Anne Arundel County and the American Red Cross have formalized an expanded partnership to strengthen coordination before, during, and after local
emergencies.
Anne Arundel County and the American Red Cross signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining how the organizations will coordinate on emergency preparedness, sheltering, mass care, disaster response, and recovery.
The agreement expands collaboration among the County’s Office of Emergency Management, Fire Department, and Red Cross teams, with an emphasis on joint planning, training, information sharing, and emergency exercises before disasters occur.
“This agreement with the American Red Cross allows us to better protect, shelter, and support our residents during emergencies,” said Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman. “By expanding joint training and planning across our Office of Emergency Management, Fire Department, and Red Cross teams, we are strengthening our overall response capacity across Anne Arundel County.”
The partnership also establishes a framework for coordinating resources and services when residents are displaced or otherwise affected by emergencies. The agreement comes as local governments continue to prepare for a wide range of emergencies, from severe weather and other large-scale incidents to more frequent emergencies such as residential fires.
In 2025, Red Cross volunteers responded to more than 100 local disasters in Anne Arundel County, most of which were home fires. County and Red Cross officials signed the agreement during National Preparedness Month and demonstrated emergency shelter equipment and other disaster-response resources.
Read more about Anne Arundel County’s emergency preparedness efforts.
