A Storm, A Community, and a Lesson That Still Guides Us Today
Author: Marcus Webster
Published: April 28, 2026
On April 28, 2002, a tornado ripped directly through the heart of La Plata, MD.
In a matter of minutes, homes were destroyed, businesses were flattened, and an entire community was left trying to make sense of what had just happened. If you were here, you remember.
I remember watching the storm pass from my parents’ backyard, not thinking much of it. We lost power, and I just assumed it was another storm. Then we got a call from one of our employees who had heard the news almost immediately.
We rushed to check on my brother, Jason, who lived off St. Mary’s Avenue. After that, we made our way into town. What we saw is something I’ll never forget.
While most people were still trying to process what had happened, my father, Ed, who owned the agency at the time, was already getting to work. That night, he was in the office until the early hours of the morning.
Power had been restored in Waldorf, which allowed him to begin identifying customers in the areas that were likely hit the hardest. He ran reports, mapped out impacted zones, and prepared for our team to begin reaching out first thing the next morning. He also stayed in close contact with Erie, helping them quickly understand the scope of the situation, and even offered our office as a base of operations for their catastrophe claims team.
By 7 a.m., the calls began.
Our team started reaching out to customers, checking on families, assessing damage, and helping people take the first steps toward recovery. In the days that followed, my father met with customers at their homes. In many cases, those homes were completely destroyed.
He didn’t just explain the claims process. He handed people checks on the spot so they could begin rebuilding after losing everything.
That kind of response is something people never forget. It’s also what earned him Erie’s Quality Agent of the Year, the company’s most prestigious award.
At the time, I was just beginning my career in insurance. Living through that experience, and seeing firsthand how people were helped in one of the worst moments of their lives, changed everything for me.
It showed me what this business is really about.
Not policies. Not pricing. Not sales. It’s taking care of our community when it matters most.
A lot has changed since 2002, but one thing hasn’t. When something unexpected happens, the difference isn’t just the coverage you have—it’s who you have behind you. Because when everything changes in a matter of minutes, you need someone who shows up.
More than anything, that day shaped the path I chose for my career.
Insurance is in our blood. We’re a second-generation agency, with the third generation already working alongside us.
And we’ll be here when it matters most.
