Maryland State Wire

Now that President Donald Trump has approved the first of Gov. Larry Hogan’s FEMA requests in the wake of last month’s flooding, another flood will begin – this one involving paperwork.

As Ed McDonough, public information officer with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, explained, that’s the usual chain of events triggered by a presidential approval of a disaster declaration.

“The process is that you don’t ask for a specific dollar amount at the beginning,” McDonough told the Maryland State Wire. “You ask for a declaration based on the amount of damage and the local jurisdiction compiles the paperwork to submit to FEMA over time.”

The disaster declaration comes after a May 15-19 flash flood ravaged Frederick and Washington counties, destroying bridges and roadways and damaging some homes and businesses in the area. The Washington Post reported a severe thunderstorm dropped 6 inches of rain in under two hours.

Initial estimates validated the devastating impact of the heavy rainfall and flooding, Hogan said in a June 15 release after FEMA officials had huddled with Maryland’s own disaster officials. 

“In some areas they were very hard hit,” McDonough said. “While it wasn’t massive in terms of volume, it affected critical roads, in some areas where people living in isolated communities have to drive farther to get back and forth from their homes.”

Almost two weeks later, Ellicott City was devastated when what McDonough described as a “raging torrent” of water tore down the streets of the community after an 8-inch downpour on May 27. This was the second flood for the small community founded in 1772 that’s home to a thriving historic district that includes a B&O Railroad Museum. Back in July 2016, the area saw 6 inches of rain dumped in two hours. Together, the floods claimed three lives. A disaster declaration for this episode is still pending.

“The devastation in that very small, concentrated area was surreal, but it’s the second time it’s happened there in a couple of years,” he said. “The flooding in Frederick and Washington counties I would consider to be more traditional flooding with a lot of water flowing into rivers that rose and took out bridges and roadways.”

So, what can homeowners do to apply for federal aid in the storm’s wake?

McDonough explained a typical FEMA reimbursement covers 75 percent of the damage to a local government entity’s infrastructure, plus provides an additional 15 percent earmarked for hazard prevention. The process is different for homeowners.

“To apply for what’s known as individual assistance is a much more rigorous process,” he said.

FEMA’s website outlines available steps for receiving aid under the agency’s individual relief plan, which includes housing assistance and help with issues not covered by insurance. Homeowners must submit an application and have a home inspection before they receive funds, which are only to be used for the specific purpose outlined in the grant.

Hogan’s release on June 15 indicated additional relief for businesses and individuals could come from a U.S. Small Business Administration program that offers low-interest loans for flood repairs.

McDonough recommended homeowners inventory their belongs for insurance reimbursement and keep their devices charged when warnings are issued before an emergency strikes.

“Obviously, from the property owner’s standpoint, having flood insurance is the most important thing they can do” to mitigate future disaster damage, McDonough said. Homeowners should “make sure they have flood insurance to cover the contents of the house. That’s usually separate from the structure itself.”