Study predicts continued rising sea levels in Md. town called 'crab capital of the world'
CRISFIELD, Md. (ABC7) — Crisfield, long called the "crab capital of the world", sits at the end of the road, where the Eastern Shore meets the Chesapeake Bay. It's also a place where the bay is now pushing farther onto the shore.
Crisfield native Tammy Abbott says floods at high tide are becoming more and more common.
"I don’t think Crisfield will be here too much longer really and it's sad," Abbott said.
Barbara Thomas’ family runs the ferry boat to Tangier Island where she grew up. She says she sees the sea level rising.
Both women work in businesses, in the heart of Crisfield, in an area scientists say will frequently be under water within two decades.
A new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists claims Maryland will be among the hardest hit regions in America as sea levels rise, with 22 communities expected to be inundated at least 26 days a year. Planner Brett Ambrette with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy says towns like Crisfield will have to retreat to higher ground.
"They’ve got some time to do some serious planning and take a good luck at what they want their community to look like in the future," Ambrette said.
Tammy Abbott and Barbara Thomas say, to them, it doesn’t look like much of a future.
"This is our business down here," Thomas said. "It would be bad if it all went."
