MDEM Newsroom - Page 10 MDEM Newsroom
MDEM Coordinates Deployment of 11 Local Utility Workers to Provide Mutual Aid to Jackson, MS
September 15th, 2022Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Water and Anne Arundel County Employees Help Repair Water System Using National Emergency Management Assistance Compact
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 REISTERSTOWN, MD (September 15, 2022) — The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) has helped to coordinate the deployment of utility workers from Maryland to assist with mitigating the water plant issues in Jackson, MS. The deployment was coordinated using the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a nationwide system that facilitates the sharing of resources between states during an emergency.
In all, 11 Maryland workers are assisting in Jackson, 7 from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Water (WSSC Water) and 4 from the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works. The group includes Class A surface water and membrane operators, instrument technicians, licensed electricians, mechanics, general maintenance workers, and an emergency management specialist. “Throughout our nation, states have never hesitated to support their counterparts when they are in times of crisis.” said MDEM Secretary Russ Strickland. “It is important that we continue to help other communities when they need it the most. I want to thank the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and Anne Arundel County for stepping up to the plate to help with what has become a humanitarian crisis in Jackson.” Recent heavy rains caused the Pearl River to overflow its banks, causing serious flood damage in Jackson and disrupting the water distribution system in the city of about 150,000 residents. However, the city’s aging water infrastructure was having issues before the recent flood. The team from Maryland joins utility specialists from other states and local workers to help repair the storm damage so the plant can again begin serving its residents. Those currently deployed will remain in Jackson until September 20, and the city, through the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, may request additional EMAC resources to replace them. The employees from WSSC Water include Brandon Brown, Sade Dunnock, Thomas Lilly, David McDonough, Stanley Pearson, James Price, and Zechary Windsor. The Anne Arundel employees are Philip Daley, Vincent-Dang Nguyen, Robert Swann, and Edwin “Chip” Yuniga. EMAC, considered the all-hazards national mutual aid system, has been ratified by the U.S. Congress and is law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Through EMAC, states can share resources from all disciplines, protect personnel who deploy, and be reimbursed for mission-related costs. To learn more about EMAC, visit https://www.emacweb.org/
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CONTACT:
Jorge Castillo, [email protected], 443-381-3518
Ed McDonough, [email protected], 410-446-3333
24/7 line: 877-636-2872
State of Maryland Provides Security Grant Funding to Nonprofits
August 30th, 2022Through Relief Fund Act of 2021, Federal Government, Maryland, Continue to “Shape a More Resilient Maryland Where Communities Thrive”
REISTERSTOWN Md. (August 30, 2022) — The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) announced awards totaling more than $8.7 Million in federal homeland security grant funds to 68 nonprofit organizations around Maryland. The awards are funded by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).
“This funding provides much needed financial support to nonprofit groups, which are part of the fabric of American life,” said MDEM Secretary Russ Strickland. “In a time of increasing threats to members of faith-based communities, houses of worship, and schools across the United States, these grants provide the funding to secure public spaces where Marylanders gather every day and will help prevent or minimize the consequences of any possible attack.”
These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation’s communities against potential terrorist attacks. Funding can be used for contracted security personnel, as well as security-related planning, exercises, training, and the acquisition and installation of security equipment on real property (including buildings and improvements) owned or leased by the nonprofit organization. The grants are being provided to 68 nonprofits around the State out of 115 applicants.
The NSGP provides $250 million nationally in funding support for hardening and other physical security enhancements to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack. The intent of the competitively awarded grant funding is to assist organizations in obtaining the resources required to support and integrate preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. It is also designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.
The following is a list and breakdown of the Maryland nonprofit organizations that applied for and received NSGP awards. NSGP awards for nonprofits in the National Capital Region (NCR) are not processed by MDEM.
