Maryland town struggles to recover after FEMA denies flood aid request
Residents of Westernport, Maryland, are still cleaning up from a May flood that destroyed roads and homes after federal disaster aid was denied this month.
In short:
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied Maryland’s request for $15.8 million in federal disaster aid for flood damage in Allegany and Garrett counties, despite meeting state thresholds.
- Local leaders say the refusal leaves critical infrastructure — sewage systems, roads, schools, and libraries — unrepaired, while residents face winter without replaced furnaces or water heaters.
- Many residents suspect political motivations in the denial; Westernport voted heavily for Trump, but Maryland’s state government is Democratic.
Key quote:
“This should be completely blind of what your party is, and the federal aid needs to come in and help these people.”
— Jack Coburn, mayor of Lonaconing
Why this matters:
Flood disasters are growing more frequent and costly as storms intensify with climate change. When federal aid is denied, small towns like Westernport face cascading problems: contaminated waterways from broken sewage systems, damaged roads isolating neighborhoods, and families unable to replace ruined heating systems before winter. Without assistance, residents may abandon homes, worsening economic decline in rural areas already hit hard by mill closures and job losses. The FEMA decision also raises broader questions about how disaster relief is allocated and whether politics influence which communities receive help — an issue with direct implications for public trust in government during a period of increasing climate-driven emergencies.
Read more: Trump administration scales back FEMA mitigation funds as extreme floods rise
