{"id":28155,"date":"2026-04-24T13:38:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T17:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mdem\/?p=28155"},"modified":"2026-04-24T13:38:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T17:38:51","slug":"emergency-responders-tested-during-regional-search-and-rescue-exercise-sarex-at-gunpowder-falls-state-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mdem\/2026\/04\/24\/emergency-responders-tested-during-regional-search-and-rescue-exercise-sarex-at-gunpowder-falls-state-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Emergency Responders Tested During Regional Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) at Gunpowder Falls State Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

Full-Scale Regional Training Exercise Highlights Coordinated Search and Rescue Operations across Air, Land, and Water<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

HANOVER, Md. (April 24, 2026) \u2014 <\/b>Emergency responders gathered in Baltimore County yesterday to tackle a series of immersive scenarios designed to test their skills, operational capabilities, and interagency coordination.\u00a0 Centered around Loch Raven Dam Reservoir and Gunpowder Falls State Park, SAREX 2026 spanned 20 square miles of challenging terrain. The exercise used high-fidelity props to test the technical proficiency of responders, while a mix of mannequins and live role players added a critical human element to the triage process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joint exercises like SAREX demonstrate Maryland\u2019s commitment to a coordinated, hazard-agnostic approach to emergency management, <\/span>said Russ Strickland, Maryland\u2019s Secretary of Emergency Management. <\/b>\u201cBy bringing together partners from across\u00a0 jurisdictions and disciplines, we are strengthening the relationships, capabilities, and shared understanding needed to protect lives and support communities before, during, and after crises.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Kiona Black, Exercise Director and Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) Response Coordination Manager added that<\/b> \u201cworking with our emergency responder partners from around the State brings everyone together for a common goal. When large scale emergency events occur, interoperability is key. Having those pre-established relationships and shared training experiences helps us <\/span>shape a more resilient Maryland.<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis was more than a training exercise, it was an opportunity to simulate real-world conditions, testing how effectively we communicate, make decisions, and deploy resources during complex incidents,\u201d <\/span>said Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough.<\/b> \u201cEvents like the Key Bridge collapse and Potomac River mid-air collision have shown no single agency can manage these situations alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

During the 12-hour operational period, air, land, marine, and dive resources worked together to accomplish their objectives. Such seamless interoperability is essential during real-world events, helping to build more resilient communities ahead of actual emergencies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis type of collaboration between local, state, and regional partners is critical to assess our preparedness level and response capabilities,\u201d <\/span>said Baltimore County Fire Chief Joseph Dixon, Sr.<\/b> \u201cThe lessons learned today will be incorporated into our planning and contribute to better outcomes whenever and wherever disaster strikes.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis exercise demonstrates the necessity of leveraging the capabilities and resources across Maryland, from our State agencies, local jurisdictions, as well as non-governmental organizations, to provide a comprehensive response to catastrophic events,\u201d <\/span>said Brian Bauer, Director (Acting),\u00a0 Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) Consequence Management Directorate<\/b>. \u201cWe don\u2019t get to pick where emergencies happen, so training in different locations and working with teams that we may not always get a chance to interact with on a regular basis helps to make partnerships stronger. I thank everyone who attended the exercise, especially those who traveled those longer distances to get here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Training and exercises like SAREX are essential to maintaining a coordinated and effective emergency response system. By working together, Maryland\u2019s responders are better equipped to manage complex incidents and support communities across the State.<\/span><\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

CONTACT:
\nJim Abels, james.abels@maryland.gov<\/a>, 667-446-0346
\nEmily Ritter, emily.ritter@maryland.gov<\/a>, 667-446-0345
\n24\/7 line: 877-636-2872<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Full-Scale Regional Training Exercise Highlights Coordinated Search and Rescue Operations across Air, Land, and Water HANOVER, Md. (April 24, 2026) \u2014 Emergency responders gathered in Baltimore County yesterday to tackle a series of immersive scenarios designed to test their skills, operational capabilities, and interagency coordination.\u00a0 Centered around Loch Raven Dam Reservoir and Gunpowder Falls State  Read the Rest…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":274,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t