Awardees
NSGP – State Allotment – $2,098,727
| Temple Bat Yam | $98,995 |
| Temple B’nai Israel | $75,000 |
| Sacred Monastery of Saint Nina, Inc. | $130,000 |
| Williamsport Church of God | $150,000 |
| Redeeming Grace Baptist Church | $26,907 |
| Chesapeake Church | $128,099 |
| Beth Sholom Congregation | $150,000 |
| Shoresh, Inc. | $150,000 |
| Calvary Assembly of God, Inc. | $150,000 |
| Islamic Society of Frederick, Incorporated | $150,000 |
| St. John Regional Catholic School | $95,000 |
| TidalHealth Peninsula Regional | $150,000 |
| The Banner School | $150,000 |
| Atlantic General Hospital | $134,843 |
| Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics | $30,517 |
| Mother Seton School Inc | $150,000 |
| Bishop Walsh School | $147,366 |
| Covenant Family Chapel | $32,000 |
Baltimore Urban Area Allotment – $6,672,708
| Agudath Israel of Baltimore | $150,000 |
| Bais Yaakov School For Girls (1) | $150,000 |
| Baltimore Hebrew Congregation | $150,000 |
| Beth Am In-town Synagogue | $150,000 |
| Beth Tfiloh | $150,000 |
| Bais Yaakov School for Girls (2) | $150,000 |
| B’Nai Israel Congregation Cemetery | $89,550 |
| B’nai Israel Congregation of Baltimore | $150,000 |
| Bnos Yisroel of Baltimore | $150,000 |
| Bolton Street Synagogue | $74,731 |
| Chabad Israel Center of Baltimore | $150,000 |
| Chabad Lubavitch of Hunt Valley | $150,000 |
| Chabad of Towson | $150,000 |
| Cheder Chabad Inc. | $150,000 |
| Chizuk Amuno Congregation | $150,000 |
| Congregation Beit Yaakov | $150,000 |
| Congregation Shomrei Emunah Inc. | $150,000 |
| Congregation of Kol Shalom | $150,000 |
| Darchei Noam Montessori | $150,000 |
| Edward Myerberg Senior Center | $150,000 |
| Faith Christian Fellowship Church | $19,000 |
| Grace Bible Baptist Church | $107,575 |
| Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation | $150,000 |
| Institute For Islamic, Christian Jewish Studies | $110,577 |
| Islamic Society of Baltimore | $147,257 |
| Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore | $149,985 |
| Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore | $149,974 |
| Mesivta Kesser Torah of Baltimore | $150,000 |
| Mt. Olive Methodist Church | $136,000 |
| Ner Israel Rabbinical College | $150,000 |
| Ohr Chadash Congregation | $150,000 |
| Ohr Hatorah Inc. | $61,530 |
| Owings Mills Synagogue Inc. | $150,000 |
| Pikesville Jewish Congregation | $109,200 |
| Resurrection St. Paul School | $139,560 |
| Saint Agnes Catholic Congregation | $68,717 |
| Saint Isaac Jogues Catholic Church | $141,227 |
| St. Agnes Catholic School | $139,971 |
| St. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church | $147,097 |
| St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church | $150,000 |
| St. Michael-St. Clement School Willow | $120,886 |
| St. Paul Church | $148,943 |
| Star-K Certification Inc. | $150,000 |
| Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim | $75,000 |
| Talmudical Academy of Baltimore | $150,000 |
| Temple Beth Sholom of AA County | $150,000 |
| The Jewels School | $105,000 |
| Trinity Assembly of God | $80,928 |
| Yeshivas Lubavitch of Baltimore | $150,000 |
| Yeshivas Toras Simcha | $150,000 |
Grand Total $8,771,435
MDEM Reminds You September is National and Maryland Preparedness Month
August 29th, 2022This Year’s Theme is The Life You’ve Built is Worth Protecting; Prepare for Disasters to Create a Lasting Legacy for You and Your Family
REISTERSTOWN, Md. (August 29, 2022) — September is National and Maryland Preparedness Month, and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) asks all Marylanders and visitors to the State to be prepared for all emergencies. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak season occurring between mid-August and late October.
