Functions of the Maryland Department of Emergency Management originated during World War I when the Preparedness and Survey Commission and the Maryland Council of Defense organized in 1917. They continued under the Council of Defense and Resources, formed by the Governor in August 1940. That council was followed by the Maryland Council of Defense created by the General Assembly in 1941, which operated during World War II (Chapter 567, Acts of 1941).
In 1950, duties of the Council of Defense devolved to the Maryland Civil Defense Agency (Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950; P.L. 920). In 1970, the Agency reorganized as the Maryland Civil Defense and Emergency Planning Agency within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (Chapter 401, Acts of 1970). The Agency was renamed the Maryland Civil Defense and Disaster Preparedness Agency in 1975, and became the State Emergency Management and Civil Defense Agency in 1981 (Chapter 666, Acts of 1975; Chapter 505, Acts of 1981). As the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, it transferred to the Military Department in 1989 (Chapter 674, Acts of 1989). In October 2021, the Agency was reformed by the General Assembly as the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, a principal department of Maryland government (Chapter 287, Acts of 2021; Code Public Safety Article, secs. 14-101 through 14-117).
From 1950 to 1970, the Maryland Civil Defense Agency was concerned primarily with statewide nuclear attack preparedness (Chapter 563, Acts of 1949). Later, it addressed disaster relief and emergency resources management. Duties covered floodplain management, flood insurance initiatives, community preparedness for weather emergencies, earthquake hazard reduction, dam safety, emergency broadcast system, emergency warning, and terrorist incidents.
When the federal Defense Civil Preparedness Agency was established in the U.S. Department of Defense in 1972, the Population Protection Program (PPP) also was developed. The Program is adaptable to natural disasters, peacetime emergencies, and nuclear attack.
In 1979, the Three Mile Island Incident turned federal attention to radiological emergency planning. In 1980 and 1981, the Maryland Civil Defense and Disaster Preparedness Agency produced radiological emergency plans to cope with accidents at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Maryland, and Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station near Maryland's northern border in Delta, Pennsylvania. These plans were tested in 1981 and 1982. Annually, the State Radiological Plan is tested with a full-scale operational exercise.
Since 1981, the Governor has been responsible for emergency management in Maryland.
The Governor has emergency powers to suspend State statutes temporarily, direct evacuations, control access, clear debris, and use private property if necessary (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 14-301 through 14-406). When the Governor declares a state of emergency, the Secretary of Emergency Management coordinates the emergency acts of State government and those local governments included in the declaration. The Maryland Department of Emergency Management plans and executes the disaster and emergency preparedness response between State and local agencies. It coordinates emergency services with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), other state emergency management agencies, and public utility and other private agencies. Moreover, to protect life and property from attack and offer relief and assistance to people struck by natural disasters, the Department provides for a civil defense system.
To aid another state in time of emergency, the Governor may authorize the use of State and local resources (Chapter 193, Acts of 1993). In the event of an emergency in Maryland, the Governor also may accept aid from another state.
In the event of emergencies and disasters that are beyond the capabilities of local authorities, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management coordinates statewide efforts .
Maryland Emergency Preparedness Program. The Maryland Department of Emergency Management develops and coordinates emergency prepardeness policy through the Maryland Emergency Prepardeness Program . At all levels of government statewide, the Program outlines emergency preparedness, response and recovery responsibilities for natural, technological, terrorist and attack-related emergencies and disasters. The Program consists of four components: preparedness; response; mitigation; and recovery.
Bi-annually, the Department reviews and updates the Maryland Emergency Preparedness Program, and ensures that State agencies understand their responsibilities during times of emergency. The Department also coordinates emergency preparedness activities and operations among State and local agencies, the federal government, other states, and private and nonprofit agencies (Executive Order 01.01.2013.06).
Originally located at the Camp Fretterd Military Reservation, 5401 Rue Saint Lo Drive, Reisterstown, the Department and its State Emergency Operations Center moved to 7229 Parkway Drive, Suite 200, Hanover, in September 2024.
The Secretary is appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent (Chapter 287, Acts of 2021; Code Public Safety Article, sec. 14-104).
Directly under the Secretary are the Counsel; Development; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Special Projects.
Work of the Department is organized into the Office of Resilience, and three directorates: Consequence Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Mission Support. The Department is aided by the Maryland 9-1-1 Board.
The Maryland 9-1-1 Board originated as the Emergency Number Systems Board in 1979 within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (Chapter 730, Acts of 1979). It reformed under its present name in October 2020 (Chapter 376, Acts of 2020), and transferred to the Department of Emergency Management in October 2021 (Chapters 378 & 379, Acts of 2021).
