Fundraiser For Tornado Victims Will Help 3 Anne Arundel Families Who Lost Their Homes

EDGEWATER, MD —Anne Arundel County residents will hold a fall festival to fundraise for the victims of last month's tornado. The effort will support three Edgewater families who lost their homes during the Tropical Depression Ida twister.

"They lost most if not all of their possessions," event planner and neighbor Vicki Pickering told Patch in an email. "Two of the three homes have been torn down due to instability."

Pickering and two other neighbors planned the fundraiser. It will take place Wednesday evening at Historic London Town & Gardens, located at 839 Londontown Road. The family-friendly event, which runs from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., will feature:

• Food trucks
• Ice cream
• Prizes from local businesses
• A 50/50 raffle
• A fire truck from the Woodland Beach Volunteer Fire Department
• A musical performance from kids' singer Frolic the Fox, also known as Kathryn Para
• Fall games
• Arts and crafts
• Autumnal photo opportunities

"Local businesses have been very generous with donations for us to raffle off," Pickering said, noting that all proceeds will help the affected families. "We have local entertainers donating their services to our event."

Officials recently stepped up to serve the victims of the tornado. The U.S. Small Business Administration last week announced low-interest loans and a support office to help Anne Arundel County residents with damaged property. This news came days after Gov. Larry Hogan asked the organization for assistance.

Hogan also unveiled a $4 million plan to help locals hit by the storm. He released that initiative shortly after the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected Maryland's request for a presidential disaster declaration and its associated relief.

Patch's full explanation of the Small Business Administration loans is posted here. Our guide to all the state aid is viewable at this link.

RELATED: Tornado Can Shake Store, But Not Determination Of Business Owner

Anne Arundel County and Annapolis both declared states of emergency after a twister spawned from Tropical Depression Ida on Sept. 1. The states of emergency have since expired, but the damage still remains.

The EF-2 tornado reached wind speeds of 125 mph while traveling from Edgewater to Annapolis and causing 3,924 power outages. Homes, schools, and businesses were damaged. In the state capital, the twister temporarily displaced 38 residents and left:

• 5 buildings destroyed
• 25 condemned
• 29 with major damage
• 46 with minor damage

Fundraisers have collected thousands for affected businesses, like Chris's Charcoal Pit. The Annapolis Town Center also hosted a benefit concert Sunday that raised more than $10,000 for the victims, WMAR journalist Abby Isaacs shared.

To learn more about the tornado benefit concert, check out WMAR's full story.

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RELATED:

• Grants Available For Anne Arundel Businesses Affected By Storms
• Ida Disaster Relief Office To Open In Anne Arundel After Tornado
• More Ida Relief Announced For MD Businesses, Residents
• Ida Tornado: Hogan Offers $4M In Aid To Residents, Businesses
• Federal Relief Money Denied After Anne Arundel Tornado: Report
• Concert For Tornado Victims Raises $10K
• Annapolis Tornado Leaves Businesses, Locals In Need Of Donations
• Tornado Can Shake Store, But Not Determination Of Business Owner
• Annapolis Tornado Town Hall To Help Residents Wednesday
• Tornado Wind Speeds Hit 125 MPH On Path To Annapolis, Edgewater
• Anne Arundel Tornado Cleanup Prompts State Of Emergency
• Annapolis Tornado: Dozens Of Homes, Commercial Buildings Damaged
• Tornado Damages Annapolis Businesses, South River Stadium

Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.