FEMA denies more funding for flooding in western Maryland, OKs money for other states

The Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected Maryland’s appeal to declare the May floods in the western part of the state a major disaster, which would have opened up more funding for relief.

FEMA previously denied disaster assistance to the affected areas, which prompted the appeal.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, slammed the agency’s decision and said the Trump administration was disbursing disaster relief funds along partisan lines.

“FEMA has a responsibility to weigh the merits of each emergency request objectively. Instead, President Trump and his administration have politicized disaster relief, and our communities are the ones who will pay the price. … We will continue to support Marylanders recovering from these storms, even if Washington won’t,” Mr. Moore said.

The rainfall from May 12-14 swelled Georges Creek to nearly 12½ feet, flooding several towns in Allegany County and requiring evacuations of schools and other buildings in both Allegany and Garrett counties.

More than 200 homes, along with roads, bridges, railroads, utility systems and businesses, were damaged, Mr. Moore said in July.

The federal agency previously confirmed that the flood-stricken areas suffered more than $33.7 million in damages, almost triple Maryland’s threshold for federal assistance. 

FEMA funding for infrastructure repairs, temporary housing and other needs is made available after the president declares a situation a major disaster.

Other Maryland officials also excoriated FEMA’s denial of the appeal. Rep. April McClain Delaney, a Democrat whose 6th Congressional District covers Allegany and Garrett counties, said the denial is “completely indefensible” and said Mr. Moore’s appeal mirrored the resources FEMA has allocated to West Virginia, right across the state line from where the floods struck.

Maryland state Sen. Mike McKay, a Republican who represents the state’s 1st District that also includes Allegany and Garrett counties, said in July, “I really just don’t think that we are being penalized because we as a state didn’t support the president, and that the three western counties did support the president. But it’s a valid question,” according to Maryland Matters.

Maryland wasn’t the only state denied FEMA funding on Wednesday.

Requests from Vermont and Illinois for damage from July floods were also shot down.

Landing approvals were Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, an Indian tribe in Minnesota, according to The Associated Press.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said Mr. Trump “provides a more thorough review of disaster declaration requests than any administration has before him” and that he’s “ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement — not substitute — their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters.”

On his Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump trumpeted aid he approved to Alaska for recent damage from Typhoon Halong, to Missouri for storm damage this year and to Nebraska for weather-related damage in August. He openly cited Alaska and Missouri’s record of voting for him.

“I am approving $25 Million Dollars to help Alaska recover from the major typhoon they experienced earlier this month. It is my Honor to deliver for the Great State of Alaska, which I won BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024 — ALASKA, I WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!,” Mr. Trump wrote in one post.

In another post regarding Missouri, Mr. Trump said, “I am approving $2.5 Million Dollars in individual assistance after severe storms, high winds, large hail, flash flooding, and tornadoes, which occurred earlier this year. I won ‘The Show Me State’ three times in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and it is my Honor to deliver for these incredible Patriots!”

Mr. Trump also wrote that he “just finished speaking with Governor Jim Pillen, of the Great State of Nebraska, and told him that I have approved $15 Million Dollars for the recovery efforts from the major storms they experienced. Nebraska is a special place, and it is my Honor to support the incredible people of The Cornhusker State!”

On Thursday, Mr. Trump posted that “I spoke with Governor Kelly Armstrong, and informed him of my approval of $3 Million Dollars to assist in the aftermath of the major tornadoes and flooding that occurred in the beautiful State of North Dakota, which I won THREE times in 2016, 2020, and 2024. The Great People of North Dakota will make that wonderful region stronger than ever before!”