FEMA Denies Maryland Disaster Aid Request for Western Counties Hit by May Floods

The Trump Administration has denied Maryland’s request for federal disaster aid for damage caused by severe storms and flooding on May 13 and 14 in Allegany and Garrett Counties in the western part of the state.

Gov. Wes Moore said he will ask the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to reconsider his request that the state originally submitted on June 13. Moore said FEMA, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, and local officials estimated more than $15.8 million in emergency response costs and damage to infrastructure, including more than 200 homes, numerous businesses, roads and bridges, railroads, sewer systems, drinking water, and public utilities.

“These estimates are above and beyond the thresholds for disaster assistance set by FEMA,” Moore maintained.

But a July 22 letter to Moore signed by David Richardson, acting for the administrator of FEMA, wrote: “Based on our review of all the information available, it has been determined that supplemental federal assistance under the Stafford Act is not warranted. Therefore, I must inform you that your request for a major disaster declaration is denied.”

In a joint statement, Maryland’s Democratic U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen, and U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney, urged President Donald Trump to reconsider the denial:

“Marylanders in Allegany and Garrett Counties were hard-hit by May’s historically intense storms. Two months after flash flooding tore through these communities, they are still in need of support to repair public schools and libraries that were inundated, roads and bridges that were washed out, and homes and businesses that were left severely damaged. Even though the cost of the damage in these two rural Maryland counties exceeds the threshold for federal assistance, the Administration is refusing to come to their aid.”

State Senator Mike McKay, R, who represents western Maryland, indicated that he supports Moore’s effort to reverse the denial. “Western Maryland was hit hard by devastating floods in May, and Governor Moore is fighting to reverse the denial of federal disaster assistance. I will continue to stand for Allegany and Garrett counties as they recover and rebuild,” he stated on Facebook.

Moore noted that the state has made funding available directly to residents and businesses to assist with recovery. The Maryland Department of Emergency Management awarded Allegany County $459,375 and made an additional $1 million available to both Allegany and Garrett counties.

“We will continue to stand with our fellow Marylanders in Western Maryland as they rebuild from the damage caused in May,” he vowed.

Since February, FEMA has approved 20 major disaster declarations for states hit by severe storms and floods. On the same day it denied Maryland, FEMA approved a number of disaster declarations for flooding including ones for West Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Oregon and New Mexico. On July 6, FEMA declared a disaster following the deadly July 4^th floods in Kerr County, Texas.

Topics Flood Maryland FEMA