MDEM's authority derives from Title 14 of the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
This Article creates MDEM, establishes MDEM as a unit of State government within with the primary purpose to ensure that Maryland will be adequately prepared to deal with emergencies that are beyond the capabilities of local authorities, and authorizes the political subdivisions of the state to create emergency management offices of their own.
Currently, there are 26 local emergency management offices in Maryland – all 23 counties, along with Annapolis, Baltimore and Ocean City.
MDEM has three directorates which are underneath the Office of the Secretary: Disaster Risk Reduction, Consequence Management, and Mission Support.
The structure enables MDEM to efficiently support local jurisdictions, work with state agencies, run our internal operations, and provide preparedness information to the public.