WASHINGTON – On Friday, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced $1,612,926 to bolster flooding mitigation efforts in Cambridge. The federal funds, provided through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund, will support the design and permitting of a flood barrier along the shoreline of the Choptank River with a nature-based living shoreline to weaken wave strength, prevent erosion, enhance ecological development, and improve water quality.

The funds will also support the improvement of the city’s stormwater management system to include backflow preventers that discharge water to the river to prevent high tides from backing up into the streets and a new system to collect, store and allow for the controlled release of stormwater to reduce the community's flood risk.

“Flooding and shoreline erosion threaten homes and businesses in our waterfront communities like Cambridge. These funds will invest in the critical infrastructure and reinforcements necessary to better protect Cambridge from flooding while restoring our treasured rivers and wetlands,” said Sen. Van Hollen.

“Higher sea levels and stronger storms that can cause severe damage to our coastal communities have become a new normal,” said Sen. Cardin. “Aging, failing infrastructure, particularly on our shoreline, puts everyone at risk. This federal funding will support nature-based solutions for flood mitigation so our coastal communities are better prepared to weather increasingly intense storms.”

FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund provides millions of dollars each year to response and recovery efforts across the country associated with domestic major disasters and emergencies that overwhelm state resources.

Senators Van Hollen and Cardin have long fought for robust funding for the Disaster Relief Fund through the annual appropriations process, including over $20 billion as part of the proposed fiscal year 2024 appropriations package.