“Preparedness Month is our annual reminder to make sure you are prepared for emergencies. It takes just one storm to change your life,” said Russ Strickland, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. “Being prepared for more common emergencies, like power outages and fires, will also help you recover better from floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other incidents.”
Preparing in advance of an emergency is one of the best ways to protect your family from the financial and emotional effects of a disaster. Flooding is the most common hazard in Maryland, and tornadoes, severe storms, dangerous heat, and severe winter storms are among some of the other potential hazards. The best financial protection is to be properly insured, whether you own or rent. And remember flood damage is typically not covered by your property insurance.
MDEM will be having different themes each week in September to emphasize various aspects of being prepared:
Week 1 September 1-4: Make A Plan and Sign Up for MdReady or MdListo (en español)
Talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during, and after a disaster. Check out MdReady.Maryland.gov to sign up for alerts. Since September coincides with the height of the hurricane season in Maryland, it’s important to be ready for hurricane-related hazards, such as flooding, high winds, and tornados. All of these hazards can affect the State even without a hurricane. It is important to have a family emergency plan, to have an emergency supply kit, and to be aware of the hazards that may affect you and the ones you care most about.
Week 2 September 5-11: Build A Kit
Gather supplies that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home. Remember to consider the unique needs each person or pet may have in case you have to evacuate quickly. Update your kits and supplies based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control. Also consider kits for your car, office, and dorm room. www.mdem.maryland.gov/Pages/Disaster-Supply-Kit.aspx
Week 3 September 12-18: Prepare to Protect
Limit the impacts that disasters have on you and your family. Know the risks of disasters in your area and check your insurance coverage. Learn how to make your home stronger in the face of storms and other common hazards, and act fast if you receive a local warning or alert. Visit www.ready.gov/videos#npm
Week 4 September 19-25: Personal Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities and Functional Access Needs
For people with disabilities and their families, it is important to consider individual circumstances and needs to effectively prepare for emergencies and disasters. Also remember to include older adults, children, and pets in your planning. VIsit www.ready.gov/disability-toolkit
Week 5 September 26-30: Teach Youth About Preparedness
Talk to younger people about preparing for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Reassure them by providing information about how they can get involved. Visit www.ready.gov/kids/prepare-your-family
As part of Preparedness Month, MDEM will participate in several activities. On Sept. 1 at 7:00 p.m., MDEM will host a Facebook Live with Chris Strong from the National Weather Service Baltimore-Washington Forecast Office to discuss the outlook for the remainder of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. At noon on Sept. 8, MDEM will join the Maryland Insurance Administration for a “Lunch with MIA” Facebook Live to discuss preparedness.
Throughout the month, MDEM staff members will share their own preparedness tips on our social media platforms, and on Throwback Thursdays we will highlight past MDEM Preparedness videos.
If you live near the ocean, the Chesapeake Bay, or its tributaries, it also is important to understand Maryland’s Know Your Zone hurricane evacuation plan. To learn more about the program and hurricane preparedness in Maryland, visit KnowYourZoneMD.com .
You can learn more about being prepared for any hazard from MDEM, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service or the American Red Cross.
MDEM leadership and communications staff are available for interviews for media outlets and public affairs shows throughout the month. Please contact Jorge Castillo or Ed McDonough (contact below) for arrangements.
