In June, the Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) carried out a critical emergency evacuation exercise on Smith Island, the last populated island on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland that can only be accessed by boat or aircraft. On June 8, 2024, Delta Company of the MDDF’s 231st Troop Command departed from Crisfield, Maryland, to test and refine the island’s emergency evacuation plan in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Under the leadership of Master Sgt. (MD) Evan Creasy, a team of seven MDDF members, each bringing specialized skills in emergency management, law enforcement, and communications, took part in the exercise. They engaged with local fire-rescue teams, assessed the island’s unique challenges, and identified potential improvements to evacuation protocols. Master Sgt. Creasy emphasized that “lending a helping hand to our friends and neighbors from Smith Island…is a perfect example of what the MDDF is all about,” highlighting the force’s commitment to supporting local communities in times of need.
The exercise also underscored the MDDF’s ability to leverage local knowledge and community connections. Col. (MD) Christian Jensen, a minister familiar with the area, and Capt. (MD) Daniel Powell, a local circuit judge, were integral to the operation’s success. They provided valuable insights into the local population and environment, enhancing the team’s preparedness for a real-life evacuation. Meanwhile, Staff Sgt. (MD) Jacob Andrew, Delta Company’s Operations Officer, noted that the exercise helped build relationships with local responders and identified critical infrastructure issues that could affect future evacuations. Looking forward, the MDDF plans to expand its capabilities by forming three new companies—Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie—across Maryland, trained similarly to Delta Company. This expansion will ensure that the MDDF remains ready to support and protect Maryland’s communities, fulfilling its mission of providing military civil support across the state.
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MDDF Delta Company Completes Smith Island Exercise
On June 8, 2024, Company D (Delta Company) of the Maryland Defense Force (MDDF), 231st Troop Command (TC), departed Crisfield, Maryland, to conduct an emergency evacuation exercise on Smith Island. Smith Island is the last populated island on Chesapeake Bay in Maryland that can only be reached by boat or aircraft. The island is located near the center of the bay, approximately 15 miles offshore from the nearest mainland.
The exercise was conducted to test the Island’s evacuation plan and identify any new issues influencing a potential evacuation led by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). As part of the exercise, Delta Company renewed contacts with the island’s fire – rescue leadership and trained newly assigned personnel in the procedures to be used in an actual evacuation. It was also intended to familiarize newly assigned MDDF personnel with local conditions on the island.
The MDDF team was led by Master Sgt. (MD) Evan Creasy, of Company D, and was comprised of an evacuation detail of seven MDDF volunteers. The team included Staff Sgt. (MD) Jacob Andrew, Spc. (MD) Nace Owens, Spc. (MD) Steve Faulkner and MDDF recruits Daniel Andrew, Bradley Andrew and Sharon Creasy. These team members contribute their civilian expertise to MDDF missions, and many are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. This expertise includes the following:
• Master Sgt. (MD) Creasy retired from DNR where he worked as a wildlife Tech 4, and wildfire firefighter. He also has an emergency management degree.
• Staff Sgt. (MD) Andrew is the Operations Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) for Company D and a U.S. Air Force veteran. In civilian life, Andrew serves as a lieutenant with the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office.
• Spc. (MD) Faulkner provided valuable insight into local conditions, given his civilian job as a regional kayak fishing guide.
• Daniel Andrew works full time as an analyst at the Department of Defense.
• Sharon Creasy is the Chief Secretary of the Somerset County Health Department
• Joshua Collison is a volunteer firefighter in civilian life and provided additional expertise in discussions with the island’s fire – rescue leadership. He is a former Caroline County Deputy Sheriff and currently works as a communications technician for a private security company.
Summing up his team’s mission, Master Sgt. (MD) Creasy commented, “Helping out [Eastern] Shore residents in times of duress is one of Delta’s priorities for the MDDF. Lending a helping hand to our friends and neighbors from Smith Island who really ask for little, in times of peril is a perfect example of what the MDDF is all about. We can free up bigger resources such as our National Guard brethren for bigger tasks and as a team hit all the bases for the win.” Master Sgt. (MD) Creasy attended high school on the mainland with several of the island’s current residents and is well known on the island.
Accompanying Delta Company during the exercise were Col. (MD) Christian Jensen and Capt. (MD) Daniel Powell. They were included in the exercise given of their knowledge of the local environment.
• Col. (MD) Jensen is a minister in civilian life and makes several visits to the island annually to conduct church services at the island’s churches. He also serves as the chaplain for the Maryland House of Delegates. His familiarity with the residents and island life was essential to the success of the exercise.
• Capt. (MD) Powell is a circuit judge on the Eastern Shore for Somerset County and is also very familiar with the region.
The capability of the MDDF to provide service members with local knowledge and personal contacts is invaluable, should an actual evacuation operation become needed. According to Capt. (MD) Powell, “The mission of Delta Company is to assist DNR in the safe evacuation of the island and escort residents to waiting land transportation at Crisfield.” Delta Company is fully equipped with radios, first aid supplies, and additional equipment to facilitate the evacuation. The team conducts evacuation operations both on land at the island and aboard ship, assisting the local fire departments and the ship’s crew with the evacuation.
