People flock to Ocean City to assess storm damage

Sunday wasn't the average beach day. Though it was sunny, it was also cold, icy, snowy and slushy.

But people still came out to Ocean City's beach and Boardwalk the day after Winter Storm Jonas, some to check and see how their properties were doing.

Penny and Jim Reynolds came from Easton to check on a place they have on 18th Street, but before going there, they walked on the beach and Boardwalk, looking at the storm damage.

"We're sad to see the pier gone again," Penny said.

Penny also spoke of the eroded beach, but said it could have been worse.

"Pilings that hold the end of the pier fell into the ocean," said Jessica Waters, spokeswoman for the town of Ocean City, on Saturday. "No one was injured. There was minor property damage due to wind — siding, insulation — things that are typical for a wind event."

A franchise company that oversees the pier will assess and repair damages to the popular fishing landing, Waters said.

Public Works crews will be working for two weeks on post-storm restoration, according to a Town of Ocean City news release.

"Public Works employees will first focus on restoring the Inlet Lot, clearing the Boardwalk of significant amounts of sand and snow, ensuring that all roadways are passable and restoring the beach back to its normal state," the release states.

Sand covered some of the Inlet parking lot on Sunday, and some sand had made it up onto the Boardwalk as well. Some fences were down near the beach, and the waves seemed rough.

There was also snow on the Boardwalk, where someone had made a snowman near the south end.

Mitchell Rosinski, owner of Jessica's Fudge House, was walking his dog Bella on the Boardwalk on Sunday as he made his way to see how his shop fared.

"She loves the snow," he said of Bella.

Other than the pier, he said it seemed like Ocean City fared pretty well.

While plenty of businesses were closed — it is the offseason, after all — some jewelry stores and Fisher's Popcorn were open. Dorit Dray, a sales associate at Park Place Jewelers on the Boardwalk, said the store was "fortunate" not to have any damage from the storm.

Adam Hill and Jena Dyer stopped at Fisher's Popcorn as they walked on the Boardwalk on Sunday. They'd come from Salisbury to spend the weekend in the resort. They had already wanted to purchase gifts at Fisher's Popcorn, but the store was closed Saturday, Hill said.

Hill said he didn't think the snow was as bad as expected. But the wind and waves were a different story.

They were "as bad as a hurricane," he said.

Faith Tarpley and Deborah Gates contributed to this report.

410-845-4639

On Twitter @VanessaJunkin