Mayor: Because of ice, no boats or aircraft reach Tangier 

The story below comes from Jimmy Shockley at the Eastern Shore Post.

Photos come from Steve Dise – yes, it looks very cold there. Even the ducks are complaining about the frozen water and frigid temperatures. See gallery below.

Prayers for everyone!

Tangier Island residents haven’t been able to receive supplies or leave the island by boat or air since Friday, Jan. 30, due to ice caused by recent freezing temperatures.

Mayor James “Ooker” Eskridge said ice has built up on all sides of the island, preventing boats from coming to the island or leaving.

“It’s pretty thick stuff,” Eskridge said of the ice.

Tangier Island’s airport runway is covered in snow and ice right now, meaning supplies can’t be flown in.

The biggest issue residents of the island are facing right now is not being able to receive prescription medicine, which is usually delivered to the island daily, Eskridge said.

Boats deliver medicine and other supplies and mail to the island daily from Crisfield and Onancock, but the most recent one that traveled to the island was on Friday.

Eskridge has been in contact with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources regarding getting an icebreaking vessel to visit the island.

However, due to recent ice buildup in other areas, there is currently no estimate for the arrival of the vessel that would also bring groceries and medicine and could carry a few high-priority passengers.

Eskridge said there is a resident on the island who needs to get to the hospital because she is scheduled to have surgery this week, naming her as well as getting medicines to the island’s “top priorities.”

A few homes and other buildings on the island have had problems with water pipes freezing in the past week, including Tangier Combined School.

The school had to be closed for a few days while other accommodations were made at a nearby church, where rooms were turned into makeshift classrooms so schooling could be resumed.

Eskridge said the last time the ice around the island was close to being this thick was in 2014, but he doesn’t think the ice then was as bad as it is right now.

“It’s been quite a while,” he said.