{"id":11447707,"date":"2025-05-15T19:57:51","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T23:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/?p=11447707"},"modified":"2025-05-16T17:12:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T21:12:00","slug":"gov-moore-declares-state-of-emergency-post-flood-in-western-maryland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/2025\/05\/15\/gov-moore-declares-state-of-emergency-post-flood-in-western-maryland\/","title":{"rendered":"Gov. Moore declares state of emergency from site of Western Maryland floods"},"content":{"rendered":"

WESTERNPORT \u2014 Two and a half days after flash floods devastated the town of Westernport in remote Western Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore visited the beleaguered hamlet for the first time since the disaster. Once there, he declared a state of emergency, to the relief of residents and their representatives.<\/p>\n

In Maryland, the small town of 1,900 was the hardest-hit by the floods, surrounded, as it is, by Appalachian hills and split by the Georges Creek. When the creek overflowed its banks Tuesday, swollen by 5 inches of rain dumped down by an atmospheric river, it had nowhere to go but into Westernport. An elementary school was evacuated \u2014 with 150 students and their teachers taken to safety by boat \u2014 and countless homes, businesses and municipal buildings suffered flood damage.<\/p>\n

Upon his arrival Thursday, after the floodwaters had receded in most spots, Moore began his three-hour tour by speaking to the public at the command center at an armory in nearby Lonaconing, about 10 miles north of Westernport.<\/p>\n

Sweeping into the Good Will Fire Co. No. 1 of Lonaconing at 5:45 p.m., the governor brought with him much-needed optimism and good cheer. He embraced Republican State Sen. Mike McKay, Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton, Republican state Del. and House Minority Leader Jason Buckel and others warmly, as though they were close, longtime friends.<\/p>\n

He thanked local politicians, firefighters and volunteers who have been hard at work in the flood’s aftermath, cleaning Westernport up and putting it back to rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for how quick, thank you for [how] responsive, thank you for how helpful you\u2019ve been to our people,” he said, referring to officials from state emergency services who have been traveling Allegany County to assess what could be millions of dollars worth of damages to the Appalachian area. “These moments are never easy and they\u2019re never simple. But I\u2019ve learned, though, that you never learn anything about anybody when times are easy.”<\/p>\n

He credited their hard work with the fact that no loss of life has been recorded in the Maryland floods.<\/p>\n

“That doesn\u2019t happen by accident,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

While Buckel said earlier in the day that some constituents were frustrated Moore had yet to declare a state of emergency, their fears were relieved Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n

After a 10-minute ride to Westernport, Moore got out, walked down Main Street, stopping to talk with locals and hear their stories, then did what Buckel and everyone else in the county hoped he would.<\/p>\n

\"Gov.
Gov. Wes Moore with Sen. Mike McKay in Western Maryland where there was flooding earlier this week. Moore visited the hardest-hit parts of Westernport on Thursday after the area saw rapid, unexpected flooding.(Jonathan M. Pitts\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While walking into the water-damaged Potomac Fire C No. 2 building, in the company of volunteer firefighters, a crowd ringed around him, he announced that he had declared a state of emergency.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter surveying the damage and receiving updates on the work still ahead in Western Maryland, I\u2019ve declared a state of emergency to accelerate our response,\u201d Moore said in a news statement Thursday. \u201cToday, our thoughts are with the Marylanders who have been directly impacted by this storm, and our gratitude is with all of the first responders, crisis managers, and public servants who raised their hands to support our people in a moment of need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason Bennett, the Allegany County administrator, smiled at the announcement and heaped praise on Moore and his administration for the resources they began supplying shortly after the heaviest hours of flooding Tuesday.<\/p>\n

“They’ve really had our backs through all of this,” Bennett said. “And we’re going to need their help, obviously, with the mess we have here.”<\/p>\n

Buckel agreed, saying the governor had already helped immensely by sending his Maryland State Emergency Agency team into the area, where it has been hard at work ever since.<\/p>\n

\"Cleanup
Cleanup continues Wednesday inside the fire station after flooding in Westernport, Maryland. (Gene J. Puskar\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to Moore’s office, reports confirmed that the affected area suffered a number of damaged structures and utility impacts, including gas line washouts. Transportation routes have experienced washouts and slides, and Lonaconing\u2019s water services have been suspended as a result of a roadway washout and pipe damage.<\/p>\n

Declaring a state of emergency allows areas hit by severe weather or other events to apply for millions of dollars in federal relief funds. After a successful application, the federal government releases money if damage assessments are high enough.<\/p>\n

“Being here in Western Maryland today with Governor Moore and seeing the aftermath of the flooding firsthand is overwhelming,\u201d said U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney, who accompanied Moore on his tour of the devastation. \u201cYou don\u2019t fully grasp the scale of it until you\u2019re standing here, witnessing it for yourself. We\u2019ve met families who had to evacuate their homes and small-business owners now facing tough choices. The damage is real, but so is the strength of the people here.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re listening, and we\u2019re committed to doing everything in our power to make sure help gets where it\u2019s needed.\u201d<\/p>\n