Deputy Executive Director from Department of Emergency Management Selected for Inaugural FEMA Exchange Program
July 12th, 2022
REISTERSTOWN, MD (July 12, 2022) — Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) Deputy Executive Director Chas Eby has been selected to be one of the first participants in the new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Exchange Program. Eby will be working with FEMA leadership in Washington, DC through the end of the year to implement programs to deliver disaster recovery assistance to survivors and communities. “I am honored to represent my home State in this new initiative to strengthen the field of emergency management,“ said Eby. “This is an opportunity to join best practices developed in Maryland with innovative programs FEMA is advancing.” Eby is one of four individuals selected nationwide to the first cohort of this program. According to FEMA, the exchange program will provide an avenue to strengthen FEMA’s partnerships with state, territory, tribal, and local emergency managers to increase community resilience against disasters. “This is a great opportunity for Chas and Maryland,” said Secretary of Emergency Management Russ Strickland. “He will bring excellent knowledge of state emergency management operations along with his exceptional collaboration skills to the program. Our department is proud of his selection and proud to be a national leader in our field .” Eby has worked at the Department of Emergency Management for eight years, overseeing all programs, administration, and emergency operations in his current role. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School. Eby has completed the FEMA National Emergency Management Executive Academy and a fellowship with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. He is from and resides in the City of Baltimore. You can find more information about FEMA’s Emergency Manager Exchange at fema.gov/partnerships/emergency-manager-exchange. |
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CONTACT:
Jorge Castillo, [email protected], 443-381-3518
Ed McDonough, [email protected], 410-446-3333
24/7 line: 877-636-2872
Looking Back: The 50th Anniversary of Hurricane Agnes
June 22nd, 2022| Lessons Learned Help Prepare Maryland for Future Storms
REISTERSTOWN, Md. (June 22, 2022) — This June marks the 50th anniversary of Hurricane Agnes striking Maryland and cutting a devastating path across much of the East Coast. According to the National Weather Service, Agnes was one of the most destructive hurricanes in United States history, claiming 117 lives and causing damage estimated at $3.1 billion in 12 states. Damage was particularly high in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. In Maryland, 21 lives were lost to flooding spawned by the remnants of Agnes, and it remains the deadliest named storm in state history. Agnes highlights the inland flooding threats from tropical storms, which often claims more lives and causes more damage than the high winds and storm surge where the storms make landfall. “Agnes highlighted the dangers of inland flooding in Maryland from tropical storms,” said Maryland Department of Emergency Management Secretary Russ Strickland. “The aftermath of Agnes also has shown the importance of mitigating future flood events. In downtown Frederick, for example, the Carroll Creek flood mitigation project has reduced flooding in the area and has created a walkable greenspace that enhances the business district.” The storm made landfall on the Florida panhandle as a weak hurricane and quickly dropped to a tropical storm while heading northeast through Georgia, South Carol, and North Carolina. The storm headed out to sea at the North Carolina-Virginia border as it began to affect the mid-Atlantic. For the next two days, the center of the storm traveled along the Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey coast line, dumping heavy rains in areas west of the storm track. Agnes made landfall again over Long Island and eventually into southeast New York state on the night of June 22, and then was joined by a low-pressure system. This created two storm centers, one of which moved into south central New York, and another that formed in northeastern Pennsylvania before looping southwest into central Pennsylvania. Not only did the storm drop heavy rain on Maryland as it moved up the coast, but the heavy rains in central New York and Pennsylvania caused heavy flooding in northeast Maryland from the Susquehanna River watershed several days later. Want to learn more about the history of Agnes and some of the ways it changes flood mitigation and emergency management? A website focusing on the history of the storm and flood mitigation effort has been created by several Silver Jackets teams in the mid-Atlantic region. Silver Jackets are state-based teams of State, local and federal partners who work together to reduce risks from floods and other weather-related events. The National Weather Service also has a page dedicated to historical events related to Hurricane Agnes. Hurricane Agnes was a costly but valuable lesson in emergency preparedness. This hurricane season, keep yourself and your family safe by learning about the following preparedness steps. Know Your Zone: It’s as easy as A-B-C. Know Your Zone is a new color-coded interactive map you can use to determine which storm evacuation zone you live in based upon your street address. Knowing your zone will help you avoid unnecessary evacuation travel, thereby reducing highway congestion, easing overcrowding at local storm shelters and boosting public safety. Simply click the ‘Find Your Zone” button. Enter your address on the map and view your color-coded evacuation zone. Emergency managers will work with local media and use social media and other tools to notify residents of impacted zones and what to do to stay safe. You can learn more and find your Zone here: bit.ly/-Know-Your-Zone |
Make a Plan:
- Prepare an emergency kit and create a family communications plan.
