ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Maryland faces increased hurricane and disaster risks with reduced federal support, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President Donald Trump’s administration has cut staffing and eliminated key grants, according to Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) spokesman Jorge Castillo. The cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants, which supported flood and disaster mitigation in counties like Prince George’s and Anne Arundel, leaves the state to shoulder more of the financial and logistical burden.
Castillo highlighted the loss of approximately $150 million in BRIC grants, which funded projects to reduce the impact of disasters in Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Garrett, and Somerset counties, as well as Baltimore and Annapolis. “We’ve heard a couple of predictions that this season is going to be above average in terms of producing more named storms and stronger storms,” Castillo said, referring to the Atlantic hurricane season running from June 1 to Nov. 30. Maryland is preparing for a busy season, but the absence of federal funding complicates efforts.
FEMA’s website described the BRIC grants as “wasteful” and “politicized,” a claim Castillo disputed. “You have to spend money moving people. You have to spend money building homes that have been destroyed by the flood, instead of spending money protecting” flood-prone communities, he said. He emphasized that grants for initiatives like wetlands restoration and stormwater improvements save taxpayers money by reducing cleanup costs after storms. “He also said the grants were competitive, and the claim that they’re ineffective ‘ignores the fact that FEMA itself designed the program to be competitive, data-driven and cost-effective,’” Castillo said.
The cuts come alongside a 20% reduction in FEMA staffing, creating what Castillo called a “perfect storm” of challenges for state and local emergency management. “It is a tough time for us. It is a tough time in emergency management,” he said. Maryland’s hazard mitigation plans, previously supported by BRIC funding, aimed to minimize damage from floods and other disasters, but now local governments must seek alternatives.
Castillo pointed to the Resilient Maryland Revolving Loan Fund as a potential workaround. “There is a Resilient Maryland Revolving Loan Fund that we have established, where localities can apply for a loan. Now the good thing about this loan is it’s at 1% interest rate,” he said. The fund supports various disaster mitigation projects, but Castillo stressed that the state cannot manage the burden alone. “While the state can step in on such projects, ‘we can’t do it all by ourselves,’” he said.
The Atlantic hurricane season’s above-average forecast, based on predictions of more named storms and stronger systems, heightens the urgency. Maryland’s coastal and low-lying areas, particularly in Somerset County and Annapolis, are vulnerable to flooding and storm surges. The loss of BRIC-funded projects, such as stormwater infrastructure upgrades, increases risks for these communities. Baltimore’s mitigation efforts, which included urban flood prevention, also face setbacks without federal support.
Maryland’s emergency management system, coordinated by MDEM, works with local governments to prepare for disasters. The state has invested in early warning systems and evacuation planning, but the reduced federal resources strain these efforts. The Resilient Maryland Revolving Loan Fund, established to support local resilience projects, offers a low-cost financing option, but its scope is limited compared to the BRIC grants’ broader impact.
The combination of FEMA’s staff cuts, grant cancellations, and an active hurricane season places Maryland in a precarious position. States across the Atlantic and Gulf coasts face similar challenges as federal support wanes. MDEM continues to advocate for cost-effective mitigation strategies, emphasizing the long-term savings of proactive investments over reactive disaster recovery.
