The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is a state of Maryland agency organized within the Maryland Military Department. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency is the state agency that coordinates federal, state, local and private resources throughout the state during times of disasters and emergencies. It is headquartered in Reisterstown.
While MEMA is part of the Maryland Military Department and under the authority of the adjutant general, during emergencies the governor may assume direct authority over the agency. The director of MEMA reports directly to the governor.
MEMA’s authority derives from Article 14 of the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This Article creates MEMA 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. Article 14 also gives the governor emergency powers—such as temporarily waiving state laws that may interfere with emergency response operations.
The maintenance and operation of the State Emergency Operations Center is a function of MEMA.
MEMA is operated using multiple branches under three directorates, Preparedness, Operations and Administration, each overseen by a director.
The Preparedness directorate focuses on mitigation, planning, exercise and training. Operations directorate focuses on response and recovery. The Administration directorate provides agency support, technology support, and grants management.
MEMA operates the Maryland Joint Operations Center (MJOC), the agency's twenty-four hour warning point and communications / operations center. This center is responsible for the coordination of all state of Maryland emergency response resources and operates 24-hours per day.
Within the Operations Directorate, MEMA operates a Regional Programs branch. This branch employees Regional Liaison Officers that work in the field directly with local emergency managers and emergency responders.
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