Federal money announced for Maryland roads damaged in floods

Feb. 16--Maryland will receive more than $4 million for repairs to roads that were damaged in heavy flooding in May and June in Frederick, Washington and Howard counties.

U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin (D) and Chris Van Hollen (D) announced this week that the State Highway Administration would get $4.5 million for repairs.

The money is distributed for reconstruction and repair of highways and roads on federal land that were seriously damaged.

The money includes $3.6 million for repairs related to the flooding across the state between May 27 and June 14, and $950,000 related to the flooding in Frederick and Washington counties between May 15 and May 19.

Violent storms swept through Frederick County on May 15 and 16, leaving up to 44 roads closed because of high water or damage at the height of the event.

The rain led to high water in parts of downtown Frederick, damaging several businesses.

Two downtown stores, Vinyl Acres and Indellibelle, were closed for weeks because of water damage.

Vinyl Acres eventually reopened in its same location, while Indellibelle reopened in a new space up Patrick Street from its location at the time of the flood.

The storms caused more than $6 million in damage to public infrastructure, including roads.

They also resulted in more than $31.2 million in structural damage and close to $7 million in property loss, according to surveys submitted by county residents and businesses.

President Donald Trump declared that the flooding constituted a major disaster, making city and county residents eligible to receive federal funds to help them recover from the damage.

The U.S. Small Business Administration made loans available to residents and businesses that sustained damage from the storms.

The federal money announced by Cardin and Van Hollen will also go to repair roads damaged in the flooding that caused severe damage to Ellicott City in Howard County on May 27.

Cardin said in a statement that the funds would help the affected counties rebuild after the various floods, and serve as an investment in roads that help people get to work and school.

Van Hollen said the investments will help make sure that the state's roads are able to handle it the next time there's severe weather.

Follow Ryan Marshall on Twitter:

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