- Have multiple ways to receive weather watches and warnings and keep devices charged so they will still be usable for several hours if you lose power.
- Familiarize yourself with hurricane evacuation routes in your area and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.
- Trim the trees and shrubs around your home to make them more wind resistant.
- Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
- Bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage can, and anything else that is not tied down.
- Consider installing a generator for emergency backup power generation.
You can learn more about what to do Before, During, and After a Hurricane here: bit.ly/-Before-During-After
Create a Kit:
Make sure your emergency kit is stocked with the items on the checklist below. Most of the items are inexpensive and easy to find, and any one of them could save your life.
To prepare your kit, gather the following supplies:
- Food
- Water
- First Aid Kit
- Tools and Supplies
- Sanitation
- Clothing & Bedding
- Special Items for children, older adults, those with special needs and pets.
You can learn more about building a Disaster Kit here: bit.ly/-Build-A-Kit
NOTE: Emergency Management staff will be available for media interviews to discuss Hurricane Agnes and its aftermath over the next several days,
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CONTACT:
Jorge Castillo, [email protected], 443-381-3518
Ed McDonough, [email protected], 410-446-3333
24/7 line: 877-636-2872
Marylanders Urged to Know Your Zone as 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins
June 1st, 2022Be Prepared With an Emergency Plan and Kit
REISTERSTOWN, MD (June 1, 2022) — The 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially starts today and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management reminds people who live in, work in, or visit Maryland to Know Your Zone if a large storm requires evacuations from coastal and tidal areas. This season will also mark the 50th anniversary of Hurricane Agnes, still the deadliest named storm in State history.
Recent hurricane seasons have been unusually busy – 2020 set a record for named Atlantic Hurricanes – so it is important to Know Your Zone, and also have an emergency plan, a disaster supply kit, and multiple ways to receive warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS) and local emergency officials. Last year, Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in the Gulf of Mexico, still managed to cause tornadoes and flooding in Maryland and dangerous flash floods in the New York City area.
“Hurricane Ida taught us yet again that you don’t need to live in a coastal community to feel the impacts of tropical systems,” said Maryland Secretary of Emergency Management Russ Strickland. “While coastal storm surge and hurricane force winds are vivid images of hurricanes, in our area, inland flooding and tornadoes can be the biggest threats to life and property.”
When the remnants of Ida passed over Maryland last summer, several tornadoes were spawned, inducing one that caused substantial damage in the Annapolis area. Heavy rains also caused flash floods, inundating basement apartments at a complex in Montgomery County that led to a drowning. Farther up the coast, Ida’s heavy rains caused widespread flooding in New York City subway tunnels.
Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center are predicting above-average hurricane activity this year — which would make it the seventh consecutive above-average hurricane season. NOAA’s outlook for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which extends from June 1 to November 30, predicts a 65 percent chance of an above-normal season, a 25 percent chance of a near-normal season, and a 10 percent chance of a below-normal season.
For the 2022 hurricane season, NOAA is forecasting a likely range of 14 to 21 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5, with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence.
Marylanders should Know Your Zone to see if the places you live, work, or visit are in one of Maryland’s three evacuation zones. The Know Your Zone program allows local emergency officials to order evacuations by letter zones (A, B, and C) to more easily provide information to those in the area.
Here are some additional considerations while planning for hurricanes and other hazards:
- Plan now! Do not wait until the peak of hurricane season.
- Pay attention to emergency information and alerts.
- Determine your best protection for high winds and flooding.
- Unless you live in an evacuation zone, make a plan to shelter-in-place in your home if it is safe to do so.
- If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone, make a plan with friends or family to shelter with them where you will be safer and more comfortable.
- Check with local authorities for the latest information about public evacuation shelters. Many may still require the use of masks.
- Only use outdoor generators that are at least 20 feet away from your home and away from windows, doors, and vents.
- Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters.
For more information about hurricane preparedness, including sample emergency plans and supply kit information, please visit MDEM, FEMA, the National Weather Service, and the American Red Cross.