Staff Sgt. (MD) Andrew, who is also Delta Company’s operations officer while reflecting on the value of this exercise, said, “The Smith Island Exercise was to not only get the layout of the islands but to also build a relationship with the community and first responders (Ewell and Tylerton Volunteer Fire Departments). Smith Island is slowly sinking into the Chesapeake Bay and one good category five hurricane could cause significant destruction and put many lives at risk. We were able to learn that their emergency backups for removing the water once it gets over the seawall are not operational. I was advised that the valves that were installed also do not work. The knowledge we were able to obtain will be critical if we have to perform an evacuation.”
Smith Island has three small villages, Ewell, Tylerton, and Rhodes Point. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the island’s year-round population is 202 people living in 167 households. The median age is 50 years old. A considerable number of additional people live on or visit the island during the summer months. It is in a vast expanse of the Chesapeake Bay in Somerset County and is surrounded by a large area of salt marshes and uninhabited islands.
Many of the nearby islands and salt marshes were formerly used as naval bombing ranges and are now Federal Wildlife Refuges. The nearby mainland areas also have huge expanses of salt marsh extending northward to Blackwater Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County. This region constitutes Maryland’s only true wilderness and has often been described as the “Everglades of the North.” The only other permanently inhabited island in the Chesapeake Bay reachable only by boat or aircraft is Tangier Island, Virginia. It is located immediately south of Smith Island.
Smith Islanders must access the mainland for almost all services, including definitive medical care and public schools. The Motor Vessel (M/V) Eddie Somers helps ensure this access during the winter by using its icebreaking capabilities to keep a channel open to the mainland. Smaller commercial vessels help deliver mail, food, and other deliveries to the island’s businesses and residents and constitute a ferry service to and from the island.
The evacuation team boarded the M/V Eddie Somers at Crisfield harbor and departed for the 15-mile cruise to Smith Island at 8 AM. The Eddie Somers is a spec-built buoy tender and ice breaker operated by DNR Hydrographic Operations. The team was briefed by the ship’s captain Lee Daniels and crew on the vessel’s operating and safety procedures.
The vessel reached the island and docked at the local wharf in Ewell. The team then met with Mark Kitching of the Ewell Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company and was introduced to the department’s capabilities and equipment. The local operating environment was also discussed with local fire-rescue personnel.
The team next boarded small watercraft and embarked to Tylerton, where they met with Fire Department officials Jeff Vranklin and Dave Clary. At lunch in a local restaurant, Delta Company had the chance to interact with several of the island’s residents and enjoyed their hospitality and well wishes. The team had several MDDF personnel who are firefighters in civilian life. This allowed collegial discussions amongst fellow firefighters in the context of firefighting operations on the island and helped establish further credibility for the MDDF evacuation team.
This exercise is conducted periodically by Company D to maintain operational readiness if a major hurricane or other event requires an emergency evacuation of the island. This is complicated by the fact that the island’s main point of access to the mainland, Crisfield, is itself also untenable during a major hurricane and must also be evacuated. If a hurricane occurs residents from both Smith Island and Crisfield will need to be transported to emergency shelters in the town of Princess Anne or make other accommodation arrangements inland.
Also accompanying Delta Company as observers were Lt. Col. (MD) Mark Schroeder, commander, 231st Troop Command and Chief Warrant Officer 3 (MD) David Smith, commander of Company C (Charlie Company), of the 231st. Mr. Smith commented, “This was a great opportunity to observe Delta Company in action. The fact that they have been conducting these operations for several years was obvious in the exercise’s outstanding execution. It was fun to watch the friendly interactions between Delta Company and the island’s residents. Master Sgt. (MD) Creasy did a great job of leading the team.”
Building on the success of Delta Company, the MDDF is developing three additional companies. These are being trained along similar lines as Delta Company. The newly formed Charlie Company is currently being organized and is based in Central Maryland. Alpha Company is now organizing in Western Maryland and Bravo Company is to be established in Southern Maryland soon. Alpha, Charlie, and Delta Companies are currently recruiting.
Lt. Col. (MD) Schroeder commented, “This will give Marylanders plenty of opportunities to volunteer and make very meaningful contributions to both their state and their communities.” According to Schroeder, “the mission to support the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the community on Smith Island is a top priority for the members of Delta Company. Since Delta is based on the Eastern Shore, the company is serving their local community, friends, and family. They train in emergency operations to be a force multiplier for the local first responders. The MDDF is very proud of the dedication and professionalism of Delta Company.”
As part of its mission, the MDDF provides additional assets in military civil support to the state. The MDDF Smith Island evacuation operations are part of this civil support mission. Those interested in joining the MDDF should contact a recruiter at recruiting@mddf.maryland.gov for details. More information about the MDDF can be found on the organization’s website Maryland Defense Force (https://military.maryland.gov/mddf/Pages/default.aspx).
The Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) is the State’s uniformed volunteer militia unit providing competent, supplementary, professional and technical support and soldiers to the Maryland Military Department and the State of Maryland as needed. Established in 1917, the MDDF consists of nearly 200 personnel who perform legal, engineering, finance, medical, chaplain, field support and ceremonial services for the State of Maryland.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Smith
Commander, C Company
231st Troop Command
Maryland Defense Force
Source: Maryland Defense Force
