Federal Disaster Aid Denial Leaves Western Maryland Flood Recovery in Limbo

The Trump administration has rejected Maryland's appeal for federal disaster assistance to help Western Maryland recover from devastating May floods that caused extensive damage in Allegany and Garrett Counties. The denial means the counties will not receive federal funds to repair critical infrastructure or implement projects to reduce future flooding risks, despite documented damages that state officials say far exceeded qualification requirements.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed strong disappointment with the decision, stating that "This outcome is not just deeply frustrating, it also ignores the devastation wrought by historic floods in Appalachia and leaves Marylanders on their own." The Democratic governor emphasized there is no legal recourse for the state to obtain additional funding through normal channels following the administration's rejection.

Maryland lawmakers characterized the denial as politically motivated. Democratic Senator Angela Alsobrooks commented that "It is so disappointing but not at all surprising to see the Trump administration has left Maryland behind. Marylanders pay into our government with the expectation it will be there for them when disaster strikes." Senator Chris Van Hollen warned the decision would "unnecessarily set back the rebuilding of roads, reconstruction of public schools, and repair of homes and small businesses that were left damaged by these unprecedented storms."

The appeal filed in August came after FEMA's initial denial of disaster funds in May, despite the agency having validated more than $33 million in damages across the two counties. According to state officials, this damage assessment represented nearly three times the qualifying threshold for federal assistance in Maryland. Representative April McClain Delaney, who represents Allegany County, called the denial "completely indefensible" and argued that "Politics should play no role in the distribution of FEMA funds and emergency resources, which must be awarded by law based on preset qualifying levels of damage—irrespective of zip code or political affiliation."

Local officials expressed particular concern about the impact on vulnerable Appalachian communities. Allegany County Commission President Dave Caporale stated that "Our application for FEMA assistance met — and in many areas exceeded — every requirement for federal aid. Allegany County is a small, rural Appalachian community, and this denial leaves us feeling forgotten by the federal government." The counties now face a prolonged recovery process with limited state resources available for rebuilding and flood protection measures.

Following the initial disaster, Governor Moore had declared a state of emergency in May to accelerate response efforts. The state subsequently provided more than $400,000 to Allegany County through the Maryland State Disaster Recovery Fund, marking the first deployment from the newly established 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.

Governor Moore condemned what he described as the politicization of disaster relief, stating that "President Trump and his administration have politicized disaster relief, and our communities are the ones who will pay the price." Despite the federal denial, Moore affirmed that state support would continue, saying "While we disagree with both this process and outcome, our resolve is unbroken. We will continue to support Marylanders recovering from these storms, even if Washington won't."