Allegany County in Western Maryland is struggling to recover from the financial impact of last year’s flood, which has left the county with a cleanup bill of over $8 million. The Trump administration denied the state’s request for federal disaster aid, leaving the county to cover the costs using its reserves and capital funds.

Flood Damage and Repairs

The flood, which occurred 13 months ago, caused significant damage to the area, with cars floating down streets and sewer lines being torn open. The county’s Department of Public Works began working on repairs the next day, with Director Adam Patterson stating that they couldn’t just leave the damage and wait.

The county has completed over 200 projects to repair the damage, with a total cost of over $8 million. However, the state government has only approved $12 million for future flood mitigation efforts, which cannot be used to reimburse the county for the work it has already done.

Financial Impact and Concerns

The denial of federal aid has raised concerns about the county’s ability to handle future emergencies, particularly given its limited resources. State Sen. Mike McKay, a Republican who represents the region, expressed concerns about the impact on the county’s residents, who may face cuts to services they rely on.

County Administrator Jason M. Bennett noted that the county avoided borrowing in the short term but may be forced to do so later to restore funding for projects that had already been budgeted before the flood. The $12 million in aid approved by the state is reserved for future projects, meaning none can go towards reimbursing what the county has already spent.

Local residents are also struggling to recover from the economic decline in the region, which has been exacerbated by the flood. The area has seen a decline in manufacturing jobs, with the closure of the Versa paper mill in 2019 being a significant blow to the local economy.

Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.