Order Code RS21929
September 3, 2004
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Maryland Emergency Management and
Homeland Security Statutory Authorities
Summarized
Keith Bea
Specialist in American National Government
Government and Finance Division
L. Cheryl Runyon and Kae M. Warnock
Consultants
Government and Finance Division
Summary
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.
Congressional Research Service ˜
The Library of Congress
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Entities with Key Responsibilities
Governor: The governor is authorized to: exercise general control over the
Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA); assume direct operational control
over any and all emergency management functions; delegate powers to state departments
and agencies; cooperate with the federal government, other states, and private agencies
in emergency management operations; issue orders, rules, and regulations governing
emergency management preparation and coordination; authorize the procurement of
supplies and equipment, training, and public information programs; conduct studies and
survey industries, resources, and facilities; and, appoint directors of emergency
management for political subdivisions “in cooperation with local authorities” (Md. Public
Safety §14-106). The governor is also authorized to suspend statutes, compel evacuations
and establish routes, direct access to emergency areas, use private property with
compensation, provide temporary housing, and approve debris clearance (Md. Public
Safety §14-107(d).
Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA): The statute established MEMA
within the state military department (Md. Public Safety §14-103 et seq.).
Director, Emergency Management Agency: The executive head of MEMA,
appointed by the adjutant general with the approval of the governor, carries out the state
emergency management plan, coordinates activities, and serves as liaison to the federal
government and emergency management agencies of other states. When the governor
declares that an emergency has occurred or a threat exists, the director coordinates
activities of state agencies and political subdivisions, develops mutual aid agreements
when two or more political subdivisions are affected, and serves as liaison to other states
and the federal government (Md. Public Safety §14-104(d)(2),(3),(5)). The director also
is authorized to deploy and use resources and distribute supplies and equipment (Md.
Public Safety §14-107(c)).
Office of Planning: Staff of the office must cooperate with any unit in the state or the
federal government engaged in civil defense planning (Md. State Finance and
Procurement §5-406).
Maryland Security Council: The council is comprised of eight state government
representatives and seven gubernatorial appointees who assist the governor in ensuring
that the state maintains an adequate and coordinated strategy for detecting, preventing,
preparing, responding, and recovering from an emergency. The council works with state
agencies, other state governments, local governments, federal agencies, and private
entities to develop emergency management plans, and reviews and assesses the plans,
recommends changes, and disseminates information. The council has operational
authority over emergency management response only when directed by the governor, and
exercises advisory authority; government personnel must cooperate with council requests.
The council must make annual reports to the governor and the General Assembly about
activities and recommendations (Md. State Government §9-2501 et seq.).
Emergency Management Advisory Council: The council members (that include
firefighters, local government officials, and certain private sector representatives) are
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appointed by the governor and advise the governor on all matters related to state
emergency management (Md. Public Safety §14-105).
Local organizations for emergency management: Local organizations must be
established by each political subdivision and are headed by directors appointed by the
governor, based on recommendations of local officials. Local organizations are
responsible for the organization, administration, and operation of the local emergency
management agencies. The organizations must develop radiological emergency response
plans if residents would be affected by nuclear power plants located within the area (Md.
Public Safety §14-109,110). Emergency management organizations must enforce orders
issued by the governor (Md. Public Safety §14-113).
Preparedness
The governor, adjutant general, and officials of political subdivisions can use
services, equipment, supplies, and facilities of state agencies to prepare for emergencies
(Md. Public Safety §14-112(c)).
Each county must prepare an emergency preparedness plan for hazardous material
(Md. Public Safety §14-110).
Declaration Procedures
A state of emergency may be declared by the governor through executive order or
proclamation and continues until the threat has passed or the emergency has been
managed. A declaration is to be terminated by executive order, and no state of emergency
is to last longer that 30 days unless the governor renews the declaration. By joint
resolution, the General Assembly may terminate the state of emergency at any time, and
the governor must then issue an executive order to terminate the declaration. All
executive orders issuing the declaration must state the nature of the emergency, the areas
threatened, and the conditions that brought it about or make termination possible. The
executive order is to be disseminated to the public and filed with specified entities (Md.
Public Safety §14-107(a,b)).
A local state of emergency may be declared by the principal executive officer of a
political subdivision, and cannot be continued or renewed for more than seven days
without the approval of the local governing body. The declaration must be made public
and filed with the appropriate record-keeping agency. A local declaration activates the
jurisdiction’s response and recovery plan (Md. Public Safety §14-111).
Types of Assistance
Counties or municipalities are to be reimbursed for purchases of protective
equipment and chemicals for volunteer fire companies, rescue squads, ambulance
companies, and their employees (Md. Courts and Judicial Proceedings §3-1104).
Civil relief is provided (for eviction, mortgages, motor vehicle, property and income
tax obligations) for persons involved in emergency management service to the state or the
nation (Md. Public Safety §14-201 et seq.).
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Radiation fallout shelters not being used for other purposes are not to be assessed for
purposes of taxation. Other shelters are assessed as specified (Md. Tax-Property §8-236).
Mutual Aid
The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) is codified (Md. Public
Safety §14-701 et seq. and §14-801 et seq.).
The Interstate Emergency Management and Civil Defense Compact is codified (Md.
Public Safety §14-601 et seq.).
Local governments or the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
may enter into reciprocal agreements for emergencies (Md. Criminal Procedure §2-105).
