Governor Wes Moore has put Maryland under a state of emergency ahead of a winter storm set to bring inches of snow and ice to Maryland.
The governor is also requesting an Emergency Declaration from the federal government, which enables the federal government’s ability to expedite assistance to the State during and after the storm if necessary.
“Keeping our people safe is always our top priority, but local officials, law enforcement, and first responders cannot do it alone. Everyone must act with caution and follow guidance from local officials during this winter storm,” Moore said in a statement. “Do not travel unless it is absolutely necessary. Staying off the roads is essential to keeping routes clear for law enforcement, snow removal crews, and emergency responders so they can do their jobs without delay.”
The Department of Emergency Management is working to coordinate the state's response.
The Maryland Department of Emergency Management will staff the State Emergency Operations Center beginning Saturday with personnel from across state government. The Department will be coordinating with local governments, state agencies, and nongovernmental and federal partners to quickly and effectively respond to the needs of communities throughout the storm.
The Maryland Department of Transportation is activating the State Highway Administration Emergency Operations Center on Saturday with storm managers in place to manage operations. Crews began brining operations on Thursday and will complete them by today. The Coordinated Highway Action Response Team will enhance roadside patrols to clear lanes more rapidly in case of crashes, disabled vehicles or road debris. Maryland Transportation Authority will temporarily close the I-95 Express Toll Lanes on Saturday, Jan. 24 in Baltimore to prioritize snow removal operations. The Maryland Transit Administration will closely monitor transit conditions and will update riders via social media and rider alerts on impacts to transit systems.
The Maryland State Police will be increasing staffing across the State and tracking incidents throughout the State.
The Maryland National Guard has mobilized more than 100 personnel. Guard members will provide transportation, mobility, and logistical support to civil authorities to preserve public safety, save lives, prevent human suffering, mitigate property damage, and enable recovery efforts. The activated Guard members are strategically prepositioning assets in key locations throughout Maryland and are prepared to provide support to civilian first responders with 10 Light Medium Tactical Vehicles and 32 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, also known as Humvees.
The Public Service Commission is coordinating the state’s utilities on storm preparedness efforts and outage response, particularly with the potential for heavy snow and ice accumulation. Utilities have communicated to the commission that they plan to fully staff line and field crews, bring in contractors when necessary, and maximize customer service and call center staffing to maintain system reliability, repair weatherrelated damage, restore service as safely and quickly as possible and communicate safety and preparedness information to customers. The state's major utilities have committed to having crews work around the clock until all customers are restored, with priority given to public safety facilities, emergency services, and infrastructure serving large numbers of customers.
The Maryland Department of Health is standing by to coordinate the state’s public health and medical response during the storm, coordinating with state and local agencies, local health departments, hospital systems, state hospitals and the National Weather Service to monitor hazardous weather and make plans for any resources that may be needed. The department will also provide weather preparedness information including warming center locations on all of their social media channels.
The Maryland Department of Disabilities will activate the disability hotline on Sunday. The hotline is not for emergency services, but is available to provide resources, referrals, and expertise for people with disabilities. The disability hotline will be activated through Monday. Assistive technology kits are prepared for deployment for use in mass care shelters. A staff member is standing by to provide just-in-time training and tech support for deployed devices.
Everyone is urged to stay home whenever possible and avoid driving.
