Trump Administration Rejects Western Maryland Flood Disaster Aid Appeal

The Trump administration has rejected Maryland's appeal for federal disaster assistance to address severe flooding damage in Allegany and Garrett Counties, leaving the Appalachian communities to shoulder recovery costs without anticipated federal support. The denial of a major disaster declaration means the counties will not receive Federal Emergency Management Agency funds for repairing critical infrastructure or implementing flood prevention projects, despite FEMA's validation of more than $33 million in damages that substantially exceeded Maryland's qualification threshold.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed profound disappointment with the decision, stating that it ignores the devastation caused by historic floods in Appalachia and leaves Maryland residents to manage recovery independently. The governor emphasized that no legal recourse exists for the state to obtain additional funding beyond the appeal process. Maryland lawmakers characterized the denial as politically motivated, with Democratic Senator Angela Alsobrooks noting that Marylanders contribute to government funding with the expectation of support during disasters, while Senator Chris Van Hollen warned that the lack of FEMA assistance would delay reconstruction of roads, public schools, homes, and small businesses damaged by unprecedented storms.

Representative April McClain Delaney, who represents Allegany County, called the decision completely indefensible and emphasized that politics should not influence FEMA fund distribution, which by law should be based solely on predetermined damage qualification levels regardless of geographic location or political affiliation. The appeal filed in August responded to the initial denial of disaster funds in May, despite documented damages nearly triple the state's assistance qualification requirement.

Following the initial flooding, Governor Moore declared a state of emergency in May to accelerate response efforts and subsequently allocated more than $400,000 to Allegany County through the Maryland State Disaster Recovery Fund, marking the first deployment of this state-led relief account. In July, the governor announced an additional $1 million dedicated to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Programs for families in both affected counties. Local officials expressed deep concern about the lasting impacts on vulnerable communities, with Allegany County Commission President Dave Caporale noting that their application met and exceeded all federal aid requirements, leaving the rural Appalachian community feeling abandoned by the federal government.

The absence of federal support will significantly slow recovery progress in Western Maryland, where limited state funding must now cover rebuilding and flood protection measures that would have been substantially supported by FEMA assistance. Governor Moore affirmed that state support would continue despite the federal denial, criticizing the administration for politicizing disaster relief while maintaining commitment to Marylanders affected by the storms. The decision highlights ongoing challenges in federal disaster response coordination and raises questions about equitable distribution of emergency resources to communities facing natural disasters.