“It’s a great experience, and it’s great to meet people.” – EMARY COLON
DAVID HOOVER, MDS PROJECT DIRECTOR
JOHN HENDERSON
HOMEOWNER LINDA BYRD
PASTOR JUAN CARLOS COLON
“We are building a new home that’s more resilient to disasters ...
“My work here is being used for the glory of God.” – MARCELINO ORTIZ
“MDS is a network of amazing people who give their time, and I feel very blessed to be part of it.”
so floodwaters can’t get to it.” – DEMERIC FLORES
– KIM HOPKINS, EASTERN SHORE LONG TERM RECOVERY GROUP
“I’ve never done anything like this before and I’ll definitely be back!” – RICARDO RAMOS
more resilient to disasters. We’re building it up so floodwaters can’t get to it,” said Flores. Now more than ever MDS is working with the Eastern Shore Long Term Recovery Group, which has a waiting list for new homes. The need is becoming more urgent as many flood survivors, amid hot and humid summer weather, are coping with a growing mold infestation. The latest round of flooding in October 2021, which struck on the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, brought back trauma that still hasn’t healed. Kim Hopkins, program coordinator for the Eastern Shore Long Term Recovery Group, knows just about everyone in Crisfield. She said that many people have been living with flood damage for a long time. “In some ways, this latest round of flooding was the worst because it was invisible,” she said. “A house looks fine—then you walk in the door and people have no floor.”
Hopkins, who also worked as a disaster responder during Superstorm Sandy, said most of Crisfield is vulnerable to repetitive flooding; that’s why she values MDS’s mitigation-minded
MODESTO MERCADO
approach of building new homes higher off the ground. “We’re here now to change the lives of a lot more families so they will no longer flood again,” said Hopkins. “The idea is to bring them up above the 100-year flood plain. MDS is a network of amazing people who give their time, and I feel very blessed to be a part of it.” MDS has been working in Crisfield off and on for many years, added Hopkins, and she hopes volunteers keep coming.
“Coastal flooding is not going away,” she said. “Plus, times are harder than ever for the vulnerable people—those with low income or the elderly.” The crew from Puerto Rico understands what it’s like to face that kind of vulnerability. They also know well the feeling of relief that comes with moving into a more disaster- resilient house. Volunteer Marcelino Ortiz, 71, believes that’s why God
put Puerto Rico and Crisfield together in a spirit of service and love. “My work here is being used for the glory of God,” he said. “When we get back to Puerto Rico, we will be so happy that we did what God told us to do.” — Susan Kim
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behind the hammer
behind the hammer
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