Title
Support for State of Maryland Disaster Recovery Fund - For the purpose of encouraging the Maryland Legislation to pass the creation of the State Disaster Recovery Fund and supporting efforts of the Annapolis state delegation to advance Senate Bill 650 and House Bill 789.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 20-23
Introduced by: Alderwoman Pindell Charles
Co-sponsored by:
A RESOLUTION concerning
Support for State of Maryland Disaster Recovery Fund
FOR The purpose of encouraging the Maryland Legislation to pass the creation of the State Disaster Recovery Fund and supporting efforts of the Annapolis state delegation to advance Senate Bill 650 and House Bill 789.
WHEREAS, Maryland state Senate Bill 650 and House Bill 789 would create the State Disaster Recovery Fund to provide disaster-related assistance to local governments when a federal disaster declaration falls short or if the City is denied federal aid; and
WHEREAS, On the afternoon of September 1, 2021, an EF-2 tornado estimated by the National Weather Services to be 200 yards wide ripped through Annapolis with peak winds up to 125 mph, destroying homes and businesses for nearly 30 minutes along its 11.25-mile path from Shady Side to just north of Annapolis; and
WHEREAS, It was one of three tornados that touched down that day in Maryland, all set in motion by Hurricane Ida, which was blowing off the Northeast coast of the U.S.; “The remnants of Ida produced one of the strongest tornadoes in the past decade of Maryland’s history,” according to the National Weather Service (See report, "Two Tornados Were Confirmed," dated September 1, 2021); and
WHEREAS, Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said that the EF-2 tornado left three buildings destroyed, 24 structures condemned, 26 buildings with major damage and 49 buildings with minor damage, while an estimated 2,000 homes lost power (See page A16 of the Washington Post dated September 2, 2021) and Mayor Buckley issued a local State of Emergency declaration; and
WHEREAS, The Annapolis Office of Emergency Management is still helping some low-income families who were underinsured or not insured get back on their feet nearly a year and a half after the tornado; and
WHEREAS, Maryland Senator Sarah Elfreth (D-Annapolis), lead sponsor of SB 650, and House Delegate Dana Jones (D-Annapolis), lead sponsor of HB 789, introduced the legislation in response to those tornados and extreme flooding in Annapolis; and
WHEREAS, A 2022 Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) report recommends the establishment of a new permanent Disaster Relief Fund within MDEM with required funding "for the express purposes of individual, local government, and private/non-profit sector disaster relief and recovery."; and
WHEREAS, The proposed State Disaster Recovery Fund would help the City of Annapolis provide funds to individuals and families for recovery, for repair or replacement of public facilities, and for low-interest or no-interest loans to local businesses and nonprofits; and
WHEREAS, Annapolis Office of Emergency Management Director Kevin Simmons testified before the Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and state House Appropriations Committee in support of the legislation on March 9, 2023; "The Disaster Recovery Fund will focus on the recovery of lower income and underserved communities ensuring no one is left behind," Director Simmons said. "We don't recover until everyone recovers."
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City of Annapolis supports the passage of SB 650 and HB 789 in the Maryland Legislature and encourages the Annapolis state delegation to continue their efforts to gather votes.