Maryland Requests Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment

Anne Arundel County, Cecil County, The City of Annapolis, MEMA, FEMA to Assess Damage Costs After Ida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REISTERSTOWN, Md. (September 9, 2021) — The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), on behalf of Anne Arundel County, Cecil County, and the City of Annapolis, has formally requested a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) from FEMA, to begin early next week. Tropical Depression Ida brought tornados, high wind, and flash flooding to the state on September 1, 2021 and caused substantial damage in the State.  

Local jurisdictions sustained damage to residences and infrastructure and incurred significant response costs, necessitating additional assistance.  As a result, Maryland, through MEMA, has requested Individual Assistance and Public Assistance Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments to be scheduled as soon as possible by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

A Joint PDA is conducted to enable our State, FEMA, and local jurisdictions to determine the magnitude of damage and impact of disasters, in this case, the damages caused directly by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Based on the data collected during the Joint PDA, the affected jurisdictions and MEMA will determine if they will request a Presidential Disaster Declaration.

A Joint PDA does not suggest, imply, or guarantee that any federal support will be available to Maryland and the affected jurisdictions.  For more information on Joint PDAs visit www.fema.gov/disaster/how-declared/preliminary-damage-assessments

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CONTACT:
Jorge Castillo, jorge.castillo@maryland.gov, 443-381-3518
Ed McDonough, ed.mcdonough@maryland.gov, 410-446-3333
24/7 line: 877-636-2872