For access to preparedness tips and information, install the MdReady web app by visiting MdReady.Maryland.gov on your mobile device’s web browser. To receive text alerts, tips, and resources related to threats and hazards that may affect Maryland, text “MdReady” to 211-MD1 (211-631).
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Maryland Resources Available for Preventing and Preparing for Active Assailant Events
May 25th, 2022
Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work Group
ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 25, 2022) – On behalf of the Maryland Center for School Safety and Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work Group for the State of Maryland, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and communities directly affected by the horrific events in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York, as well as those across the country who are shaken by these events in their own local communities.
In Maryland, we have been committed to working on the prevention of mass violence and preparedness and response to such events in a collaborative fashion with our State, federal and local partners with increased attention and diligence with a series of actions directed by Governor Hogan in 2018.
This includes ensuring there are ample resources available to the public. The Maryland Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work Group keeps a robust resource library related to the prevention of, preparedness for, and response to active assailant incidents. The materials are divided into general prevention and early intervention resources, as well as sector or audience-specific materials relevant to specific industries, communities, or events. To find resources and learn more, visit aaiwg.maryland.gov.
The State offers multiple resources for assistance. For school safety concerns, we offer the Safe Schools Maryland (SSMD) anonymous reporting system. SSMD exists to ensure that individuals have a mechanism to report school and student safety concerns anonymously and securely. Anonymous reports can be submitted by calling (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233), completing an online form, or downloading the free Safe Schools Maryland app from the App Store or Google Play. More information on Safe Schools Maryland can be found at safeschoolsmd.org. For non-emergency suspicious activity reports, call the Maryland Coordination and ;Analysis Center (MCAC) at 1-800-492-TIPS(8477). And, if you or someone you know needs assistance with mental or behavioral health care, please check the Behavioral Health Administration’s Help Page, or contact Maryland’s Helpline at 2-1-1 press 1.
The passage of the Safe to Learn Act of 2018 expanded resources and programming of the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS). MCSS provides schools and school systems throughout the State with training and support on school safety prevention and intervention, emergency preparedness, and creating and maintaining healthy school communities. MCSS maintains a directory of school safety resources on its website for students, teachers, and families, and will also send staff to conduct training sessions on topics of interest. To learn more, please visit schoolsafety.maryland.gov.
By Executive Order issued on February 28, 2018, Governor Hogan authorized the Maryland Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work Group (AAIWG), co-chaired by the Maryland State Police (MSP) and Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), with oversight from the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM). The work group is composed of several local, state and federal agencies, including the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS), to ensure all procedures are cohesive across jurisdictional boundaries.
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CONTACT: Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work Group, 410-281-2361 or [email protected].
410.281.2361 | [email protected]
Town of Crisfield to Receive Technical Assistance from The Federal Emergency Management Agency After State of Maryland’s Successful Application
May 24th, 2022FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REISTERSTOWN, Md. (May 24, 2022) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide Direct Technical Assistance (DTA) to the Town of Crisfield to prepare a competitive grant application for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. Crisfield is only one of 20 sub-applicants in the U.S. to be selected as a recipient.
“Mitigation is crucial to the future of communities near the Chesapeake Bay as they face ever-increasing threats from flooding,” said Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) Secretary Russ Strickland. “Investing in mitigation projects saves money by reducing damages from future events. I like to say that in emergency management, mitigation is the center of the universe.”
In fiscal year 2021, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management submitted an application for nearly $27.6 million in BRIC projects aimed at reducing disaster risk statewide. This year, FEMA’S Direct Technical Assistance will help Crisfield develop competitive applications that are eligible for potential funding of mitigation projects as well as funding to administer those projects. Like many smaller communities, Crisfield’s lack of resources and personnel make it difficult to navigate the process required to receive funding. This Somerset County community is located where the Little Annemessex River meets the Chesapeake Bay and has been the scene of many flooding events caused by high tides, storm surge, and heavy rainfall.
