FROSTBURG — U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney said Monday her office is still awaiting a response from the Trump administration after a decision to deny emergency aid for floods that caused catastrophic damage to parts of Allegany and Garrett counties in May was appealed.
“I followed up on the governor’s resubmission and I spoke with the FEMA acting director in his office and they said they did not want politics to be a part of it and they would definitely relook at the new totals,” McClain Delaney said. “And we are still waiting and I followed back up again with them last Friday, and I will continue.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied nearly $16 million in disaster relief following the flash flooding that resulted in extensive damage to roads, bridges, water and sewer infrastructure and property along Georges Creek.
After the denial, FEMA validated an additional $17.9 million in damages, raising total estimated damages to $33.7 million, which is “nearly three times the state’s federal threshold for assistance,” according to Gov. Wes Moore’s office.
Moore appealed the FEMA decision in July.
Moore and Delaney were in Frostburg Monday for the annual Appalachian Regional Commission conference.
“It’s crucial that we have this re-evaluation take place. We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars of damage to a community that has a budget of $2 million,” Moore said. “We are talking about a community that doesn’t have furnaces, that is not prepared for this winter coming up.”
Moore said the state has provided millions of dollars in support, but there will still be millions more that are needed to support both Allegany and Garrett counties.
Soon after the flood, Moore announced the first-ever use of a State Disaster Recovery Fund that provided $459,375 to help Western Marylanders impacted by the disaster.
In July, Moore announced an additional $1 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds for families in Garrett and Allegany counties.
“I know the state is going to do everything in our power to support our people in Garrett and Allegany County,” Moore said. “I know the congresswoman and our congressional delegation is doing everything in their power to ensure, but we do know this is a singular decision by FEMA, and a singular decision by the Trump-Vance administration about whether or not the federal government is going to do its part to support.”