Maryland Department of Emergency Management
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Maryland Department of Emergency Management
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Official page of the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. All-hazard emergency preparedness and disaster information for MD. Accounts are staffed M-F, 9-5pm.
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September is National Preparedness Month!

Pay attention to our channels this month for preparedness tips, some exciting history and learn more about what MDEM does every day to keep Maryland prepared for whatever comes next.

#MDReady #PreparednessInAction #NationalPreparednessMonth
September is . . . Preparedness Month Maryland Department of Emergency Management #MDReady
September 1, 2026 at 3:52 PM
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🚨 Severe Weather Threat - August 27, 2026 🚨

Isolated thunderstorms and showers are expected to continue through this afternoon to late evening. Damaging winds will be the main threat, but frequent lightning, brief heavy rains, hail and a tornado or two are also possible.
August 27, 2026 at 4:10 PM
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🚨 Severe Weather Threat - August 20, 2026 🚨

Thunderstorms are anticipated to develop early this afternoon moving across the state from 3 pm to 9pm. Damaging winds will be the main threat, but frequent lightning, brief heavy rains, and a tornado or two are also possible.
#mdwx #MDReady
NOAA Model shows Tornado Outlook for Thursday August 20 2026. East of Frederick to the Shore has some probability of a tornado developing NWS Forecast show Excessive Rainfall Risk for Thu/Thu Night. West of the I-95 corridor is in a yellow risk category; East of I-95 corridor is in orange risk category. NWS Forecast shows Severe Thunderstorm Risk for Thu/Thu Night. Between Cumberland and Frederick there is Marginal Risk, and East of Frederick the rest of the state is under Slight Risk.
August 20, 2026 at 4:55 PM
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Did you know? The State Emergency Operations Center is active to maintain situational awareness & provide logistical & communication coordination to support the State Board of Elections & local partners. For official election info, visit elections.maryland.gov.
Staff work on laptops at different stations in the State Emergency Operations Center. Eight large, wall-mounted televisions display updates at the front of the room.
June 23, 2026 at 4:03 PM
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Flood watches are in effect for parts of Maryland. Planning to get in line at the polls? Feel confident following these safety tips and look to polling officers for safety guidance. Stay informed on Election Day: vote.md.gov/vote2026.
Maryland Election Day Weather Update. Flood watches in effect for parts of Maryland. Updated June 23, 2026 at 9 a.m. Never drive through flood waters and don't drive around barricades. If thunder roars, go indoors. Bring a water bottle and stay hydrated. Stay informed at vote.md.gov/vote2026.
June 23, 2026 at 1:14 PM
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Happy Election Day, Maryland! The State Emergency Operations Center is ready and the State of Maryland is committed to ensuring a safe and fair election for Maryland voters. For election information, visit vote.md.gov/vote2026.
Maryland Primary Election Information | Maryland State Board of Elections
Find official information on Maryland’s Primary Election, including dates, voter registration, polling locations, mail-in ballots, and how to vote.
vote.md.gov
June 23, 2026 at 11:50 AM
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ATTENTION: Most of Maryland continues to experience either Moderate or Severe Drought conditions.

ℹ️ What you can do, with support from our friends at #MDDeptofAgriculture & #MDDeptoftheEnvironment:
Water Conservation Tips: Don’t let water run while brushing teeth, washing your face, or shaving Avoid wasting water while waiting for it to get hot. Avoid leaving sprinklers or hoses unattended Take showers instead of baths. Only operate dishwashers and washing machines when they are full If you need assistance: Farmers in: Allegany, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Washington counties are eligible for certain assistance from the UDSA Farm Service Agency. Learn more here: www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Maryland.
May 7, 2026 at 6:23 PM
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🚨 Disaster policy is evolving—are you evolving with it?

