‘We’re resilient’: Smith Island residents stick together after tornado tears through area

The week following the devastating EF-1 tornado has felt utterly surreal to Smith Island residents — most of whom are still reeling from the frightening ordeal. To some, life, at present, feels like a movie. As recovery efforts progress and donations continue to pour in, Delmarva may rest assured that this calamity, although brimming with panic and fear, could have been much worse. The small, coastal community was caught in the path of a destructive tornado that tore through the island on Aug. 4, 2022. “What you see in the movies is how it really played out,” said EMS Captain Janet Tyler.