OCEAN CITY, Md. - Maryland took a huge hit, after Hurricane Irene shut down Ocean City, and now the numbers are in to confirm it.Wednesday, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot announced a $2,000,000 revenue loss. Tourist numbers aren't nearly where they should be right now in Ocean City, but businesses and the state will take anything they can get right now. Hurricane Irene cost the beach town an estimated 2 million dollars in revenue; most of that is sales tax. Officials estimate they lost about $60,000 in gas tax revenue because of cancelled weekend travel, more than $45,000 in uncollected tolls. Additionally, Ocean City estimates it lost about $40,000 in admission and amusement tax revenue.
Julie Warren opened a bike rental shop one week before Irene hit. The storm was a rude awakening for this new business owner. "It surely was a disappointment for us to miss 3 days worth of business, that's for sure," admits Warren. "However on the other side of it, we would much rather them be prepared, and make take the precautions and make sure. We are a family business, so I want my family safe."
With beautiful weather, and the Labor Day holiday on the horizon, all are hoping tourists will flock back to the beach. The Pazzani's of New Jersey missed the first days of their vacation, but made it down to finish the week. "We made it! We made it down and the weather's been beautiful." Franchot says another round of revenue estimates are scheduled to be released in mid-September.
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