The Maryland Emergency Management Agency says federal officials have denied the state's request for a disaster declaration stemming from civil unrest in Baltimore after the police-involved death of Freddie Gray.
Spokesman Chas Eby told The Associated Press in an email Friday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent Maryland an initial denial of a request the state submitted last month. Such denials can be appealed.
A disaster declaration would allow public agencies or individuals, or both, to seek reimbursement for disaster-related costs.
In his request, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan cited a Baltimore city preliminary estimate that the rioting and looting in April, followed by a five-night, city-wide curfew, had an economic impact of $30.5 million.
Baltimore officials have reserved $20 million to cover direct costs, including police overtime.