Money For Sandy Recovery Won't Go To Smith Island

CRISFIELD, Md. (AP) -- State officials say federal grant money for Marylanders whose homes were damaged during Superstorm Sandy won't go to people who live on Smith Island.

Officials said in a meeting this week in Crisfield that $8.6 million will be directed to Somerset County for recovery efforts. Of that total, The Daily Times of Salisbury reports that $5 million will go toward rehabilitating and elevating houses in Crisfield and other areas hit hard by the storm.

But officials say none of the rehab money will go to Smith Island, which studies show is sinking. Instead, $2 million will be used for buyouts on the island. The county is also considering financial incentives to islanders who take buyouts and move elsewhere in the county.

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