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CBS News
7 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
White House rejects Maryland's request for disaster assistance after flooding in May, Gov. Moore says
The White House rejected Maryland's request for federal disaster assistance after flooding in May damaged homes and businesses in Allegany and Garrett counties, Gov. Wes Moore said Wednesday. The governor requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration in June to aid in the recovery effort after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) found that it could cost nearly $15.8 million. "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," the governor said Wednesday. Flash flooding on May 13 damaged more than 200 homes and affected businesses, roads and public utilities. People were rescued from flooded schools, and some were trapped overnight during power outages. According to the governor's office, the heavy rainfall caused Georges Creek to overflow into several nearby towns. Local, state and federal responders aided in rescue efforts after a State of Emergency was declared. Following FEMA assessments, Gov. Moore said the recovery effort would be beyond the capacity of state and local agencies. "After a thorough assessment of the damage, it's clear that additional support is necessary," he said in announcing the request. A Presidential Disaster Declaration would allow Maryland to receive help from FEMA. It would also allow the state to request access to funding that could support infrastructure repairs and fixes to publicly owned facilities. "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," MDEM Secretary Russ Strickland said in announcing the request. According to the governor's office, the estimated $15.8 million cost for recovery surpasses FEMA's threshold for disaster assistance, which in Allegany County is $321,460. In Maryland, that threshold is $11.6 million. "Historically, if the joint damage assessment process demonstrates eligible costs over and above the county and state indicator, disaster assistance has been awarded by the President," Gov. Moore said. The governor said he plans to appeal the decision. Since taking office, President Trump has claimed FEMA is unsuccessful and has suggested changes to the agency. He signed an executive order that he said would "begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," though that action would need approval from Congress. In June, the administration said it wanted to "wean" states off of FEMA aid after the 2025 hurricane season. The administration indicated that governors would be in a better position to respond to disasters in their states. "We want to wean off of FEMA and we want to bring it down to the state level — a little bit like education, we're moving it back to the states," Mr. Trump said.
CBS News
26-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
FEMA damage assessment requested after flooding in western Maryland
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conduct a damage assessment after flooding in western Maryland in mid-May. The flooding was brought on by severe weather, which brought more than five inches of rain to areas of Allegany and Garrett counties. The flooding left buildings damaged, caused power outages and prompted evacuations at multiple schools. In Allegany County, at least 200 people were rescued from schools, and 12 students were trapped overnight at a high school in Frostburg. Gov. Moore declared a State of Emergency, mobilizing Maryland's Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) to work wth local responders and federal partners in the flooding response. Maryland requests FEMA assessment In his request to FEMA, Gov. Moore said the state's emergency response brought on significant costs, prompting the need for more assistance. "...The breadth of damage requires us to accelerate our work in this moment, not slow down," Gov. Moore said. "This Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment will help ensure Marylanders get the help they need as we work together to rebuild." According to the governor, the Preliminary Damage Assessment would help to determine if Maryland meets the federal requirement for a Presidential Disaster Declaration. The assessment is carried out as a collaboration between FEMA and MDEM. First, local officials identify and document damage, then a formal assessment request is submitted to FEMA. During the assessment, teams survey the impacted areas to determine the scope of the damage. The collected data is used to support a request to the Trump administration for a disaster declaration, which allows for federal assistance. According to the governor, Allegany and Garrett counties asked that the assessments be scheduled as soon as possible. FEMA assistance approved for eight states On Friday, May 23, President Trump approved FEMA disaster relief for eight states that had been waiting for months after being impacted by natural disasters. The move allocated financial support from FEMA to Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. According to the Associated Press, some Mississippi residents who were impacted by storms in mid-March expressed frustration about the length of time they waited for federal help.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Audit: Maryland Department of Emergency Management can't account for over $300M in federal funding
A legislative audit released Thursday found that the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) potentially cost the state more than $300 million in federal COVID-19-related funds and failed to account for over $23 million in loans to volunteer fire companies. In MDEM's first audit since being established in 2021, the Maryland Office of Legislative Audits (OLA) determined that in several instances, the department spent more than $1.13 billion between 2022 and 2024 on COVID-related grants, making up most of its funding for public assistance. While the department was able to request federal reimbursements for much of this spending, it failed to do so on a quarterly basis, which lost the state an estimated $19.2 million. MDEM also reported receiving $882 million in federal funds, but upon further analysis, it received only about $560 million. There is a chance that the federal government will still fulfill the full requested amount, but if it does not, Maryland taxpayers might be on the hook to cover the $300 million shortfall. The audit's final reported finding was that MDEM has 62 active loans under its Volunteer Company Assistance Fund (VCAF), with a combined outstanding balance of over $23 million. These loans, intended to help volunteer fire companies purchase and improve equipment, are all overseen by a single MDEM employee, which the audit says leaves the department susceptible to delinquent loan payments. During the audit, OLA identified over $540,000 worth of late VCAF payments. 'MDEM has implemented control processes and made progress in areas described in this report, including filling key vacancies that may have contributed to the findings,' wrote Maryland Secretary of Emergency Management Russell Strickland in his response to the audit. Have a news tip? Contact Mathew Schumer at mschumer@ 443-890-7423 and on X as @mmmschumer.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Audit: Maryland Department of Emergency Management can't account for over $300M in federal funding
A legislative audit released Thursday found that the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) potentially cost the state more than $300 million in federal COVID-19-related funds and failed to account for over $23 million in loans to volunteer fire companies. In MDEM's first audit since being established in 2021, the Maryland Office of Legislative Audits (OLA) determined that in several instances, the department spent more than $1.13 billion between 2022 and 2024 on COVID-related grants, making up most of its funding for public assistance. While the department was able to request federal reimbursements for much of this spending, it failed to do so on a quarterly basis, which lost the state an estimated $19.2 million. MDEM also reported receiving $882 million in federal funds, but upon further analysis, it received only about $560 million. There is a chance that the federal government will still fulfill the full requested amount, but if it does not, Maryland taxpayers might be on the hook to cover the $300 million shortfall. The audit's final reported finding was that MDEM has 62 active loans under its Volunteer Company Assistance Fund (VCAF), with a combined outstanding balance of over $23 million. These loans, intended to help volunteer fire companies purchase and improve equipment, are all overseen by a single MDEM employee, which the audit says leaves the department susceptible to delinquent loan payments. During the audit, OLA identified over $540,000 worth of late VCAF payments. 'MDEM has implemented control processes and made progress in areas described in this report, including filling key vacancies that may have contributed to the findings,' wrote Maryland Secretary of Emergency Management Russell Strickland in his response to the audit. Have a news tip? Contact Mathew Schumer at mschumer@ 443-890-7423 and on X as @mmmschumer.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Volunteers encouraged to sign up for Crisis Cleanup after intense flooding in western Maryland
MARYLAND () — The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) is encouraging people to sign up to volunteer for Crisis Cleanup after floods from heavy rain swept through western Maryland on Tuesday. 'Crisis Cleanup is not a technology. It's a philosophy,' MDEM stated. Tenants evacuated due to flooding dangers along C&O Canal On Tuesday, the western region of Maryland, such as Allegany County, Washington County and Westernport, saw intense flooding, trapping people, causing property damage and more. Anyone interested in helping is encouraged to volunteer for Crisis Cleanup, a program that dispatches small groups of volunteers to survivors who need relief. Western Maryland in recovery mode from overnight flash flooding due to heavy rain For more information and to register, click . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
