Planning in Progress
By Debbie Herr Cornwell, PLA, CC-P®, Resource Conservation Planner, and Kristen E. Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner
Did you know flooding is the number one natural hazard in Maryland? According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, every year, floods in Maryland kill more residents and destroy more property than any other natural hazard.[1]
As recently as October, 2021, a storm caused flooding throughout the state due to heavy rain and flooding in tidally-affected areas, as a result of strong winds pushing water toward the shore. This otherwise ordinary but intense rainstorm resulted in abnormally high water that lasted several days before receding. Governor Hogan declared a state of emergency in 16 counties and the City of Baltimore in response to the disaster. Such unnamed, but potentially destructive, storms are becoming more and more frequent.
April 2021 marked the first Maryland Flood Awareness Month, as proclaimed by Governor Hogan, to raise awareness about the many flood hazards faced by individuals and communities across the state and provide information on what Marylanders can do to protect themselves, their property and possessions, their finances, and their communities.
Preparations are underway for this year’s awareness campaign, which will focus on three key messages: Know, Plan, and Act. As part of the effort, the Maryland Resiliency Partnership, a public-private collaboration of organizations supporting hazard mitigation, flood plain management, and coastal and climate resiliency, is seeking feedback from individuals who live in, work in, or regularly travel through Maryland. The partnership has developed a brief online survey, which will remain open until March 31. The survey will help evaluate the public’s understanding of Maryland Flood Awareness Month and their knowledge of, and participation, in flood preparedness measures.
To learn more about Maryland Flood Awareness Month and flood preparedness, please visit the Maryland Resiliency Partnership’s website where information on flooding statistics, FAQ’s, resources can be found, and upcoming events will be posted.
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