Join the MDEM's Whole Community Integration Branch for Partnering for the New Normal: A State-Led Disaster Forum.
Partnering For The New Normal: A State-Led Disaster Forum Preparing, Responding, and Recovering with Less Federal Support Facilitated Discussion – Supply Chain & Infrastructure Resilience Join the conversation on how federal changes are impacting real-world operations and share your perspective on the interdependencies and vulnerabilities we face in disasters. Together, we’ll explore ways to strengthen coordination, enhance collaboration, and proactively prevent cascading failures. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! A QR code is displayed that goes to the web address: https://bit.ly/3PFfkoi WCI and MDEM Logos are on the bottom.
May 6, 2026 at 6:37 PM
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🚨Last week, MDEM worked alongside other state, local, federal, and private-sector partners, successfully completed the biennial Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise for the Peach Bottom Clean Energy Center. Learn more about the exercise here: bit.ly/PBEX2026
Image has the MDEM logo and says "Press Release" there is an icon of a news paper and a mega phone.
May 4, 2026 at 6:13 PM
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It's the last day of Severe Storm Awareness Week, let's talk lightning ⚡️

Learn what to do, and what not to do, when it comes to lightning. weather.gov/safety/light...

#mdseverestormweek #MDReady
Lightning Do's and Don'ts. DO: Go inside when you hear thunder! Find a sturdy house, building, or car with a roof. Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after you last hear thunder. DON'T: Retreat to dugouts, sheds, pavilions, picnic shelters or other small structures. Use or touch electronics, outlets, corded phones or windows. Go under or near tall trees, swim or be near water, stand near metal objects.
April 10, 2026 at 2:15 PM
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Day 4 of Maryland Severe Storm Week, let's talk hail.

Hail is precipitation that is formed when updrafts in thunderstorms carry raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere.
Image shows golf ball size hail on top of dried grass.
April 9, 2026 at 4:42 PM
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Tornadoes can form in minutes, day or night. Stay #WeatherReady by having a way to receive weather alerts any time of day. If you receive a Tornado Warning, get to shelter immediately. weather.gov/safety/tornado
#MDSevereStormWeek
Severe Weather can escalate quickly. While the possibility of tornadoes can be forecast ahead of time, they can form in minutes, day or night. Will you be prepared? Set up a way to get weather warnings any time of day. When alerted to a tornado, quickly get to a storm shelter or basement. If underground shelter isn't available, get to an interior hall away from windows.
April 8, 2026 at 6:16 PM
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Did you participate in The Great Twister Test, Maryland? Show us below!

MDEM staff were participating in the office today, a huge thank you to Dr. Christy Collins and Andranese Carter of the 9-1-1 Board for helping coordinate our staff!
April 8, 2026 at 3:08 PM
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Wind can be dangerous when out on the water because strong winds can create large waves. If high winds are forecast, adjust your plans. weather.gov/safety/safeboating #WeatherReady
#MDSevereStormWeek
Navigating Strong Wind. Dangerous wind can arrive well before (or without) rain. Reduce speed and head to shore if alerted to high wind. Always wear a life jacket.
April 7, 2026 at 8:59 PM
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At 10AM on April 8th (tomorrow), the @was.nws-bot.us will issue a special message announcing the drill across Maryland's alert systems. When it happens, follow the steps to good tornado safety - find your safe shelter, and get covered up.

