WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and members of Team Maryland today in letters to President Barack Obama requested that Maryland be granted a major disaster declaration following the severe snowstorms that hit the state in February.

The letters were signed by Sens. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-Md.), and Cong. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), John Sarbanes (D-Md.), Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.) and Frank Kratovil (D-Md).

Such a declaration would enable Maryland to receive statewide reimbursement from the federal government for all the resources already used as a result of the storms. At the request of Governor Martin O’Malley, the President granted a similar declaration after two snowstorms in December.

“These storms have been a white-out for state and local budgets. We can’t let this snow disaster turn into a budget disaster for Maryland,” Senator Mikulski said. “This winter has been an unusually tremendous hardship on our state, causing already strained state budgets and resources to be further stretched in order to respond to successive, large snow storms. That’s why we are asking the President for his support of Governor O’Malley’s request.”

The requests sent to the President also ask for waivers in Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) procedures that if granted will allow the state of Maryland to receive the further federal assistance it needs to cope with the lasting challenges of the historic snowstorms.

Under current FEMA policy, assistance such as snow removal and road treatments can only be granted within a 48-hour window of the storm. In addition, the state must receive a record amount of snowfall to be considered for federal reimbursement. On February 10^th, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano agreed to Senator Mikulski’s earlier request to have the two February snowstorms considered as one. This decision makes the disaster assistance now requested more likely for Maryland.

As a result of the snowstorms, Maryland was in a state of emergency from February 5, 2010 to March 7, 2010 and the Maryland National Guard was called into service. The state of Maryland has already spent more than $70 million responding to the February storms.

“Maryland took all the appropriate steps to keep our citizens safe during the historic blizzards of February 2010,” said Senator Cardin.  “I urge the President to approve our State’s request for supplemental federal assistance and flexibility in the assessment process for Allegany County to ensure that Maryland and its jurisdictions receive the federal assistance that is needed to deal with the severity of the snowstorms that paralyzed our state.”

“Maryland was hit exceptionally hard this winter with several feet of snow – in some areas record-breaking amounts – necessitating significant resources on the part of our state and local jurisdictions,” said Congressman Hoyer. “We believe the amount of snow we received, the resources required to respond and the resulting damages rise to the level of a disaster qualifying for federal assistance.”
“It’s very important that the entire House and Senate delegation from Maryland is united in our support for Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s request to President Obama for a Presidential Disaster Declaration of the entire state for the back-to-back blizzards of February 2010,” said Congressman Bartlett. I am particularly appreciative of the request for an additional 30-day extension to assess subsequent storm-related flood damage in Allegany County. The March 14-16, 2010 flooding in Lonaconing, Maryland was unquestionably precipitated by the February blizzards.”

“The storms that struck Maryland this winter were extraordinary,” said Congressman Cummings. “They were met by equally extraordinary efforts on the part of hundreds of local and state workers, who braved both the cold and the dangerous conditions to allow our state to keep running. However, this work was not done for free, and the supplies, repairs and logistics to keep Maryland functioning put a sizable dent in our budget. Because of this, I heartily endorse the declaration of a major disaster, so Marylanders can continue to repair and rebuild.”

“The back-to-back snowstorms that pummeled the Baltimore area were unprecedented and put extra strain on the already-tight local and state budgets. We are calling on the Administration to allow Maryland flexibility as we pay for the clean up. Allowing us to consider both storms as one weather event will allow us to use the money where it is needed most,” said Congressman Ruppersberger, a Member of the Appropriations Committee.

“The national capital region saw historic snowfall this winter that brought our area to a halt. Governor O’Malley worked with county officials to quickly mobilize and ensure that Marylanders were safe and had access to necessary services, but the effort is expected to cost over $38 million,” said Congressman Van Hollen. “Our state already faces difficult economic times, and by signing this disaster declaration the President can help provide critical resources to deal with these unprecedented storms.”

“The immobilizing snow storms of February hit Maryland with a ferocity that left much of the state paralyzed,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “These federal disaster funds will help pay for the enormous recovery effort that was required.”
“A declaration of a major disaster is critical to aiding Maryland’s recovery from one of the worst winter months in our state’s history,” said Congresswoman Edwards.  “The budgetary impact of these costly snow storms on already thin resources could cripple the state’s ability to provide a host of important services. I join my Congressional colleagues in requesting both federal assistance and that some Federal Emergency Management Administration policies regarding snow emergency declarations are adjusted to ensure that these storms do not have long-term fiscal repercussions.”

“Even though the snow has melted local economies are still suffering from the major blow dealt by the storms that paralyzed our state and region,” said Congressman Kratovil. “We need access to all available funds to ensure that small businesses and the already cash-strapped State do not suffer long term losses that threaten economic stability.”

The text of the letter to the President regarding waivers of certain FEMA policies for the MD Winter Storm Season can be found here.

Text of the letter to the President regarding a major disaster declaration for the February storms can be found here.