Moore requests Presidential Disaster Declaration for Western Maryland flood damage
CUMBERLAND — Although county and state funds have been allocated to repair some damage caused by the May 13 flood, a full recovery will require federal help.
Gov. Wes Moore Thursday requested the White House issue a Major Disaster Declaration for areas of Allegany and Garrett counties damaged in the stormwaters.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Maryland Department of Emergency Management and local officials estimate 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,' according to a press release from the governor's office.
'Our communities in Western Maryland have experienced significant impacts to their homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure,' Moore said via the release.
'After a thorough assessment of the damage, it's clear that additional support is necessary,' he said.
'We must continue to deploy essential resources to ensure a full and robust recovery.'
The declaration request marks an important continuation of that ongoing push, as work required to fully recover from the flood is beyond what state and local jurisdictions can provide, the release stated.
'With a natural disaster where residents, businesses and public infrastructure are impacted on this scale, recovery is an all-hands-on-deck approach,' Maryland Department of Emergency Management Secretary Russ Strickland said via the release.
'We are already working tirelessly at the local and state level, but the flooding caused incredible destruction,' he said. 'The addition of much-needed federal assistance is necessary to get those affected back to their regular lives and to allow those communities to fully recover in months instead of years.'
The state can also request access to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program under the federal Stafford Act.
If approved, that support would help repair crucial infrastructure and publicly owned facilities in the impacted counties, as well as fund risk reduction projects to ensure that additional devastating impacts are minimized in the future, the release stated.
Allegany County commissioners Thursday approved more than $91,000 in emergency procurements related to the flood.
Work performed by various companies included creek and storm cleanup, hauling of gravel and dumpsters, and steel pipe replacement.
'A lot of work has taken place from the immediate aftermath of the flood to try to reopen roads and remove debris from streams, and things that need to happen in order to protect people from damage that occurred and damage that may occur,' County Engineer Dan DeWitt said. 'It's an ongoing effort that's gonna continue for some time.'
County Administrator Jason Bennett talked of aid from the first-ever State Disaster Recovery Fund to support local flood recovery efforts.
'We got $459,000 ... this week from the governor,' he said.
'We are coming up with a plan to expend those dollars in the next couple weeks,' Bennett said. 'We will get that on the street as quick as possible.'
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