County leaders are in Washington this week pushing for changes to federal disaster policy as storms, flooding, and extreme weather keep hitting local governments first and hardest.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) brought county officials together for a leadership fly-in on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, through Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The group serves on NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force, which focuses on fixing how federal, State, and local governments prepare for and respond to disasters.
Maryland has a seat at the table. Baltimore City Council Vice President Sharon Green Middleton serves on the task force and on the MACo Board of Directors, tying those national discussions back to county priorities here.
The pressure on counties keeps building. Disasters are happening more often and costing more. Federal declarations have increased, but counties still handle response and recovery on the ground.
That shows up clearly in Western Maryland. Flooding and severe storms have already strained local emergency response and county budgets. Despite damages far exceeding federal thresholds, FEMA denied Maryland’s request for disaster assistance earlier this year, leaving Allegany and Garrett counties without access to federal recovery funds. Local governments are still managing the aftermath without that support.
County leaders in Washington are focusing on the basics. What happens if the federal role changes? How coordination with FEMA improves. How counties manage repeated events without taking on more long-term costs.
Maryland has already begun addressing these issues.
MACo supported legislation directing the University System of Maryland to study how the State funds emergency management and recommend a more sustainable structure. County emergency managers pushed that effort as costs rise and federal support becomes less predictable.
Lawmakers also approved changes to the State Disaster Recovery Fund, allowing the governor, with the Board of Public Works’ approval, to transfer funds from the Revenue Stabilization Accoun to cover disaster-related costs and alleviate damage. That gives the State a faster way to respond when counties need help.
Counties do not have the option to step back. They respond first, manage recovery, and carry the fiscal impact long after the event.
The discussions in Washington focus on improving that system. For Maryland counties, especially in regions like Western Maryland, the need stays the same: reliable support, clear coordination, and funding that matches the real cost of response.
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NACo: County Leaders Advocate for Federal Disaster Reform in Visit to Washington, D.C.
