The Obama administration has determined that Maryland suffered a disaster during the major snowstorm that hit in mid-December, making the state eligible for federal recovery aid.

Because of the declaration, federal funding is to the state as well as local governments for emergency protective measures taken in the counties of Baltimore, Caroline, Cecil, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, and Queen Anne's, the White House said.

Local governments spent roughly $7 million plowing and salting through the massive storm, and the state approached the limit of the $26 million it had budgeted for storm emergencies -- and that was before this month's twin dumpings. State officials are still preparing their FEMA disaster application for the February snowfalls.