Maryland Emergency Management Agency
Encyclopedia
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is a state of Maryland agency
organized within the Maryland Military Department
.
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency is the state agency that coordinates federal, state, local and private resources throughout the state during times of disasters and emergencies. It is headquartered in Reisterstown
.
While MEMA is part of the Maryland Military Department
and under the authority of the adjutant general, during emergencies the governor may assume direct authority over the agency. In an emergency, the director of MEMA reports directly to the governor.
MEMA’s authority derives from Article 14 of the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland
. This Article creates MEMA and authorizes the political subdivisions of the state to create emergency management offices of their own. Currently, there are 26 local emergency management offices in Maryland – all 23 counties, along with Annapolis, Baltimore and Ocean City. Article 14 also gives the governor emergency powers—such as temporarily waiving state laws that may interfere with emergency response operations.
The maintenance and operation of the State Emergency Operations Center
is a function of MEMA.
MEMA is operated using multiple branches under two directorates, Operations and Administration, each overseen by a deputy director.
The organization of MEMA's Operations directorate provides specific focus on the "four pillars" of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The Administration directorate provides agency support, technology support, and grants management.
MEMA operates the Maryland Joint Operations Center
(MJOC), the agency's twenty-four hour warning point and communications / operations center. This center is responsible for the coordination of all state of Maryland emergency response resources and operates 24-hours per day.
Within the Operations Directorate, MEMA operates a Regional Programs branch. This branch employees Regional Administrators that work in the field directly with local emergency managers and emergency responders.
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
organized within the Maryland Military Department
Maryland Military Department
The Maryland Military Department is a department of the state of Maryland directed by Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins. The MMD mission is to provide supplemental services to the Maryland National Guard with the governor of Maryland as its commander-in-chief.The Maryland Military Department consists of...
.
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency is the state agency that coordinates federal, state, local and private resources throughout the state during times of disasters and emergencies. It is headquartered in Reisterstown
Reisterstown, Maryland
Reisterstown is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland. Founded by German immigrant John Reister in 1758, it is located to the northwest of Baltimore. Though it is older than the areas surrounding it, it now serves primarily as a residential suburb of...
.
While MEMA is part of the Maryland Military Department
Maryland Military Department
The Maryland Military Department is a department of the state of Maryland directed by Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins. The MMD mission is to provide supplemental services to the Maryland National Guard with the governor of Maryland as its commander-in-chief.The Maryland Military Department consists of...
and under the authority of the adjutant general, during emergencies the governor may assume direct authority over the agency. In an emergency, the director of MEMA reports directly to the governor.
MEMA’s authority derives from Article 14 of the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland
Annotated Code of Maryland
The Annotated Code of Maryland, published by The Michie Company, is the official codification of the statutory laws of Maryland. It is organized, by subject matter, in two sets of volumes...
. This Article creates MEMA and authorizes the political subdivisions of the state to create emergency management offices of their own. Currently, there are 26 local emergency management offices in Maryland – all 23 counties, along with Annapolis, Baltimore and Ocean City. Article 14 also gives the governor emergency powers—such as temporarily waiving state laws that may interfere with emergency response operations.
The maintenance and operation of the State Emergency Operations Center
Emergency operations center
An emergency operations center, or EOC, is a central command and control facility responsible for carrying out the principles of emergency preparedness and emergency management, or disaster management functions at a strategic level in an emergency situation, and ensuring the continuity of operation...
is a function of MEMA.
MEMA is operated using multiple branches under two directorates, Operations and Administration, each overseen by a deputy director.
The organization of MEMA's Operations directorate provides specific focus on the "four pillars" of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The Administration directorate provides agency support, technology support, and grants management.
MEMA operates the Maryland Joint Operations Center
Maryland Joint Operations Center
The Maryland Joint Operations Center is organized as a branch within the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. The MJOC is a steady-state component of the State of Maryland Emergency Operations Center and functions as the State of Maryland Warning Point....
(MJOC), the agency's twenty-four hour warning point and communications / operations center. This center is responsible for the coordination of all state of Maryland emergency response resources and operates 24-hours per day.
Within the Operations Directorate, MEMA operates a Regional Programs branch. This branch employees Regional Administrators that work in the field directly with local emergency managers and emergency responders.
See also
- Maryland Joint Operations CenterMaryland Joint Operations CenterThe Maryland Joint Operations Center is organized as a branch within the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. The MJOC is a steady-state component of the State of Maryland Emergency Operations Center and functions as the State of Maryland Warning Point....
(MJOC) - Federal Emergency Management AgencyFederal Emergency Management AgencyThe Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA)