PRINCESS ANNE — If your property suffered major damage during the tidal flooding event of Oct. 28-29 Somerset County officials want to hear from you because as it stands now there will be no federal relief available of any kind.The

Maryland Department of Emergency Management had previously advised the county not to apply for direct individual assistance because the impact from the flood was not widespread enough to make an emergency declaration.

A fallback plan was an application to the Small Business Administration for access to its low-interest loan program to help homeowners, renters and/or owners of personal property — but SBA turned down that request as well.

“A lot of people do have minor damage and what they consider major damage but it’s just not the criteria of what SBA is looking for,” said Yvette Cross, director of Emergency Services, and SBA was considered a last opportunity for assistance.
SBA requires 25 residences or businesses that have at least a 40% uninsured loss. So far four have met that criteria, but 21 more are needed. A damage assessment team through the Department of Technical and Community Services did the original survey, but Ms. Cross did not know if any others were close to that 40% threshold.

She suggested another announcement be released the public to respond, and Commissioner Vice President Charles Laird thought that was a good idea and motioned that a new notice be advertised.

“Maybe they weren’t aware,” Mr. Laird said during the Dec. 21 county meeting. He said some may have suffered more seriously from than they first thought, or “didn’t want to say they did because they thought their damage wouldn’t qualify.”

He urged one more push “to exhaust all avenues” to see if the public will respond. Property owners who were not surveyed or want to be resurveyed because they may meet the 40% damage threshold can call 410-651-3457 or email damages@somersetmd.us by Dec. 31, 2021.