Garrett County bolstered its emergency response system by moving 9-1-1 communications under the Emergency Management Division and relocating operations to the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
This shift improves coordination across law enforcement, fire, and EMS while reinforcing system reliability during high-demand incidents.
County 9-1-1 specialists now answer all emergency calls from the EOC and gather essential information for responders. They hold national medical, fire, and police dispatch certifications, which enable them to provide callers with clear, immediate guidance before help arrives.
The EOC environment supports stronger operational continuity. The facility provides hardened infrastructure, redundant power, expanded communications capacity, and direct access to emergency management leadership during severe weather or complex events.
Garrett County will continue to maintain the Sheriff’s Office communications center as a backup. This layered structure strengthens continuity and supports uninterrupted service during outages or large-scale incidents.
“Residents haven’t experienced any change at all when they dial 9-1-1,” said Director of Emergency Management Justin Orendorf. He noted that the transition places staff and technology in the strongest position to deliver fast, reliable service from the county’s state-of-the-art facility in McHenry.
Maryland continues to set the national standard for modern emergency communications. The Commission to Advance Next Generation 9-1-1 — a 2018 MACo Legislative Initiative — brought together 9-1-1 directors, legislators, cybersecurity experts, and public safety stakeholders to update state law and the 9-1-1 financing system. Senator Cheryl Kagan chaired the Commission.
In 2019, the General Assembly enacted comprehensive legislation based on the Commission’s recommendations. Over the following years, lawmakers passed several additional laws to bolster the framework and resources guiding Maryland’s transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911).
Together, these reforms provided counties with the flexibility and support needed to develop a secure, statewide NG911 system, enabling faster and more reliable emergency responses and enhancing public safety communications across Maryland.