Installation and enhancement of county 911 systems, which are emergency telephone number services, are coordinated by the Board. A "911 system" automatically connects a person dialing the digits 9-1-1 on a telephone to a public safety answering point from which police, fire, ambulance or other public safety services may be dispatched on a 24-hour basis. Since July 1, 1985, all counties and Baltimore City have had a "911 system" installed. Since 1996, all have had enhanced systems with address and phone number displays.
By July 1, 2004, the Board was required to develop an implementation schedule for the deployment of wireless enhanced 911 service.
For county 911 system plans, the Board issues planning guidelines. Further, it determines review procedures to approve or disapprove plans submitted by counties and requests for variations. The Board sets criteria for reimbursing counties from the original 911 Trust Fund and from ongoing funds, and provides for audit of Trust Fund accounts. All 911-related information and procedures are transmitted by the Board to the county executive and county council, or to the president of the board of county commissioners of each county and/or its designated 911 committee representative.
The Board also establishes training standards for answering-point (communications facility) personnel that includes Next Generation 9-1-1 topics and training for individual psychological well-being and resilience. Further, the Board supports recruitment activities for answering-point personnel.
Twenty-four members constitute the Board, and twenty-three of them are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. Three of the Governor's appointees are nonvoting members. The Secretary of Disabilities appoints one member, and the Governor names the Chair (Chapters 378 & 379, Acts of 2021; Code Public Safety Article, secs. 1-301 through 1-312).
The Office of Resilience coordinates and administers federal prevention, protection, mitigation, and recovery-focused programs; administers State mitigation grants and loans; identifies flood risk assessment tools for use by programs and projects statewide; and administers other programs as directed by the Secretary of Emergency Management and the Chief Resilience Officer. Moreover, the Office prioritizes vulnerable communities and ensures that investments are made with a focus on environmental justice; conducts outreach; and provides technical assistance to local jurisdictions to support the development of local resiliency plans.
With support from State agencies and State entities, the Office of Resilience coordinates strategies and improves interagency coordination to ensure rapid State support following emergencies; minimize flooding in residential areas; promote climate-informed investments; and inform and educate the public on emergency safety and risks. The Office also works to build neighborhood resiliency; improve coastal resilience; adapt agricultural practices to respond to increasing precipitation, temperatures, and soil salinization; and reduce the potential impact of other hazards identified in the Maryland Hazard Mitigation Plan (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 14-1201 through 14-1204).
Appointed by the Secretary of Emergency Management, the Chief Resilience Officer heads the Office (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 14-1202).
The Office of Resilience is aided by the Maryland Food System Resiliency Council.
For at least two years, the Council is to meet regularly to address food insecurity in the State relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting economic crisis.
The Council coordinates State and local food insecurity services; tracks and analyzes data to produce a statewide map of food insecurity that identifies gaps in service; and leverages federal and private grants and resources to alleviate food insecurity. The Council also advises on how to best allocate resources and increase efficiency to fight food insecurity; and explores the possibilities of the federal community eligibility provision in ensuring all school-age children are fed. Further, the Council is to develop long-term recommendations to increase the sustainability and resilience of Maryland's food system. The recommendations are to address and eliminate racial inequities and diet-related public health disparities in the food system; do away with food deserts; reduce food waste; and increase recycling. In addition, a strategic plan to increase food production and procurement of local food will be devised by the Council (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 14-1101 through 14-1103).
The Directorate oversees three branches: Emerging Initiatives, Preparedness, and Response Coordination.
CYBER PREPAREDNESS UNIT
PLANNING UNIT
STATE CONTINUITY PROGRAM UNIT
TRAINING & EXERCISE UNIT
This unit provides education and training opportunities to State and local emergency management professionals. It also participates in exercises which simulate real-life emergency situations and allow emergency managers to identify and resolve problems prior to a real event.
MARYLAND JOINT OPERATIONS CENTER
The Center is staffed continuously by emergency management professionals and members of the Maryland National Guard. They coordinate communications for first responders, and monitor local, State, national and international events for indications of hazardous situations that could threaten Maryland.
As a communications, warning, and message center, the Center provides a way to disseminate emergency information to local emergency managers and to alert decision makers when a threatening situation arises.
STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
Under the Directorate are five branches: Communications and Outreach, Hazard Mitigation, Public Assistance, Risk and Recovery, and Whole Community Integration.
