U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) announced today U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has agreed to Senator Mikulski's request to have the two snow storms that have pounded region during the last week considered as one storm for the purposes for federal disaster assistance.
A state must have a record or near record amount of snowfall to receive reimbursement from the federal government for disaster response like snow removal and road treatment. Considered separately, the storms may not reach that threshhold of accumulation across the state.
Secretary Napolitano shared her decision with Senator Mikulski in a phone call this afternoon.
"Secretary Napolitano said she would call it the Valentine's Day Storm," Senator Mikulski said. "I said, 'Don't send chocolates, don't send flowers, send dough for snow.' This storm has been a white-out for Maryland's state budget. We can't let this snow disaster turn into a budget disaster for Maryland."
The state of Maryland already has spent more than $70 million responding to the snow. Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is expected to request federal disaster assistance as soon as the storm is over. The White House is the final authority is making disaster declarations.
"I expect emergency designation to be approved soon afterward Governor O'Malley makes his request and for Maryland to be reimbursed in a timely manner," Senator Mikulski said.