ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 14, 2024) – Mayor Gavin Buckley has signed a declaration of a city emergency following the passage of Tropical Storm Debby, which caused historic flooding in downtown Annapolis.

Floodwaters at City Dock rose 4.4 feet above normal on Friday, August 9, making it the eighth highest flood event in Annapolis. Initial damage estimates from the city’s Planning and Zoning Department show that 19 businesses and nonprofits suffered an estimated $162,000 in lost revenue and property damage from the storm.

“Now that we have an assessment of the damage, I am declaring a state of emergency. It will allow city staff to quickly move forward with recovery efforts to help our business community and give city leaders more flexibility in their executive and spending decisions,” said Mayor Gavin Buckley.

This is the City of Annapolis’ second emergency declaration of 2024. In January, the City experienced its third most intense flooding, resulting in significant damage to downtown businesses. The emergency was declared, allowing businesses to access emergency VOLT funds disbursed through the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC). The emergency VOLT funding program expired on June 30, 2024. The City is now working with the State of Maryland to determine if there are additional emergency funding sources to support business recovery.

“We are currently evaluating all available options to identify both city resources and alternative funding opportunities that businesses can tap into for repairs and proactive flood protection. We will stay in close contact with businesses throughout the process to ensure they have the latest information on available assistance,” said Mayor Buckley.

“I want to thank Senator Sarah Elfreth and Governor Moore, who have been in constant contact with us since the emergency, for their commitment and continued support to our struggling businesses as they face costly cleanup efforts for the second time in just over six months.”

According to the National Weather Service, Tropical Storm Debby ranks among the top 10 worst floods in Annapolis’ history. This is the second time this year that the city has experienced a top 10 worst flood, underscoring the urgency of moving forward with the City Dock Resiliency project, which remains Annapolis’ highest priority.

For more information about Annapolis’ plans to build flood protection at City Dock, visit www.AccessAnnapolis.com.

This press release was prepared by the City of Annapolis. The views expressed herein are those of the author.