#MDSevereStormWeek
The Great Maryland Twister Test 10:00 AM – 04.08.2026
April 7, 2026 at 5:42 PM
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Day 2 of Severe Storm Awareness Week is all about high winds! 🌬️
High winds can be dangerous! When driving, slow down and keep away from high-profile vehicles. Be aware of loose outdoor items and stay clear of trees. weather.gov/wind #WeatherReady
#mdseverestormweek
Infographic - When the Wind Blows. Identify an interior room in your house or at work that you can take shelter in during high wind warnings (head inside immediately). If you are driving and aren't near a sturdy building, hold the steering wheel with both hands and slow down. Keep a distance from high profile vehicles (be careful on the road). High winds can create dangerous fallen or blowing objects (stay clear of hazards from above). Stay clear of trees. Beware of loose outdoor items.
April 7, 2026 at 1:17 PM
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NEVER drive around barricades into floodwaters! Most flood fatalities are vehicle-related. It takes only 12 inches of fast-moving water to carry off a small car and 18 inches of water to sweep a larger vehicle away. Turn Around, Don’t Drown! weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown
Never drive around barricades. Most flood fatalities occur in vehicles. You don't know how deep the water is. Even when the water recedes, the ground may be unstable.
April 6, 2026 at 8:31 PM
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Did you know? April is Flood Awareness Month! 💧
MDEM and several other agencies across the state have several educational opportunities throughout the month available to the public. You can learn more here: bit.ly/MDFloodMonth26!
#mdseverestormweek #MDFloodMonth
April is Maryland Flood Awareness Month. Join the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE), Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM), the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) and other agencies for a virtual event showcasing flood preparedness and opportunities throughout the state. For more information and details about our upcoming events on Flood Awareness Month, visit: https://bit.ly/MDFloodMonth26 or scan the QR Code.
April 6, 2026 at 4:57 PM
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Flood Prep: During a flood, water levels and the rate at which water is flowing can quickly change. You are safest staying indoors, or seeking higher ground if shelter isn’t available. Never cross flood waters by vehicle or on foot. weather.gov/safety/flood #MDSevereStormWeek
Your safe place from flooding: during a flood, water levels and flow speed can quickly change. You are safest by staying indoors, or seeking higher ground if shelter isn't available. If you're stuck outside when a flash flood occurs, do not attempt to cross flood waters by vehicle or on foot.
April 6, 2026 at 2:21 PM
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Welcome to Severe Storm Awareness Week, Maryland! We’ve already had some severe weather in March, and as any Marylander can tell you, severe weather can happen at any time. Each day this week, we will be sharing important safety tips for some of the most common severe weather we see in Maryland.
Image on Yellow background with red accents and white lettering with a transparent Maryland Flag in the back saying "April 6- 12 is Maryland Severe Storm Awareness Week Monday: Flooding Tuesday: Damaging Damaging Winds Wednesday: Tornadoes and The Great Twister Test Thursday: Hail Friday: Lightning" with the MDEM logo on the bottom
April 6, 2026 at 12:38 PM
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Happy Opening Day, Maryland! While the O’s don’t hit the field at Camden Yards until tomorrow we’re getting ready to cheer them on for the baseball season. Who are you rooting for? Let us know!
Picture of an aerial view of a baseball showing all bases and the outfield. Text on the image says “⚾ Happy Opening Day! ⚾ Who are you rooting for this season?” The image prompts responders to react to the post with the following: 👍Oriels; ♥️ Nationals; 🥰 Other (let us know in the comments)
March 25, 2026 at 7:55 PM
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392 years ago today, in 1634, English settlers landed on Blackistone Island (now known as St. Clement’s Island) led by Leonard Calvert, who became the colony’s first governor. Today we celebrate our state’s rich history, from coast to mountains and everywhere in between.
A background of the Maryland flag with an image of the outline of the state in red. Image says “Happy Maryland Day!” The MDEM logo is in the center bottom of the image.
March 25, 2026 at 3:06 PM
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Happy first day of Spring, Maryland!🌸

We are certainly celebrating, but maybe not enough to put away all our our winter gear just yet.
Yellow panel that reads, "Marylanders now that it is *officially* Spring! (Just maybe don't put up the winter coats yet.)" with the MDEM logo. The panel next is of the actress Nicole Kidman in a celebratory image, taken after her divorce with actor Tom Cruise.
March 20, 2026 at 2:03 PM
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🌪️ Tornado Watches are in effect for portions of Maryland. Do you know how to stay safe? 🌪️

A tornado can happen anytime and anywhere, bringing intense winds, over 200 miles per hour, and look like funnels. Learn more safety tips here:https://bit.ly/MDReadyTornadoes
Image features a red background over an image of a tornado. The text in yellow reads "What to do During a Tornado" Test below in white says "Go to a safe shelter immediately, Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls, Use your arms to protect your head and neck". Below there is the MDEM Logo Image features a red background over an image of a tornado. The text in yellow reads "What to do During a Tornado - if you get caught while driving" Test below in white says "Do not go under and overpass or bridge, Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death, Stay in the car with the seatbelt on". Below there is the MDEM Logo
March 11, 2026 at 9:34 PM
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Daylight savings time has started, and with that there can be additional hazards like reduced visibility during drive times and drowsy driving while adjusting to the time change. Plan ahead to avoid rushing and increase your following distance to accommodate for slower reaction times! #WeCare
Image with red background and a steering wheel. The image says "Daylight Savings Safety: (zzz emoji) Don’t Drive Drowsy, (panic face emoji) Avoid Rushing, (light bulb emoji) Turn on Your Headlights, (snail emoji) Accommodate for Slower Reaction Times.” The bottom of the image has the MDEM logo.
March 9, 2026 at 6:22 PM