WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) along with Representative John K. Delaney have co-authored a letter to Federal Emergency Management Administrator W. Craig Fugate urging that Individual Assistance for Garrett County be added to the major disaster declaration FEMA-4091-DR for the State of Maryland.
“Residents of Garrett County were seriously impacted by Hurricane Sandy and Individual Assistance would significantly help businesses and individuals recover from the property damage they sustained,” said Senator requesting FEMA reconsider a designation of Individual Assistance for the County. “There are not many individuals who can financially bear the burden of major weather-related events that impact their communities.”
“Garrett County was hit extremely hard by Hurricane Sandy and the people of Western Maryland will remember this storm and the damage it did for a long time,” said Congressman Delaney. “Of specific concern to me is that at least 23 homes were damaged by the storm and without the Individual Assistance designation from FEMA, these residents and homeowners will not be able to receive federal assistance. I encourage Administrator Fugate to reconsider Maryland’s request for Individual Assistance.”
“Super-Storm Sandy’s wrath had a measurable impact on residents of Maryland, and especially on the residents of Garrett County,” said Senator Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “More than two months after Sandy, it’s important for these residents to know they have a federal government on their side. Maryland suffered a double whammy. Our coastal areas along the beloved Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean were hit by the hurricane. In Garrett County, called the Switzerland of Maryland, we were hit by a blizzard. The TV cameras have left, but the compelling human need has not.”
Maryland Governor Martin O`Malley requested Individual Assistance for Garrett County on December 12. However that request was denied on December 14.
Should the county receive an Individual Assistance designation, residents or business owners in Garrett County would be eligible to apply for federal assistance if they have incurred significant property damage or loss and if they do not have the insurance or other resources to meet their needs.
FEMA has designated Garrett County as eligible for Public Assistance, which provides supplemental grant assistance for the repair and restoration of publicly-owned facilities and designated non-profit properties. Public Assistance has also been designated for Allegany, Frederick, Montgomery, and Washington Counties in the Sixth District.
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