Dorchester County Request Federal Funding for Rural Flooding

(DORCHESTER CO. Md) – Recent storms have put flooding concerns front and center in Dorchester County. Now officials are trying to address issues on the south end of the county.

And those drenched roads, while fun to drive through, can cause problems.

Especially when Dorchester County deals with tidal flooding threats.

Which is why the county is looking for federal help through a federal Protect Grant.

“If we get it, it’ll allow us to do a Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan and, specific engineering for two roads in our communities that are one-way-in, one-way-out,” says Dorchester County Council member, Mike Detmer.

Those flooded one-way-in one-way-out roads pose a threat to everyone.

From people just trying to get to a rural boat ramp, like Brayden Fox from Cambridge, who tells WMDT, “It’s definitely, definitely not safe if you’re trying to get somewhere in a hurry, tears up your vehicles,  and you definitely can’t get through very fast. So, yeah, something probably should be done about it. To some extent.”

To first responders responding to severe weather threats.

“It adds an additional challenge, which is something that they shouldn’t have to face. And we’re committed here to do whatever we can to make that situation better, regardless of the conditions,” says Detmer.

It highlights a need for rural infrastructure to be able to stand up to severe weather.

Mike Detmer tells us, “It’s vital to have these roads be in the best shape possible. This funding could help us figure out what that means, what that looks like, and hopefully help us qualify for other help.”