According to a press release from Governor Wes Moore’s office, President Trump’s administration has refused Maryland’s request for a presidential disaster declaration to aid Allegany and Garrett counties after May’s floods, prompting the state to appeal while mobilizing over $1.4 million in emergency relief. Governor Moore, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney and Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks have all issued statements condemning the decision and urging swift federal action.
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Governor Moore emphasized the scope of the damage and Maryland’s commitment to residents: “The devastating floods that hit Western Maryland in May clearly met disaster assistance criteria established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These communities demonstrated a clear need through FEMA’s own process, and Maryland will appeal the decision to seek all available resources to support the recovery efforts.” He noted that between May 12 and 14, “a stationary low-pressure system in the Ohio River Valley produced extreme rainfall…causing Georges Creek to reach a near-record level of 12.41 feet,” resulting in evacuations and widespread damage well above FEMA’s aid thresholds.
In a joint statement, Congresswoman Delaney and Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks criticized the Trump Administration’s refusal: “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. We strongly urge the President to reconsider this decision and deliver federal resources to Allegany and Garrett Counties so they are not forced to shoulder the burden of recovery on their own.” They reminded that the full Maryland delegation had supported the disaster request.
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While the appeal moves through FEMA, Maryland has already allocated $459,375 from its State Disaster Recovery Fund and opened an additional $1 million in energy-assistance grants to alleviate immediate needs. Local officials continue site assessments for infrastructure repairs—roads, bridges, water systems—and urge residents to apply for these state-administered programs.
Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from Governor Wes Moore’s office and the Congressional offices of April McClain Delaney, Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks
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