Maryland Business Emergency Operations Center
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The Maryland Business Emergency Operations Center (MBEOC) is a centralized hub within the State Emergency Operation Center designed to support emergency management efforts between state agencies, the private sector businesses and other stakeholders during disasters or emergencies. The overall goal of the MBEOC is to facilitate communication, resource sharing, and collaboration to ensure that the private sector can make the best decisions for their employees and business operations and effectively contribute to the response and recovery processes.
PSIP and NPEP program members automatically are provided access to the MBEOC and its services which include: incident alerts, coordination & briefing calls, daily situation reports and access to the MBEOC HISN Connect Dashboard which gives users real time access to government officials staffing the State Emergency Operation Center and provides quick access to incident specific documents and resources.
If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact the MBEOC at:
beoc.mdem@maryland.gov
View Archived Incident Briefs
Decision Tools & Resources
From best practice advice to disaster analysis tools, the MBEOC is stocked with resources to help your organization navigate any incident:
Guides & Reference Tools
Our growing collection of guidance and support to help organizations prepare for incidents before they happen, and minimize the damage when they do.
- Business Emergency Preparedness Guide [PDF - coming soon]
- Business Reference Guide for First Amendment Demonstrations[PDF]
Dashboards & Data
Maryland Situational Awareness Dashboard (MDASH)
MDASH provides situational awareness information covering a variety of hazards currently or potentially affecting Maryland. It also serves as another connection hub to a variety of other relevant information (e.g., school & office closures, power outages, news & updates, etc.) from MDEM and its state, federal, and nongovernmental partners.
Other Useful Data Sources
Maryland Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) Connect Dashboard
The MBEOC mainatins an HSIN dashboard that will be made available to businesses and other affected organizations during a state of "Full" State emergency activation. HSIN is the Department of Homeland Security's official system for sharing of Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information between federal, state, local, territorial, tribal, international, and private sector partners.
(screenshot of the HSIN dashboard in use)
Know the State Activation Levels
The State of Maryland has established four State Response Activation Levels, referred to as Status Levels, as noted below. All levels provide for 24/7/365 monitoring of incidents throughout Maryland, maintaining a common operating picture, and supporting local jurisdictions and partners as needed. Each status level represents an increased need for situational awareness and coordination of State response activities and resources.
Full: Incident of such magnitude that it may require response and/or recovery efforts and significant resources. EOC is fully Staffed.
Partial: Incident or event requires significant monitoring or resources. Additional EOC staffing from agencies, functions, and supporting organizations.
Enhanced: Incident or event requires additional monitoring or resources. Core EOC Staff with potential augmentation from selected agencies, functions, and organizations.
Normal: Routine operation with no incident or event anticipated. State: 24/7 coordination and situational awareness through MJOC. Local: 24/7 coordination and situational awareness through local 911 centers.
Status Level Escalation Doctrine
The State Response Activation Levels change based on a variety of factors. The most influential factor is the occurrence of a significant incident. The term “significant incident” is used to describe a single or multi-jurisdictional incident that warrants State involvement. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Requests for response operations support from local jurisdictions;
- The displacement of a high number of people;
- A high number of casualties;
- Transportation network(s) affected;
- Extreme weather events;
- Large scale industrial accidents;
- Health related emergencies; and
- Terrorist attacks.
Reporting, Response & Recovery
Your starting point for all the information to take on an incident and come out stronger:
Reporting Tools
To provide the best assistance, governmental agencies need to understand the true nature of an incident's effect on your business. These tools will help you communicate that information, so we can get you the most effective help possible.
Critical Infrastructure Status Updates & Information
The vast majority of Maryland's critical infrastructure is managed by the private sector. Here's what you need to know to respond effectively & keep it safe:
View the latest
Executive Orders from the Governor's Office here.
