September 14, 2006 Quick Update:

The Maryland Lighthouse Challenge will be held this weekend, although some parts of the park may be off-limits because of the damage from the storm.  The lighthouse will be open for tours of the interior.

September 1, 2006

Point Lookout Lighthouse Newsletter #11

The Labor Day Weekend that wasn't

Laura and Robert arrived at the Point Lookout State Park on Saturday morning to volunteer for the scheduled open house, only to find that the entire park was closed due to damage from the remnants of hurricane Ernesto.  The damage appears to be relatively minor but unfortunately was very widespread over the entire park, including the downing of a significant length of electrical supply lines.  Some large rip-rap rocks were dislodged from their protective locations.  

Apparently, it was quite a harrowing night as the storm changed directions and fooled forecasters.   The predicted three foot storm surge was actually double that amount and washed the tiny peninsula with a 6 foot storm surge.  We were told that a lot of the water had already soaked into the parched soil, so hopefully the remaining water will do the same. We visited the lighthouse, and the front yard was flooded along with a portion of the east side parking lot in front of the lighthouse.  The water was even with the walkway (over a drainage gully) that leads to the lighthouse steps.  The lighthouse still stands in all its glory and was surrounded by a number of very large birds, reminiscent of the Alfred Hitchcock movie of the same name.  

The park will probably be closed in the coming days.  We hope that the cleanup will be complete for the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge event which is just 2 short weeks away!   We will keep you posted.

The approach to the lighthouse, showing some damage to the road (right hand side).  Note that this is the same section of road that was damaged by Isabel back in 2003.

A tree falls near the bathroom facilities near the lighthouse.

Water soaked parking area in front of the lighthouse.

Lighthouse parking lot area, looking north from the lighthouse.

The lighthouse, with flooded side yard.

The view from the cement pier just north of the lighthouse.  Note all the birds flying near the lighthouse and the still threatening skies in the background.

The entrance to the lighthouse is all but underwater.

Another view- notice the birds on the roof!  The bay side of the lighthouse yard was covered with large birds.

Notice the buoy and coal shed in the background; it is unclear if the roof damage to the coal shed was caused by Earnesto.

Another view of the buoy and coal sheds.  The buoy shed is in particularly bad shape, with bare wood exposed.