ReadyHoCo

Outreach Event Request

If you would like to request that the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) attend your outreach event, please fill out this outreach request form. Please submit this form at least three weeks in advance. We will do our best to attend, but our calendar does fill quickly!

Business Disaster Preparedness Workshop Series

Please join us for our next Business Disaster Preparedness Workshop this summer. Details and registration information will be provided soon.

Upcoming 50+ Center Emergency Preparedness Presentations

Monday, May 18th from 11:00AM to 12:00PM: Ask the Expert: Hazards in Howard

• Glenwood 50+ Center: 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD
• Come cool off with the Office of Emergency Management this summer, as we will be presenting on the hazards facing Howard County and what YOU can do to prepare and protect your family and neighbors.
• To attend OEM events at the Glenwood 50+ Center, contact glenwood50@howardcountymd.gov. If you are not yet a member of the Glenwood 50+ Center and want to attend, don't worry! Registration for the center and sign-up for the presentation is a quick process.

Monday, June 15th from 11:00AM to 12:00PM: Disaster Preparedness Jeopardy

• Glenwood 50+ Center: 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD
• Welcome to America’s favorite answer-and-question game, jeopardy! Have you wanted to put your disaster preparedness knowledge to the test? Now’s your chance! Are you willing to take the Daily Double bet? Come join the Howard County Office of Emergency Management on June 15th!
• To attend OEM events at the Glenwood 50+ Center, contact glenwood50@howardcountymd.gov. If you are not yet a member of the Glenwood 50+ Center and want to attend, don't worry! Registration for the center and sign-up for the presentation is a quick process.

Wednesday, July 8th from 11:00AM to 12:00PM: Extreme Temperatures and YOU

• Bain 50+ Center: 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, MD
• Beat the heat by joining the Office of Emergency Management for a talk on how extreme temperatures can affect you and what resources are available to you.
• To attend OEM events at the Bain 50+ Center, contact bain50@howardcountymd.gov. If you are not yet a member of the Bain 50+ Center and want to attend, don't worry! Registration for the center and sign-up for the presentation is a quick process.

Friday, July 10th from 1:00PM to 2:00PM: Disaster Preparedness Jeopardy

• East Columbia 50+ Center: 6610 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD
• Welcome to America’s favorite answer-and-question game, jeopardy! Have you wanted to put your disaster preparedness knowledge to the test? Now’s your chance! Are you willing to take the Daily Double bet? Come join the Howard County Office of Emergency Management on July 10th!
• To attend OEM events at the East Columbia 50+ Center, contact eastcolumbia50@howardcountymd.gov. If you are not yet a member of the East Columbia 50+ Center and want to attend, don't worry! Registration for the center and sign-up for the presentation is a quick process.

Thursday, July 16th from 1:00PM to 2:00PM: Disaster Preparedness Jeopardy

• Elkridge 50+ Center: 6540 Washingon Blvd, Elkridge, MD
• Welcome to America’s favorite answer-and-question game, jeopardy! Have you wanted to put your disaster preparedness knowledge to the test? Now’s your chance! Are you willing to take the Daily Double bet? Come join the Howard County Office of Emergency Management on July 16th!
• To attend OEM events at the Elkridge 50+ Center, contact elkridge50@howardcountymd.gov. If you are not yet a member of the Elkridge 50+ Center and want to attend, don't worry! Registration for the center and sign-up for the presentation is a quick process.

Monday, July 20th from 10:30AM to 11:30AM: Extreme Temperatures and YOU

• North Laurel 50+ Center: 9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd, Laurel, MD
• Beat the heat by joining the Office of Emergency Management for a talk on how extreme temperatures can affect you and what resources are available to you.
• To attend OEM events at the North Laurel 50+ Center, contact northlaurel50@howardcountymd.gov. If you are not yet a member of the North Laurel 50+ Center and want to attend, don't worry! Registration for the center and sign-up for the presentation is a quick process.

Upcoming Emergency Preparedness Tabling Events

Thursday, May 7th from 2:30PM to 4:30PM: Roving Radish Mobile Marketplace

• Owen Brown Place: 7080 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD

Sunday, May 17th from 11:00AM to 2:00PM: Columbia Community Center of Seventh-Day Adventists Spring Festival

• Columbia Community Center of Seventh-Day Adventists: 9121 Red Branch Rd, Columbia, MD

Wednesday, May 20th from 2:30 to 4:30PM: Roving Radish Mobile Marketplace

• Ducketts Lane Elementary School: 6501 Ducketts Lane, Elkridge, MD

Emergency and Non-Emergency Notifications

Weather alerts are available through a variety of mobile applications which can be found on the National Weather Service Enterprise Resources page. The County's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) also recommends that every home have a NOAA all hazards radio for personal alerting purposes.  Working with the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Emergency Alert System , the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) created an "All Hazards" radio network, making it your single source for comprehensive weather and emergency information. In conjunction with Federal, State, and Local Emergency Managers and other public officials, it also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural (such as earthquakes or avalanches), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages). 

You can also follow Howard County Government on a variety of social media platforms, including Howard County Government Facebook and Howard County Government X, the County Executive Newsletter, and online at the Howard County Government website.  

Emergency messaging will be done through geographic targeting landlines and cell phones using a system known as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). This is for emergency messaging only, and requires no action to be taken on your part. IPAWS was created through a Presidential Executive Order, which required our nation to have “an effective, reliable, integrated, flexible and comprehensive system to alert and warn the American people in situations of war, terrorist attack, natural disaster or other hazards to public safety and well-being.”  

IPAWS only works on cell phones that have wireless emergency alerts (WEA) enabled, to confirm your WEA are enabled please check your service provider’s website (due to the many mobile operating systems in use there are too many options to post here).  You can also follow the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) on Howard County OEM Facebook, and Howard County OEM X.

Understanding HoCo Hazards

Preparedness begins with understanding your local hazards. A hazard is any potential source of harm or difficulty and may be natural or human-caused. High-risk hazards have a high likelihood of local occurrence and may result in serious consequences to life safety, property, critical infrastructure, the environment, and the economy.

Risk = Likelihood + Consequence

For detailed information on hazard risk in Howard County please visit our Hazard Information Page. 

Transportation Websites

Maryland Department of Transportation CHART - The CHART program is Maryland's entry into the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) arena. Provides real-time traffic maps, and traffic cameras.

Weather Websites

• The National Weather Service's Sterling Office website has forecasts and information on weather safety for the Howard County area.
• The National Hurricane Center offers maps and discussions of hurricane/tropical storm activity.  
• The Storm Prediction Center offers maps and discussions of  severe thunderstorms and tornado forecasts.  

Health Preparedness Websites

• Howard County Health Department Preparedness Information
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website has preparedness information and resources to stay healthy. 
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website has information about preventing the flu, and caring for those that have it. 
• Maryland's Department of Health's Office of Preparedness and Response.

CAREAPP

CAREAPP is a Howard County Health Department program that connects County residents to community programs and services, including resources for food, health, housing, transportation, education, employment assistance, and more.