Maryland Emergency Management and Homeland Security Statutory Authorities Summarized

Publication Date: September 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Coverage: Maryland

Abstract:

The primary state emergency management statute (codified at Title 14 of the Public Safety Article of the state code) established the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. The governor has responsibility for emergency management and may exercise broad powers after issuing a disaster declaration. The director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, appointed by the adjutant general with the governor's approval, carries out the state emergency management plan. The governor appoints the director of emergency management for each locality, based on the local governing body's recommendation. The Maryland Security Council coordinates state and local government activities regarding emergency management, and makes recommendations to the legislature. Funds are available to fire departments for equipment purchases; resources are also available from the state Catastrophic Event Account. Continuity of government provisions are included in the state constitution as well as statutes.

This report is one of a series that profiles emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant.