Read more about the article Howard Launches Task Force on Disability Inclusion and Crisis Response
County News / Emergency Management / Health and Human Services / Intergovernmental Relations / News You Can Use / Risk Management
Howard Launches Task Force on Disability Inclusion and Crisis Response

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has announced a new cross-agency task force to evaluate how local government responds to crises involving people with disabilities and neurodivergences. Established through Executive Order 2026-08, the Task Force on Disability Inclusion, Safety, and Crisis Response will review current policies, procedures, and coordination efforts related to behavioral health emergencies, emergency communications, and frontline response systems. The effort reflects growing nationwide conversations about how local governments train and equip emergency responders…

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May 28, 2026
Read more about the article Climate Resilience Summit Seeks Strategies To Prevent Small Business Displacement
Economic Development / Emergency Management / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / Risk Management
Climate Resilience Summit Seeks Strategies To Prevent Small Business Displacement

As local governments continue investing in climate resilience, disaster recovery, and infrastructure improvements, a growing conversation is emerging around how those efforts can unintentionally contribute to displacement, particularly for small businesses in vulnerable communities. The 2026 Small Business Anti-Displacement Network Summit is seeking proposals focused on equitable climate resilience and recovery strategies that help small businesses remain rooted in place as communities adapt to climate pressures. The virtual summit, scheduled for Nov. 12–13, is co-hosted…

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May 20, 2026
Read more about the article New FEMA Blueprint Shifts More Disaster Recovery Costs, Responsibility to States and Counties
County News / Emergency Management / Feature / NACo Achievement Awards
New FEMA Blueprint Shifts More Disaster Recovery Costs, Responsibility to States and Counties

A new federal report released this week calls for a dramatic restructuring of the nation’s disaster response system by significantly shifting more responsibility and untenable fiscal risk onto states and local governments. The 75-page report from the President’s FEMA Review Council argues that disaster response should become “locally executed, state or tribally managed, and federally supported.” That philosophy drives nearly every recommendation in the report, including raising federal disaster thresholds, limiting federal recovery assistance, restructuring…

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May 8, 2026
Read more about the article Baltimore County Names New Emergency Management Director
County News / Emergency Management
Baltimore County Names New Emergency Management Director

Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier has appointed Calvin J. Bowman as Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management within the Baltimore County Fire Department. Bowman brings more than two decades of experience across local, state, and federal government. His work has focused on preparing for major emergencies, maintaining continuity of operations, and coordinating response and recovery across agencies. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with Cal. He’s steady, he knows this work, and he understands…

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May 5, 2026
Read more about the article US House Advances FirstNet Reauthorization for Public Safety Network
Emergency Management / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Safety and Corrections
US House Advances FirstNet Reauthorization for Public Safety Network

The US House of Representatives passed H.R. 7386, the First Responder Network Reauthorization Act of 2026, on April 20 by voice vote with no opposition. The bill previously advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in March on a unanimous, bipartisan vote and now heads to the US Senate. The legislation reauthorizes the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), the nationwide public safety broadband network dedicated to first responders. Why it matters FirstNet was…

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April 29, 2026
Read more about the article NACo Brings Counties to Washington To Push for Federal Disaster Reform
County News / Emergency Management / NACo and Federal Issues
NACo Brings Counties to Washington To Push for Federal Disaster Reform

County leaders are in Washington this week pushing for changes to federal disaster policy as storms, flooding, and extreme weather keep hitting local governments first and hardest. The National Association of Counties (NACo) brought county officials together for a leadership fly-in on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, through Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The group serves on NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force, which focuses on fixing how federal, State, and local governments prepare for and respond…

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April 28, 2026
Read more about the article USDA Designates Nine MD Counties as Drought Disaster Areas
Agriculture / County News / Emergency Management
USDA Designates Nine MD Counties as Drought Disaster Areas

Ongoing dry conditions during the growing season led the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to designate nine Maryland counties as drought disaster areas. Allegany, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Washington counties qualify for assistance through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). Eligible farmers may apply for FSA emergency loans. The agency reviews each application based on the farm’s specific circumstances and needs. Farmers have eight months from the disaster designation…

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April 22, 2026
Read more about the article 2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
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2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 448th legislative session unfolded under significant fiscal pressure. Lawmakers closed the fiscal 2027 gap, preserved reserves, and fully funded principal commitments, such as the Blueprint, but did not resolve the larger structural deficits projected for the years ahead. That budget pressure shaped debates across nearly every policy area, from…

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April 17, 2026
Read more about the article 2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: Emergency Services
Emergency Management / MACo Testimony
2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: Emergency Services

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s advocacy in emergency services policy in the 2026 General Assembly session. Emergency services are a cornerstone of county government, encompassing fire and rescue operations, emergency medical services, and 9-1-1 call centers that residents rely on in moments of crisis. Counties are on the frontlines of these efforts, coordinating rapid response systems and disaster preparedness across diverse communities. Through its advocacy, MACo works to secure sustainable funding,…

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April 15, 2026
Read more about the article Anne Arundel Opens New Crownsville Fire Station
County News / Emergency Management / Public Safety and Corrections
Anne Arundel Opens New Crownsville Fire Station

Anne Arundel County has placed the new Crownsville Fire Station 6 into service, marking a transition in how the surrounding community is served. The 22,000+ square-foot facility, located at Sunrise Beach Road and Generals Highway, replaces the former Herald Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, which has now closed after years of service. The new station is designed to improve both response capabilities and firefighter safety. It will house multiple units, including Engine 6, Tanker 6, Medic…

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April 2, 2026
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