MEMA Hosts Emergency Preparedness Exercise with Maryland Businesses

OVER 100 ATTENDEES FROM PRIVATE SECTOR AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WORK TOGETHER TO FORM COMMON OBJECTIVES DURING DISASTERS

Maryland business representatives came together for a tabletop exercise where they discussed emergency preparedness and response.

REISTERSTOWN, Md. (July 8, 2015) — The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) hosted an exercise for Maryland businesses today that was attended by members of the private sector and partners in emergency management. During the course of the exercise, over 100 attendees proceeded through a disaster scenario and discussed methods to increase coordination between the public and private sectors and augment business continuity by identifying ways that Maryland government can support businesses during disasters.

“Maryland agencies are continuing to develop programs that will strengthen the business community. This includes working with the private sector prior to, during, and after disasters,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “This exercise is about relationship building and finding ways to support businesses.”

The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) was also present at the event. “It is critical that we work together with our private sector partners to be better prepared and have better communication during a disaster,” said Mike Gill, Secretary of DBED. “Having a coordinated plan in place helps our Maryland businesses react more quickly and efficiently, and work more smoothly with state agencies.”

MEMA regularly provides businesses with disaster preparedness tools throughout the year and sends businesses incident-specific information to aid them in operational decision-making during emergencies.

“By providing businesses with emergency preparedness resources, MEMA can save their staff time and include the private sector in the emergency management system,” said MEMA Executive Director Clay Stamp. “A prepared business that has access to timely information is one that can quickly make appropriate employee safety and business decisions during crises.”

MEMA’s Executive Director Clay Stamp listens to MEMA’s Private Sector Liaison Christina Fabac while she talks about emergency planning with Maryland businesses at the tabletop exercise.

The exercise is an extension of MEMA’s Private Sector Integration Program, a collaborative effort between Maryland government and businesses that focuses on increasing business resiliency. There are currently over 200 member businesses. Businesses can register for free for the program at the following website: http://mema.maryland.gov/community/Pages/PSIPWelcome.aspx.