Emergency Preparedness

Public Health Preparedness Program

Mission: To prepare and respond to natural and man-made public health emergencies including, but not limited to:

severe weather conditions
bioterrorism
disease outbreaks
radiological/nuclear hazards

Medical Reserve Corps-Volunteer or Request Volunteers

flood, health worker in protective equipment, lightening, snowstorm

Each month HCHD will bring you information and resources about different hazards and how to be prepared to respond.

Hazard of the Month: New Year, New You, Take Action and Prepare

As we begin a new year, let's all do our part to take action and prepare for anything that may come our way. Now is the time to resolve to be ready, make plans, and get familiar with your local resources.

Understand the Risks

Prepare and check your emergency supply kits and replace any expired items.

A few of the potential hazards are bulleted below, and a full list can be seen by clicking here.

Flood
severe winter weather
lightning
emerging/re-emerging infectious disease, and
structure fire

Howard County Office of Emergency Management includes 25 distinct hazard types.

Resources for preparing emergency supply kits:

Learn about and sign up for emergency alerts:

Monitor the news, sign up for emergency alerts and download the FEMA app.

Make Plans to save the lives of You, Your Family and Your Pets

Start the new year off right by updating all family plans or finally make a plan. Emergencies happen such as fire, power outages, severe storms. Make sure to write out the plans. Keep the plans in a safe place. Consider the following questions when you start your emergency plans:

How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
Where am I going for shelter?
What is the closet evacuation route?
How will my family/household communicate?
Who are my emergency contacts (friends or family outside the home), local hospital numbers, and primary care physician?
Where is my emergency preparedness kit?
Do I have an Emergency Contact Card for each family member to help organize all information
Who can I depend on to check on me and be my preparedness pal? (Preparedness Pal Brochure)
What special needs does my household have? (allergies, pets, service animals, medical needs, and special accommodations

Visit Federal Emergency Management Agency or Center for Disease Control for more ideas on how to stay prepared. Watch this video, Preparedness for All: Make an Individual Emergency Plan.

Being Financially Prepared

Use financial preparedness tips here to determine what you need to do to prepare financially for an emergency.

Know where to locate financial and critical personal, household and medical information.
Consider saving money in an emergency savings account that could be used in any crisis.
Obtain property (homeowners or renters), health and life insurance if you do not have them.

Being Community Prepared

Join Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) which helps to enhance Howard County’s preparedness and response to hazardous materials incidents.
- Next LEPC meeting is January 16, 2025
- Time: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
- Venue: East Columbia 50+ Center, 6610 Cradlerock Way in Columbia
- Please register at this link: https://bit.ly/LEPCJan2025
Join a local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Volunteer with Medical Reserve Corps – there are medical and nonmedical opportunities, call 410-313-6284 or email HoCoMRC@howardcountymd.gov
Stay informed with the following Howard County, Maryland, and Federal resources:

Be Prepared

Let's Get Started

General Preparedness Information

Extreme Hot and Cold Weather Conditions

Hurricanes, Storms and Floods

Influenza (Flu)

Zika Resources

Bioterrorism Agents & Diseases

Additional Resources

Cold Weather Safety Tips

Colder weather often yields temperatures that can be dangerous after long periods of exposure, if proper precautions are not taken. Some of the dangers associated with winter weather include hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning and injuries from heat sources.

Frostbite is the freezing and subsequent destruction of body tissue. The areas most likely to freeze are toes, fingers, ears, cheeks and the tip of the nose.

To protect yourself and your family in cold weather follow the below tips:

Cover your head.
Wear several layers of lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. The air between layers acts as insulation to keep you warmer
Wear mittens rather than fingered gloves. The close contact of fingers helps keep your hands warm.
Wear warm leg coverings and heavy socks, or two pairs of lightweight socks.
Be alert to other common winter hazards, such as carbon monoxide (CO) and injuries from heat sources. CO is produced by small gasoline engines, stoves, generators, lanterns and gas ranges, or by burning charcoal and wood. This colorless, odorless gas can cause severe illness and death. Go here for CO poisoning prevention tips.
Equip your vehicles with items such as heavy blankets, water, nonperishable food, a flashlight and a snow shovel. More information about cold weather.

Additional Resources about Cold Weather Safety:

Anyone in need of shelter or other assistance should call the Grassroots hotline at 410-531-6677 or visit grassrootscrisis.org.

Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps

How can YOU help in an emergency?
Become a Howard County Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer

The Howard County Medical Reserve Corps (HCMRC) Program is volunteer organization created in July 2002. Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers can be medical and public health professionals or community members with no healthcare background.

This organization prepares for and responds to extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and floods, as well as other emergencies affecting public health, such as disease outbreaks.

The MRC also plans community health activities that promote healthy habits.

For more information or questions, contact Randell Young at 410-313-7237 or via email.

Request MRC Volunteers for your organization's public health event

Howard County MRC volunteers may be able to assist your organization with an upcoming event. Complete this request form to let us know what your needs are and you will receive a response within 72 hours from our team with the next steps. Submissions must be completed at least 2 weeks before the event. Questions should be emailed to hocomrc@howardcountymd.gov.

Criteria to qualify for MRC assistance:

The requesting agency provides a service which promotes or supports public health initiatives in Howard County.
The event for which assistance is being sought does not conflict with other planned HCMRC activities.
The requesting agency’s mission may not conflict with the mission of the HCHD, or the HC MRC.

Examples of Public Health Initiatives: