WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, and U.S. Representatives April McClain Delaney, Steny Hoyer, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski (All Md.) wrote to President Donald Trump urging approval of Maryland’s request for a presidential disaster declaration to support the recovery efforts in Allegany and Garrett Counties following the flash flooding that occurred in May, after the state this week appealed the Administration’s initial denial of the request. In their letter, the lawmakers point out that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has verified additional damages costing $17.9 million since the State’s initial disaster declaration request in June, bringing the total damages caused by the storm to-date to $33.7 million. While the initial damage assessment passed the thresholds which the two counties and the State of Maryland were required to meet in order to qualify for assistance under the Stafford Act, the new assessment exceeds those thresholds by more than three times.
“We are writing as the Maryland Congressional Delegation to express our strong support for Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s August 19, 2025 appeal of the denial of a federal declaration of a major disaster for the State of Maryland as a result of the impacts of May’s historically intense rains and severe flooding,” Team Maryland began. “The federal government denied the State of Maryland's request on July 22, 2025. In the months since the Governor’s request, an additional $17.9 million in damages has been identified and verified, bringing the total to $33.7 million. 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, pursuant to the Stafford Act.”
They went on to break down the updated costs of recovery, writing, “After conducting a coordinated assessment process, FEMA, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, and local officials originally estimated 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. This estimate exceeds both the county and state thresholds for assistance under the Stafford Act; Allegany County’s threshold for FEMA Public Assistance is $321,460 and Maryland’s is $11,674,953. The updated estimate of $33.7 million is almost three times over the state threshold.”
“As the new school year begins and winter approaches, we echo the Governor’s concerns that without the requested assistance, the most vulnerable in these communities will be directly impacted. These assessments support the need for the requested declaration and assistance which is necessary and warranted under the Stafford Act. We urge you to expeditiously review and approve Maryland's appeal and grant a major disaster declaration for the flooding of May 13, 2025,” they concluded.
In June, every member of the Maryland Congressional Delegation came together to support Maryland’s request for a presidential disaster declaration to address the recovery needs of the Allegany and Garrett County communities impacted by May’s flash floods. Today, members of the delegation renewed their call for the President to grant the State’s appeal for this declaration as well as the availability of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for all jurisdictions in Maryland. A federal disaster declaration would unlock Public Assistance funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help reimburse emergency response efforts during and after the floods as well as necessary repairs to damaged public infrastructure and facilities. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds would support efforts to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from future flooding and other similar natural disasters.
A copy of the letter is available here and below.
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing as the Maryland Congressional Delegation to express our strong support for Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s August 19, 2025 appeal of the denial of a federal declaration of a major disaster for the State of Maryland as a result of the impacts of May’s historically intense rains and severe flooding. The federal government denied the State of Maryland's request on July 22, 2025. In the months since the Governor’s request, an additional $17.9 million in damages has been identified and verified, bringing the total to $33.7 million. 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, pursuant to the Stafford Act.
The extreme rainfall between May 12 and May 14, 2025 caused Georges Creek to rise more than six feet in the early hours of the event to a near-record level of 12.41 feet, while Will’s Creek subsequently rose eight feet and the North Branch of the Potomac River rose nearly 15 feet, and associated flooding devastated several communities and forced evacuations in Allegany and Garrett Counties. This event clearly met disaster assistance criteria established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Flash flooding in the communities of Midland, Lonaconing, Barton, and Westernport resulted in extensive damage to roads and bridges, water and sewer infrastructure, and property.
Emergency Service personnel responded from 24 agencies in nine counties across three states to carry out recovery efforts. EMS units successfully evacuated 200 students and personnel by boats who had been trapped at Westernport Elementary School and provided shelter until they could be picked up by family members. Students from two other schools in Georges Creek were evacuated by EMS units in vehicles to Mountain Ridge High School in Frostburg until they could be picked up by family members. Twelve students remained sheltered at Mountain Ridge overnight into Wednesday morning.
After conducting a coordinated assessment process, FEMA, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, and local officials originally estimated 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. This estimate exceeds both the county and state thresholds for assistance under the Stafford Act; Allegany County’s threshold for FEMA Public Assistance is $321,460 and Maryland’s is $11,674,953. The updated estimate of $33.7 million is almost three times over the state threshold.
Individual Assistance and Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments conducted in both Allegany and Garrett Counties found numerous destroyed and damaged structures, including public facilities, schools, public libraries, businesses, and homes. As the new school year begins and winter approaches, we echo the Governor’s concerns that without the requested assistance, the most vulnerable in these communities will be directly impacted. These assessments support the need for the requested declaration and assistance which is necessary and warranted under the Stafford Act.
We urge you to expeditiously review and approve Maryland's appeal and grant a major disaster declaration for the flooding of May 13, 2025. Thank you for your timely consideration of this request, and we look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
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