Maryland’s congressional delegation is escalating pressure on the White House to reverse its denial of federal disaster assistance following the devastating May floods in Allegany and Garrett counties.
In a bipartisan letter, US Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks joined Representatives April McClain Delaney, Steny Hoyer, Andy Harris, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski in urging President Trump to grant Maryland’s appeal for a Major Disaster Declaration.
The lawmakers pointed to FEMA’s updated assessments, which show $33.7 million in verified damages, nearly three times Maryland’s federal threshold for disaster aid under the Stafford Act. The total includes destroyed homes, washed-out roads and bridges, damaged sewer and water systems, and critical public facilities.
“Given the increased need, and the significant impact that this flooding had on state and local resources in Maryland, we urge you to reconsider this denial, grant the appeal, and approve the provision of supplemental federal assistance,” the letter states.
Local Impact
As previously reported on Conduit Street, over several days beginning May 12, extreme rainfall from a stationary low-pressure system caused rivers and creeks to rise rapidly, overwhelming communities across Western Maryland.
The flooding forced evacuations throughout the region. Emergency service personnel from 24 agencies across nine counties and three states carried out search and rescue operations.
Local governments have shouldered the immediate costs of emergency response and temporary recovery, but leaders stress that long-term recovery will not be possible without federal support.
“Our county government does not have the financial capacity to absorb the full cost of disaster recovery,” said Allegany County Commission President David J. Caporale.“Without federal aid, essential systems will remain at risk. This is not simply a matter of convenience; these are lifelines for public safety, commerce, and the daily functioning of our community.”
What’s at Stake
A presidential disaster declaration would unlock FEMA Public Assistance to reimburse local emergency response and repair public infrastructure.
While awaiting federal assistance, Maryland has tapped State resources to help residents. As previously reported on Conduit Street, Allegany County received $459,375 from the State Disaster Recovery Fund (SDRF) to support households impacted by the May 13 flooding.
The State also made an additional $1 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds available to residents in both Allegany and Garrett counties.
MACo and the County Emergency Managers Affiliate led the effort to create the SDRF as a dependable tool for local disaster recovery, filling a gap for counties that previously had no consistent pathway to receive State support for smaller-scale or non-federally declared disasters.
Although still undercapitalized and without a permanent funding stream, recent legislation (HB 865 of 2025) has improved the process for deploying SDRF dollars more quickly during emergencies. That said, county emergency managers stress that the SDRF cannot replace federal aid.
MACo Perspective
Counties remain on the front lines of disaster response and recovery, but cannot bear the full cost of rebuilding infrastructure and safeguarding communities without federal partnership. FEMA has historically approved declarations when verified damages surpass thresholds at the levels now documented in Mountain Maryland.
MACo and county emergency managers continue to advocate for reliable and sustainable funding streams for disaster recovery. Without them, counties face growing risks from increasingly severe weather events.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
Previous Conduit Street Coverage
Maryland Appeals Disaster Declaration Denial
#MACoCon Recap — FEMA Fallout: Facing Federal Funding Flux
No Help on the Way: FEMA Refuses Aid After Devastating Western Maryland Floods
State Activates New Disaster Fund for Allegany Flood Recovery
Governor Moore Declares Emergency After Historic Western Maryland Floods
Conduit Street Podcast: Disaster Dollars in Danger — Federal Funding Fades, County Risks Rise
County Emergency Managers to Congress: Protect FEMA, Restore BRIC
