WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski and U.S. Representative Elijah E. Cummings (all D-Md.), together with U.S. Representatives Steny H. Hoyer, Chris Van Hollen, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Donna F. Edwards, Andy Harris and John Delaney today applauded President Obama’s issuing of a federal Disaster Declaration for Howard County after the deadly and devastating flooding in Ellicott City. The President’s action follows the Delegation’s letter in support of Governor Hogan’s request for a major disaster declaration.

“We have been united in urging President Obama to issue a Disaster Declaration for Howard County in the wake of this summer’s horrific flooding,” the Delegation said. “We are pleased that the President has recognized the full extent of the damage and the severe impact the flooding had on Ellicott City. Ellicott City, one of Maryland’s historic Main Streets, is a resilient community that will now be eligible for federal funding to help recover from this terrible flooding.”

The Disaster Declaration makes federal funding available to the State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe flooding in Ellicott City.

Ellicott City suffered six inches of rain in a period of 90 minutes. The National Weather Service predicts that a rainfall of this magnitude should statistically occur only once every one thousand years. The subsequent flooding resulted in Governor Hogan declaring a state of emergency. The storm caused an estimated $23 million in damages.