Critical Infrastructure Topic Areas
Transportation
State Re-entry Procedures:
In Maryland, after an area is evacuated, local officials & law enforcement officers will work together to determine when the area is safe enough for individuals to return. Individuals and/or businesses seeking to provide essential commodities and services to affected areas may be allowed re-entry by possessing and presenting all of the following items to local officials:
- A valid government-issues ID (e.g., driver's license, passport)
- Proof of employment (e.g., employer-issued credentials, business card, letter on employer letterhead)
- A demonstrated need to enter the area (e.g., work order, inventory list, employer authorization document)
Waivers - State-level:
Maryland state agencies may enact waivers of certain government functions following a Governor's Executive Order declaring a state of emergency. Examples may include waiving of:
- Size & weight restrictions for emergency support vehicles (would be issued by MD Dept. of Transportation)
- Hours of service restrictions for emergency support vehicles (would be issued by MD State Highway Administration)
- Emergency prescription refill procedures (would by issued by MD Dept. of Health)
- Prohibition on price gouging (would be issued by MD Office of the Attorney General)
Waivers - FederalClick here for more information on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration waivers.
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Traffic Status
For information on MD traffic status, policies, and other related topics, visit:
Ports
For the latest information on the status of Maryland's ports, visit:
Fuel & Energy
For information on the status of fueling sites in Maryland, visit the
GasBuddy Dashboard.
Click here for a directory of
contact information for electric companies operating in Maryland.
Health & Medical
For information to assist patients & those with medical challenges during a disaster, visit the
Healthcare Ready alert hub.
Recovery Resources in Maryland
A broad assortment of agencies across all levels of the community - from government to nonprofit - are available to help you and your organization recover from any incident that affects you. We've compiled a list of the most commonly engaged-with ones below:
Federal
- Hub for accessing FEMA resources for Maryland and surrounding areas (Region 3)
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- Small Business Administration disaster assistance eligibility information hub
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State
Recovery resources are available from the following state agencies:
Local
Nongovernmental Organizations
Many groups outside of government are also active in disaster response and recovery efforts, and your organization may be able to take advantage of their assistance. Some of those groups include:
Supporting Recovery
We're proud that Maryland has a broad range of organizations and individuals who all want to do their part to assist when disasters strike, whether here at home or in one of our fellow states. However, we do see some common mistakes that mean that help doesn't go as far as it could. If you or your organization want to lend a hand in an emergency, here's what to know:
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Sales Solicitations: MDEM and the MBEOC have no authority to enter into contracts or conduct procurement on behalf of Maryland or the federal government. You may be offering to provide an important resource at an attractive price, but we simply are not permitted to make those purchasing decisions.
If your organization is interested in doing business with the state of Maryland, visit its
procurement website here.
If your organization is interested in doing business with the federal government, visit its resourcing hub,
sam.gov.
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Donations: Maryland encourages everyone to donate their time, money, or other resources wisely. That means knowing the rules of the road:
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As a general rule, cash donations are preferred. They provide the most flexibility (recipients can buy what they know they need) and the least logistical weight (i.e., cash does not need to be sorted, packed, shipped, or stored).
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If you are donating goods, make sure to donate them only to agencies that have specifically requested items. If an organization that has not requested or planned on material donations gets them, it may not be prepared to store and distribute them.
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Beware of general, "everything is needed" donation requests. Communities hit by a disaster may have many needs, but typically do not have the time, staffing, or money necessary to sort through donations to keep what they need and discard the rest. Be sure to have precise information about what is requested, when it is needed, and how much is needed before donating.
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Volunteering: Our state is honored to be the home of so many who, when disaster strikes, run towards it to help. To do so safely and effectively, though, it pays to remember a few key points:
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Know the playing field: In a community affected by disaster, a sudden influx of unexpected volunteers can provide more difficulty than it does assistance (imagine if your worst day suddenly included needing to find food and lodging for hundreds of houseguests!). Before traveling to a disaster area to help, take time to learn where and when your skills will be most helpful, as well as make sure there are plans for your food, water, and shelter needs while you're volunteering. You can find out this information with your local volunteer connector.
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Take your time: Disaster recovery efforts typically last until long after the media attention on an event has faded, and your volunteer help may be useful throughout that entire process. Take some time to learn about trusted, established nonprofits or other experienced volunteer agencies active in the incident's recovery efforts. That way, you'll be sure that 1) you know and receive the appopriate training, safety, and skill consideration to make a difference and get home safely; and 2) your help goes where and when it is most needed.
Several trusted agencies to volunteer with include:
For more information on donating and volunteering as a Marylander, visit MDEM's Volunteers & Donations page - coming soon!