The Middle Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact is codified (Md.
Natural Resources §5-801).
If an emergency is declared in another state, the governor may approve the provision
of assistance, including personnel, equipment, supplies, and materials. The governor may
also suspend rules and statutes, if necessary, after consultation. Such aid is to be provided
after an executive order is issued, limited to a maximum period of 30 days (Md. Public
Safety §14-108).
Funding
See also “Types of State Assistance Available.”
The Catastrophic Event Account was established to enable the state to respond
quickly to natural disasters or other catastrophic situations. The governor is authorized,
but not required, to request funds for the account and may, after giving notice to and
obtaining the approval of Legislative Policy Committee of the General Assembly, transfer
funds from the account to the appropriate expenditure accounts. The fund may be used
to help state government units pay the costs that result from a disaster. The account is a
continuing fund; money in the account does not revert to the state Revenue Stabilization
Fund (Md. State Finance and Procurement §7-324).
Political subdivisions are authorized to appropriate funds to pay the expenses of local
emergency management organizations (Md. Public Safety §14-109(d)).
If the federal government or another state (or person, firm or corporation) offers aid,
the state or political subdivisions are authorized to accept services, equipment, supplies,
materials, or funds by gifts, grants, or loans. The governor, or political subdivisions with
the consent of the governor, may accept the offer (Md. Public Safety §14-112(a),(d)).
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Hazard Mitigation
The state Department of the Environment, with the departments of Agriculture and
Planning (along with political subdivisions) must conduct studies of watersheds to
determine the magnitude and frequency of flooding and of alternative management
techniques to control floods and minimize flood damage. The Department of the
Environment must mark flood hazard areas on maps and prepare flood management plans
and guidance for how plans will be implemented for each watershed. The Department
administers the comprehensive flood management grant program. Local governing bodies
must adopt response plans that are approved by MEMA and must participate in the
national flood insurance program. Grants may be used to purchase dwellings that have
been damaged by floods (Md. Environment §5-803).
The governor must consider steps to be taken to prevent or reduce potential disasters
and the consequences. Agencies responsible for floodplain management, stream
encroachment, weather modification, fire prevention and control, air quality, public
works, land use and planning, and construction standards must study mitigation (Md.
Public Safety §14-106(c)).
Continuity of Government Operations
If the majority of a board of county commissioners or the Baltimore City Council are
killed, incapacitated, missing, or unavailable, the governor is authorized to exercise the
administrative and executive powers of the board or council until a sufficient number of
commissioners or council members are appointed. Such powers are only to be used when
the governor has issued a proclamation that all or part of the affected jurisdiction is an
emergency area (Md. Public Safety §14-402).
If the executive officer (mayor) is unavailable, a county board or council may
appoint, for a temporary or indefinite period, a person to fill the vacancy. The appointee
may exercise the powers of the regularly-elected officer and holds office while the officer
remains unavailable, or until the position is filled by election. The appointee’s powers
are effective only after governor has declared an emergency (Md. Public Safety §14-403).
If vacancies in the offices of governor and lieutenant governor occur at the same
time, the General Assembly must convene and, by majority vote, fill the position of
governor for the remainder of term. The governor so appointed then nominates an
individual for the office of lieutenant governor, who is confirmed by majority vote of the
assembly. The President of the Senate serves as acting governor until the new governor
is installed (Md. Const. Art. II §6).
Other
A motor carrier, if determined to be at fault in a traffic accident, is responsible for
the expense incurred by volunteer or paid fire departments for emergency response,
containment, cleanup, and abatement of a hazardous materials spill (Md. Courts and
Judicial Proceedings §§3-1102, 3-1202).
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Persons, firms, or corporations that allow their premises to be used for sheltering
persons during attack or emergency, or for stocking food, water, supplies, and equipment,
are not liable for injury to persons or property (Md. Courts and Judicial Proceedings §5-
602).
A person offering emergency medical care is not held to be liable, subject to
specified conditions (Md. Courts and Judicial Proceedings §5-603), or for offering
emergency veterinary services (Md. Courts and Judicial Proceedings §5-614), or for
assisting with a hazardous materials discharge emergency, (Md. Courts and Judicial
Proceedings §5-617, Environment, §7-229), or while serving as the driver of an
emergency vehicle while performing emergency service (Transportation §19-103).
Insurers for fire departments or rescue squads must offer coverage for volunteer fire
fighters, ambulance rescue squad members, or individuals who provide assistance during
an emergency at the request and under direction of the said fire department (Md.
Insurance §19-105).
Persons in emergency management services who suffer injury or who are reported
missing are presumed to be missing rather than dead. They are declared to be dead only
when found dead or when the court issues a legal presumption of death (Md. Public
Safety §14-207(b)).
Key Terms
Table 1. Key Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Terms Defined in Maryland Statutes, with Citations
Terms
Citations
Emergency
Md. Govt. §9-2501(c), Md. Public
Safety §14-101(c)
Emergency management
Md. Public Safety §14-101(d)
Hazardous materials
Md. Courts/Jud.Proc. §§3-1101(d), 3-
1201(d)
Local organization for emergency
Md. Public Safety §14-101(e)
management
For Further Research
The citations noted above and other elements of the state code for Maryland may be
searched at [http://198.187.128.12/maryland/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=fs-main.htm&2.0].