Trump administration denies Wes Moore’s appeal for FEMA funding after Western MD flooding

The federal government informed Gov. Wes Moore Wednesday that his appeal for financial assistance after floods ravaged Allegany and Washington counties earlier this year has been denied.

No additional appeals are able to be filed, leaving residents of Western Maryland without recourse to seek federal disaster funding.

“This outcome is not just deeply frustrating, it also ignores the devastation wrought by historic floods in Appalachia and leaves Marylanders on their own,” Moore, a Democrat, said in a statement Thursday.

Allegany Board of County Commissioners President Dave Caporale said the decision leaves his small, rural, Appalachian community “feeling forgotten by the federal government.”

“The loss of these critical funds will have a significant impact on our ability to repair damaged infrastructure and will ultimately affect the daily lives of our residents,” Caporale said in a statement. “We’ve worked tirelessly to make life financially manageable for the people of Allegany County, and this decision makes that job even harder.”

Following devastating floods that hit Western Maryland in May, Moore filed a request for financial disaster recovery assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency over the summer. 

The governor’s initial request was denied on July 22 when the estimated cost of damage was $15.8 million. According to the Moore administration, the damage estimate was $33.7 million, which, per a Thursday news release, is “nearly three times the state’s qualifying threshold for assistance.”

Public assistance from FEMA is only made available when the president issues Major Disaster Declarations, which Moore said in a statement Thursday that President Donald Trump has “politicized.”

Had Trump issued the disaster declaration, it also would have allowed Maryland to access the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which helps communities put projects in place that reduce the risk and impacts of future disasters.

U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, said that the denial of funding “will unnecessarily set back” the rebuilding of roads, schools, homes and small businesses, alleging that the Trump administration has “turned its back” on Maryland communities that are in need of support.

U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney, a Democrat who represents Allegany and Washington counties, said that the denied FEMA funding is “completely indefensible.”

“Governor Moore’s appeal for these funds met qualifying levels and mirrors the FEMA resources already awarded to West Virginia, only miles across the border from Westernport, Maryland,” she said. “As Representative for Maryland’s 6th District, I will not accept this denial and will work with Team Maryland to fight for the emergency funds needed to rebuild in those communities impacted.”

Some Maryland politicians allege that the denial of the appeal is symptomatic of Trump’s politics.

Moore and Trump have publicly butted heads over the president’s dissemination of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and threats to do so in other Democratic cities with Black mayors, including Baltimore.

In June, Moore tapped Maryland’s Disaster Recovery Fund to provide $459,375 in recovery support for those affected by the flooding. In July, an additional $1 million through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program was released for families in Garrett and Allegany counties.

“FEMA has a responsibility to weigh the merits of each emergency request objectively,” Moore said. “We will continue to support Marylanders recovering from these storms, even if Washington won’t.”