Md. to get federal aid for snowstorms

President Barack Obama issued a major disaster declaration to help Maryland recover expenses from February's big snowstorms.

The declaration announced on Thursday combines two separate snowstorms to trigger the release of federal money to help the state recoup money.

The declaration does not say how much money the state will receive, but it begins a process to determine reimbursable expenses.

A letter sent last month by Maryland's congressional delegation noted that the state spent more than $38 million responding to the two storms.

Rep. Steny Hoyer says the federal assistance is needed to help Maryland recover from what was an unprecedented series of winter storms that required an extraordinary response from the state.

-- Associated Press