Read more about the article Local Governments Sue DHS Over Election Rules Tied to Homeland Security Grants
Elections / Emergency Management / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Local Governments Sue DHS Over Election Rules Tied to Homeland Security Grants

Four local governments have sued the US Department of Homeland Security over new election-related conditions attached to federal homeland security grants, the latest challenge to requirements that have already raised concerns in Maryland. Harris and El Paso Counties in Texas, Nashville and Davidson County in Tennessee, and Columbus, Ohio, filed the lawsuit on August 17 in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. The local governments argue DHS and the Federal Emergency Management…

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August 24, 2026
Read more about the article MACo Appoints Anne Arundel Emergency Manager Preeti Emrick to State Preparedness Workgroup
Preeti Emrick (photo courtesy of Anne Arundel County)
Emergency Management
MACo Appoints Anne Arundel Emergency Manager Preeti Emrick to State Preparedness Workgroup

MACo has appointed Preeti Emrick, Director of the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management, to represent Maryland's county emergency managers on a State workgroup examining emergency management funding, homeowner's insurance, and disaster preparedness. The workgroup was established by SB 739 / HB 1219 (Chapter 696 of 2026), legislation MACo supported after county emergency managers identified stable and predictable funding as one of their highest legislative priorities. The study will examine how Maryland funds emergency…

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August 5, 2026
Read more about the article From Risk to Resilience: Local Tools for a Stronger Maryland
Emergency Management / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works
From Risk to Resilience: Local Tools for a Stronger Maryland

Hear how coordinating DPWs with emergency management can strengthen response and protect critical infrastructure.  Resilience planning helps counties prepare for disruptions, protect critical infrastructure, and maintain essential services. By coordinating various aspects of core operation (i.e. public works and emergency management), counties can identify vulnerabilities, strengthen infrastructure, and improve how resources are deployed before, during, and after a disaster. This approach supports faster recovery, reduces long-term costs, and helps communities remain safe and operational under…

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August 3, 2026
Read more about the article Talbot County Expands EMS Coverage With New Station 95
County News / Emergency Management / Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections / Risk Management
Talbot County Expands EMS Coverage With New Station 95

Talbot County has opened a new emergency medical services station in Cordova that will improve emergency response times for residents in the county's northern region while expanding the county's long-term emergency medical services capacity. Station 95 was designed to support the county's growing EMS system and will soon become home to Paramedic 95, a two-person advanced life support crew staffed around the clock. The facility features four apparatus bays, dedicated storage space, living quarters for…

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July 23, 2026
Read more about the article From Risk to Resilience: Local Tools for a Stronger Maryland
Emergency Management / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works
From Risk to Resilience: Local Tools for a Stronger Maryland

Explore how Maryland counties can align resilience planning, financing, and technical support to turn climate goals into projects that protect communities. Resiliency planning is essential for helping counties prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies while strengthening the infrastructure and systems communities rely on every day. By bringing elements of emergency planning and public works together, counties can better identify vulnerabilities, coordinate resources, and design projects that reduce risks before disasters occur. This collaborative…

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July 21, 2026
Read more about the article MDEM Outlines FEMA Grant Delays, New Requirements
Emergency Management / News You Can Use
MDEM Outlines FEMA Grant Delays, New Requirements

The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) has released new guidance detailing ongoing FEMA funding holds affecting portions of fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026 Homeland Security Grant Program awards. The grants help counties and other jurisdictions fund emergency preparedness, planning, training, equipment, and other homeland security capabilities. For fiscal 2025, FEMA continues to hold projects funded through the National Priority Areas (NPA) and Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA) allocations. MDEM advises recipients not to…

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July 16, 2026
Read more about the article Montgomery Taps Reserves as Weather Response Costs Exceed $50M
County Budgets / Emergency Management / Summer Conference
Montgomery Taps Reserves as Weather Response Costs Exceed $50M

Montgomery County has spent more than $51 million responding to snowstorms and severe weather during the past fiscal year, illustrating a growing fiscal challenge facing counties across Maryland as emergency response and recovery costs continue to climb. Last month, the Montgomery County Council unanimously approved a $44.4 million supplemental appropriation from the County's General Fund Undesignated Reserves to cover snow removal and storm cleanup costs that exceeded the fiscal 2026 budget. The supplemental includes approximately…

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July 14, 2026
Read more about the article Counties Bring Emergency Management Priorities to Capitol Hill
Emergency Management / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Counties Bring Emergency Management Priorities to Capitol Hill

Congress will take another look at federal disaster policy this week as counties continue pushing for changes to how the federal government prepares for and responds to disasters. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing on July 15 to examine federal disaster assistance and potential reforms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The committee will consider the FEMA Act (H.R. 4669) alongside recommendations from the President's FEMA Review Council, which, in May,…

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July 14, 2026
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: From Maryland to Missouri, County Issues Align
County Budgets / County Government and Structure / County News / Economic Development / Education / Emergency Management / Energy / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / Taxes and Revenues
Conduit Street Podcast: From Maryland to Missouri, County Issues Align

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson is joined by Steve Hobbs, Executive Director of the Missouri Association of Counties, for a conversation on the issues shaping county government across state lines.   Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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June 26, 2026
Read more about the article FCC Considers Cybersecurity Upgrades for Emergency Alert System
Emergency Management / News You Can Use
FCC Considers Cybersecurity Upgrades for Emergency Alert System

The Federal Communications Commission will consider a package of changes later this month aimed at bolstering cybersecurity protections for the nation’s emergency alert systems and modernizing how alerts reach the public. For counties, the proposal affects some of the most important tools available during emergencies. Local emergency managers rely on the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to communicate with residents during severe weather events, hazardous materials incidents, evacuations, public safety emergencies,…

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June 8, 2026
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