”The oil tanks floating all over the place and the smell of oil in the air — it was pretty crazy,” said Tony Malanowski, who remembers the devastation and that most homes along the waterfront were flooded. His friend, Beth Hamilton, said she also recalls the event.”There was people’s porches, the fronts of houses, people’s boats upside down out in the water,” Hamilton said.Ten years later, Bowleys Quarters looks much better after many people rebuilt — and they hope they never have to again.”It was really traumatic. It really was. Hopefully, pray to God it never happens again. They said it was a 100-year storm, so let’s hope it is,” Klapka said.Bowleys Quarters residents said the last Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer was finally removed just a couple of months ago.
Hurricane Isabel brought a massive storm surge and flooding to the Baltimore region in 2003, and Fells Point was one of the areas that would see the worst of it.
While Isabel churned up the East Coast with sustained winds of 165 mph at one point, by the time it made landfall in Maryland, the winds had reduced quite a bit.
It was the storm surge that did the most damage as it hit many areas during high tide, and that was evident in Fells Point along the waterfront or with the flooded streets of downtown.
These areas look much different today, but many still remember.
In Annapolis, the Market House by City Dock was flooded out. Ten years later, it recently celebrated a grand reopening.
One of the hardest-hit areas, which has made a huge comeback, is Bowleys Quarters. Resident Rose Klapka said she remembers Isabel all too well. She and her husband evacuated and couldn’t get back to their home for a week.
“It was sad to see all the piles of debris coming out of people’s houses — their furniture, all sorts of things, sitting out to the road,” Klapka said.
“The oil tanks floating all over the place and the smell of oil in the air — it was pretty crazy,” said Tony Malanowski, who remembers the devastation and that most homes along the waterfront were flooded. His friend, Beth Hamilton, said she also recalls the event.
“There was people’s porches, the fronts of houses, people’s boats upside down out in the water,” Hamilton said.
Ten years later, Bowleys Quarters looks much better after many people rebuilt — and they hope they never have to again.
“It was really traumatic. It really was. Hopefully, pray to God it never happens again. They said it was a 100-year storm, so let’s hope it is,” Klapka said.
Bowleys Quarters residents said the last Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer was finally removed just a couple of months ago.
