Smith Island is fighting hard to stay afloat as rising sea levels and coastal erosion push it into the bay. The small island, located just off the tip of Maryland, has been home to people for nearly 350 years. But with storms building stronger than before and the coastline under threat, the residents of Smith Island may be the first of the country’s climate refugees.
Smith Island is less than 100 miles from DC and Baltimore and is home to many swamps, creeks and mudflats. According to CBS, the current population is only 200 inhabitants, as it has decreased over the years since the turn of the millennium. The Army Corps of Engineers has reported that erosion is cutting away as much as 12 feet of the shoreline each year.
Smith Island residents refuse to budge, saying they’ve seen the impact of climate change in real time
Smith Island’s population has been declining since the 1990s, and everyone and everything comes inland by boat: the pastor, the groceries, the doctors and the workers. It has no airport or bridges, and the islanders have no choice but to give in to whatever Mother Nature throws at them. Eddie Somers, Smith Island United, told CBS News:
“It’s hard to beat… the people, the place, the uniqueness, it’s not for everyone, we know that.”
Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st District) also told the outlet:
“Their families have lived here for centuries. This is a way of life. We would like to preserve this as part of Maryland’s heritage.”
In an article published yesterday, a native, Mary Ada Marshall, reflected on what it is like to live there:
“Okay, I’ve been here all my life. I don’t feel isolated, but people who come here sometimes feel like, ‘I can’t get away from it.’ I can’t get to my car. I can’t’ – we learn that we are survivors. We learn to adapt to the weather, it’s like a big family.”
In 2013, Maryland proposed buying out and demolishing all homes on the small archipelago. However, although the offer was rejected, it was enough to worry residents. According to CBS, Aquarians and retirees began applying for subsidies and pushing for legislation in their favor. So far, they have received more than $43 million, all of which has gone toward improving roads, restoring buildings and attracting tourism.
According to a 2017 article from WBAL TV, Jennifer Dize, a resident, said she was aware of the effects of climate change in real time:
“I’ve been here all my life, other than going to school and stuff like that. (We had grills), a big island area for our kids to have fun with — all of that ended up in the bay in my lifetime.”
In 2017, Somerset County and the Army Corps of Engineers joined forces to launch the “Save Smith Island” project. Although years in the making, the project was intended to save plots of land and houses and work on scaffolding projects.
Edited by Sugnik Mondal