To reduce or eliminate the impact of future disasters, the Mitigation and Recovery Program works with local jurisdictions and other State agencies to develop responsible land-use programs, upgrade building codes, and establish suitable routes for transporting hazardous materials in the State. With federal agencies, the Program seeks to identify actions that over the long term can avoid repeated damage and loss.
The Mission Support Directorate oversees four branches: Budget and Finance, Fiscal Services, Information Technology, and Program Management. It also is responsible for the Facilities and State Emergency Operations Center Unit and the Human Resources Unit, as well as the Program Management Office.
The Office provides centralized, tailored project and program management support to all areas of the Department. of Emergency Management For the Department, the Office coordinates and leads the standardization of business and financial processes and, for senior leadership, it creates programmatic and financial business intelligence. The Office also monitors and controls the Department's federal award portfolio for homeland security and emergency management.
Under the Program Management Office is the Grants Management Branch.
GRANTS MANAGEMENT BRANCH
The Grants Management Branch oversees the distribution of federal Homeland Security Grants to local governments and first responders. Assistance is provided to build emergency response capabilities and is used to buy protective equipment for emergency personnel, improve critical infrastructure, and build interoperable communications systems.
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CONSEQUENCE MANAGEMENT DIRECTORATE
The Consequence Management Directorate organized first under the Maryland Emergency Management Agency as the Operations Division, and was renamed the Readiness Division in 2002. The Division reformed as the Operations Directorate in 2004, became Operations in 2008, and Operational Support in 2012. Reorganized as the Operations Directorate in 2012, it received its present name in 2018.
PREPAREDNESS BRANCH
Under the Preparedness Branch are four units: Cyber Preparedness, Planning, State Continuity Program, and Training and Exercise.
In May 2022, the General Assembly authorized the Cyber Preparedness Unit within the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (Chapters 241, Acts of 2022; Code Public Safety Article, sec. 14-104.1).
Originally created as the Planning Division, Adaptive Planning became the Planning Directorate under the Maryland Emergency Management Agency in 2004. Dissolved in 2005, it was reconstituted as Planning in 2009. As Adaptive Planning, it reorganized under Prepardeness in 2012, and reformed as Planning under the Operations Directorate in 2016.
Formerly named Active Learning and Exercise under the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, Training and Exercise organized in March 2016. It was renamed the Training and Exercise Unit in 2017.
RESPONSE COORDINATION BRANCH
Under the Response Coordination Branch are the Maryland Joint Operations Center, and the State Emergency Operations Center.
In 2004, the Maryland Joint Operations Center was initiated by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.
In response to an event that requires large-scale State involvement and support, the Director may activate the State Emergency Operations Center as a command and control station for emergency and disaster management. Representatives of federal and State agencies, as well as private and volunteer organizations, assemble at the Center to coordinate action and allocate resources for emergency response.
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION DIRECTORATE
In November 2012, the Disaster Risk Reduction Directorate was created under the Maryland Emergency Management Agency as Preparedness. Renamed the Strategy Directorate in March 2016, it reformed later as the Risk Reduction and Strategy Directorate. In December 2018, it became the Disaster Risk Reduction Directorate, and was made part of the Maryland Department of Emergency Management in October 2021.
COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH BRANCH
The Communications and Outreach Branch is part of the Disaster Risk Reduction Directorate.
HAZARD MITIGATION BRANCH
RISK & RECOVERY BRANCH
Under the Disaster Risk Reduction Directorate, the Risk and Recovery Branch started as the Mitigation and Recovery Branch and adopted its present name by August 2024.
WHOLE COMMUNITY INTEGRATION BRANCH
Under the Disaster Risk Reduction Directorate, the Whole Community Integration Branch started as the Non-Governmental Services Branch. It reformed under its present name by August 2024.
MISSION SUPPORT DIRECTORATE
Under the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, the Mission Support Directorate started as the Budget, Fiscal, and Logistics Division. The Division became Personnel, Fiscal, and Logistics in 2002. Reformed at the Logistics Directorate in 2004, it was abolished in 2007. Functions of the Logistics Directorate then were restructured in 2008 to form Administration. In July 2017, Administration was renamed the Mission Support Directorate, and was made part of the Maryland Department of Emergency Management in October 2021.
BUDGET & FINANCE BRANCH
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BRANCH
Within the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, the Information Technology Branch is part of the Mission Support Directorate.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE
On December 14, 2022, the Program Management Office was formed under the Mission Support Directorate.
By December 2022, the Grants Management Branch was made part of the Program Management Office.
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