Trump administration denies FEMA aid to Western Maryland after May flooding

WESTERNPORT, Md. (WBOY) — After major flooding struck Western Maryland and West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle in May, prompting responses from water rescue teams in north central West Virginia, officials say the Trump administration has denied their request for FEMA aid.

According to a statement put out by Allegany County, Maryland’s government earlier this week, the county was notified on Wednesday that its request for Federal Disaster Assistance through FEMA was denied. It added that despite the lack of aid, local crews “continue to work tirelessly to address infrastructure damage.”

Maryland Governor Wes Moore corroborated the county’s statement with one of his own, saying that the floods “clearly met disaster assistance criteria established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)” and that his administration will appeal the ruling.

May’s floods devastated parts of both states along the North Branch of the Potomac River, and prompted responses from water rescue teams from Monongalia, Preston and Mineral counties. Waters rose so high in the town at one point that students attending a local elementary school had to be evacuated by boat and taken to higher ground.

Just across the state border, West Virginia’s nearby city of Keyser also felt the effects of May’s flooding after officials said around 6.25 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period. This prompted evacuations of around 200 people and an activation of the State Emergency Operations Center by Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who also declared a State of Emergency in the county.

12 News has reached out to Gov. Morrisey’s office about whether or not aid was ever requested for Mineral County, as well as if that request was ever approved, denied or is still pending but did not immediately receive a reply.