Western MD flood relief gets $9.45M from state

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ANNAPOLIS — The General Assembly allocated $9.45 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget for flood disaster recovery in Western Maryland after President Donald Trump denied state requests for aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

While House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s, credits leadership in both chambers for the funding; she also applauds advocacy on behalf of her chamber’s nascent Rural Caucus.

“When we launched the Rural Caucus, we were clear that it was not symbolic. …” Peña-Melnyk said at a Tuesday news conference. “I expected hard work, collaboration, innovation and finding solutions to common problems, which is what we got.”

At the start of her speakership, Peña-Melnyk announced the creation of the Rural Caucus in an effort to ensure that representatives from less-populated areas in the state are thoughtfully considered as the chamber negotiates major legislation.

The state’s disaster relief funding materialized in this year’s budget following floods that devastated communities in Allegany and Garrett counties last year.

According to a May 15 news release from the governor’s office, several communities in the area flooded after receiving over 5 inches of rain, causing damage to businesses and public buildings, gas line washouts, slides on transportation routes and disrupted water utility services. Water rescues were performed, including the evacuation of over 200 faculty and students at Westerport and George’s Creek elementary schools.

Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat who has publicly sparred with Trump, made a request for financial disaster recovery assistance from FEMA over the summer.

That initial request from Moore was denied, as well as a subsequent appeal.

An October news release from the governor’s office reported that the estimated cost of damage to the impacted area was $33.7 million. 

“FEMA has a responsibility to weigh the merits of each emergency request objectively,” Moore said in a statement at the time. “Instead, President Trump and his Administration have politicized disaster relief, and our communities are the ones who will pay the price.”

In November, Maryland joined a coalition of states in suing the Trump administration over restrictions placed on their ability to request emergency response funding.

Sharing the finalized budget items that revolve around caucus discussions, House Speaker Pro Tem Luke Clippinger, D-Baltimore City, noted that he too as a delegate from Central Maryland believed the Western Maryland flood disaster funding was important.

“Last spring, my partner and I, after the terrible flooding in Westernport, drove out and met the mayor and brought supplies to the people who were truly struggling during that time,” said Clippinger. “I’m very, very happy that we were able to support those communities and get them more help that they desperately need.”

Rural Caucus co-chairs Del. Jefferson Ghrist, R-Upper Eastern Shore, and Del. Natalie Ziegler, D-Howard and Montgomery, thanked Peña-Melnyk Tuesday for giving their districts a seat at the table.

“We’re especially grateful to the speaker for recognizing that rural communities do matter, and for following through on her commitment through the trials and tribulations that come with any legislative session,” said Ghrist. “She’s ensured that rural Maryland is not overlooked.”