BAY CITY, Md. - It was quite a process uprooting tree stumps in Jim Candleana's yard - just like the process it took filing insurance claims following the damage caused by the July 24 tornado that passed through Kent Island.
"I just think somebody needs to look at that and if politicians want to get involved, maybe they can look into that in one of their committees or something," Candleana said. "
Neighbors like Candleana say insurance policies are confusing. They say they hope the county helps out.
And that's not all. Once cleanup is done, Candleana says he's considering replanting some trees.
"I like the canopy, the trees, the woodsy feeling," Candleana said. "It was one of the things that drew us to this neighborhood."
Wednesday night's town hall meeting drew neighbors with the same mindset - asking county officials for help cleaning up and getting back trees.
County Administrator Gregg Todd says they're working on it.
"We would either like to find trees that are free or at a highly reduced price that we can supply the community," Todd said. "That's kind of our goal right now."
Todd says the county is eyeing state grant money and says the trees will likely go to public spaces.
But people like Candleana say their homes need the money and the trees too.
"I live the American Dream. I live paycheck to paycheck just like everybody else," Candleana said. "I can't go out and buy $3,000 worth of trees and put them in my yard."
Hurdles still blocking the road for now, but people say the recovery's smooth for the mot part.
"This neighborhood has been amazing the way they've banded together," Candleana said.
Anyone with insurance questions or needs can stop by Matapeake Elementary School where representatives are standing by.
Todd says another town hall assessing how much more still needs to be done will take place in the next couple of weeks.