BRIC grants provide funding for projects that mitigate against these and other hazards, and DTA makes it possible for communities like Crisfield to have a chance at obtaining badly needed funding for hazard mitigation projects. This program will connect the City with experienced mentors who can discuss best practices and lessons learned in other similar communities to help create successful projects to encourage community-wide resilience.
While Crisfield has seen an increase in nuisance flooding from tides and minor storms in recent years, it was the hardest hit community in Maryland during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, with severe damage to buildings and public infrastructure near its harbor. In addition to the dangers inherent to the topography, the City also has documented drainage issues due to an aging stormwater system.
To learn more about BRIC, visit fema.gov/ne/node/626155. To learn more about FEMA’s Direct Technical Assistance visit fema.gov/ne/node/631121.
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CONTACT:
Jorge Castillo, [email protected], 443-381-3518
Ed McDonough, [email protected], 410-446-3333
24/7 line: 877-636-2872
FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Maryland
April 22nd, 2022Emergency preparedness exercise scheduled for the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station
PHILADELPHIA – The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will evaluate a Biennial Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise for communities around the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. The exercise will occur during the week of April 25, 2022 to assess the ability of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Maryland to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility.
“These drills are held every other year to evaluate government’s ability to protect public health and safety,” said MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 3. “We will assess state and local government emergency response capabilities within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Maryland.”
Within 90 days, FEMA will send its evaluation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for use in licensing decisions. The final report will be available to the public approximately 120 days after the exercise.
FEMA will present preliminary findings of the exercise during a public meeting at 10:30 a.m. on April 29, 2022. The meeting will be conducted in a virtual format via Zoom. Planned speakers include representatives from FEMA and the NRC. Access to the public meeting is provided below:
Join ZoomGov Meeting
https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1614341555
Meeting ID: 161 434 1555
Passcode: 688311
At the public meeting, FEMA may request that questions or comments be submitted in writing for review and response. Written comments may also be submitted after the meeting by emailing [email protected] or by mail to:
MaryAnn Tierney
Regional Administrator
FEMA Region III
615 Chestnut Street, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19106
FEMA created the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program to (1) ensure the health and safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants would be adequately protected in the event of a nuclear power plant accident and (2) inform and educate the public about radiological emergency preparedness.
REP Program responsibilities cover only “offsite” activities, that is, state and local government emergency planning and preparedness activities that take place beyond the nuclear power plant boundaries. Onsite activities continue to be the responsibility of the NRC.
Additional information on FEMA’s REP Program is available online at FEMA.gov/Radiological-Emergency-Preparedness-Program.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3
Maryland 9-1-1 Board Warns that 3G Network Mobile Phones May Cease Operating in 2022
December 14th, 2021AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile Have Announced Plans to Discontinue 3G Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REISTERSTOWN, Md. (December 14, 2021) — The Maryland 9-1-1 Board is issuing a warning to consumers that older phones may cease operating in early 2022 due to the retirement of 3G networks and support for phones using 3G service. This may include other devices that use 3G connectivity, such as some medical alert devices, tablets, smart watches, and home security systems. The nation’s three major wireless carriers (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) have each announced that they plan to discontinue 3G service in favor of 4G (LTE) and 5G service in 2022. According to the FCC’s website, AT&T will discontinue service in February, T-Mobile/Sprint will discontinue service between March and July, and Verizon will discontinue service at the end of 2022 (See www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/plan-ahead-phase-out-3g-cellular-networks-and-service).
Most users of these services will be notified directly by the carriers if this discontinuation affects them. However, users of older phones used for 9-1-1 only purposes may not be notified if they do not have active service with the provider. It has long been the practice of some organizations for the homeless or domestic violence shelters to provide clients with older phones with no service, since those phones could still be used to call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Users of those older 9-1-1 only phones should be aware that they may not work after 3G service is discontinued.
Low-income individuals who are concerned that their 9-1-1 only phones may no longer be supported should consider applying for service through the federal Lifeline Program. Information regarding eligibility and participating providers can be found at www.lifelinesupport.org.