Just an hour after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore, Maryland, a Dundalk business owner scrambled to his feet and rushed to help.
Dundalk's Hard Yacht Cafe has extended its opening hours due to a bridge collapse. (WTOP/Luke Leucart)
WTOP/Luke Leucart
Boats refueling at East Bay Marina in Dundalk. (WTOP/Luke Leucart)
WTOP/Luke Leucart
Boats at Dundalk's East Marina (WTOP/Luke Rukert)
WTOP/Luke Leucart
Just an hour after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore early Tuesday morning, a business owner in nearby Dundalk woke up and rushed to the rescue minutes later. His mission is to make sure boats searching for missing construction workers have enough fuel and that first responders working the Patapsco River receive adequate care.
“We've been here nonstop since 3:15 a.m. Tuesday, working with first responders,” Alex DelSordo said in an interview with WTOP. Del Sordo is the new owner of Anchor Bay East He Marina and Hard Yacht Cafe.
Del Sordo is new. He and a partner bought this business just 11 days ago.
Since then, it has hosted police and EMT boats from agencies such as the Coast Guard, FBI, and Army Corps of Engineers. Not only do they refuel these boats around the clock, they also serve as an unofficial base of operations where first responders can also provide hot meals.
“We have a bath house open seven days a week with laundry, showers and bathrooms for all first responders,” said Del Sordo, standing in front of an Army Corps of Engineers boat. .
The cafe's opening hours have also been extended to ensure that men and women living by the river have enough to eat. Fifteen members of the Army Corps of Engineers were receiving meals late Wednesday, when the restaurant is normally closed.
“The kitchen staff was very motivated and excited to be involved,” DelSordo said.
I had dinner at home. Hard Yacht has a long tradition of first responders getting free meals. The community also appreciates their efforts. People in Dundalk and other areas have donated thousands of dollars, enough to cover 50 per cent of the tab for emergency workers working at the scene. Numerous snack bars and soft drinks were also donated to keep the crew hydrated and nourished.
“All the boats that come to refuel give us Gatorade and snack bars, and we just force them to, 'Take everything you can eat and drink,'” he said. Told.
DelSordo said he is optimistic and the community is resilient.
“I think we're actually going to be surprised at how quickly all these organizations come together to accomplish something great,” he told WTOP. “I think this will be something that will bring us all together even more.”
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