WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) announced their requests to provide direct federal investments for homeland security projects across Maryland for the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations process. The Senators worked hand-in-hand with local community leaders to identify Congressionally Directed Spending project requests that will support emergency operations and hazard mitigation projects under the jurisdiction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These funding requests are for the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2022.
Last year, FY2022, the first year in a decade that permitted earmarks, Senator Cardin and Van Hollen initiated over $104 million in direct spending to benefit Maryland.
“Team Maryland is united in our ongoing effort to bring new federal resources back to Maryland based on local needs and priorities, especially those that help make our communities safer,” said Senator Cardin, Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. “If funded, these projects will have a transformative effect throughout Maryland, bringing the latest in crisis technology and planning to all corners of our state. And by helping local communities invest in resiliency and mitigation, we can minimize the disruptions and potential destruction caused by flooding and other extreme weather. Our goal is to maximize taxpayer dollars in the most meaningful way for our communities.”
“Investing federal dollars directly in our communities can help make us safer, strengthen the resilience of our infrastructure against climate change risks, and more. That’s why we’ve worked together with local partners to identify projects that will benefit Marylanders and our communities – from improving local emergency response services to bolstering preparedness for extreme weather and natural disasters. We’ll be fighting to get these priorities through Congress and deliver these funds directly to our state,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee.
While not all requests may receive funding in the final annual appropriations legislation, potential projects submitted to the Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee by Senators Cardin and Van Hollen include emergency operations centers and communications, as well as flood resiliency and mitigation projects.
Senator Cardin’s requests can be found at this link and Senator Van Hollen’s requests can be found at this link. All are listed below. Website pages will be updated as requests to the Appropriations subcommittees are submitted.
HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE
Project Name: Allegany County Department of Emergency Services Emergency
Applicant: Allegany County Department of Emergency Services
The Allegany County Department of Emergency Services is requesting funds to harden the entrance to the Emergency Operations Center and upgrade the Wi-Fi system within the EOC to meet the cyber security and high demand draws during activation. The entrance to the EOC side of the structure presents a physical security threat for theft, vandalism, natural disaster, manmade catastrophes, and accidental damage. This makes it a high risk vulnerable target. The hardening of the entrance would eliminate all of the above threats, bringing it up to the local and federal security standards. This project has been certified to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program by the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, the total project cost is $55,000.
Project Location: Allegany County, Maryland
Amount Requested: $41,250
Project Name: Annapolis City Dock Resilience and Revitalization Project
Applicant: City of Annapolis
A regional economic hub, an international heritage site, and an iconic public space, City Dock is also at the front lines of climate change and endures an increasing number of punishing floods each year. The redesigned and reengineered City Dock will have a transformative effect on the downtown experience, the economy, and the environment. As a world-class waterfront park, the City Dock will be able to host more events, welcome more visitors, expand cultural programs, invigorate downtown commerce, and provide a 21st century complement to the Annapolis Historic District, and broader Capital city. The eligible activities requested for funding under the project include the development, design and construction of flood mitigation and resiliency infrastructure including installation of flood barriers, reduction in non-pervious areas, storm-drain improvements, storm water pump-stations and back-up power generators. This project has been certified to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Projects Grant Program by the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, the total cost of this project is $40,000,000.
Project Location: Annapolis, Maryland
Amount Requested: $20,000,000
Project Name: Emergency Communications Center Expansion
Applicant: St. Mary’s County Government
The County’s Emergency Operations Center requires an expansion to accommodate additional mission requirements and staffing space needs, these funds would assist in the expansion of the EOC by more than 2,360 square feet. The additional space will allow staff to work more efficiently and quicker response to weather and crisis events. This project has been certified to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program by the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, the total project cost is $2,025,000.
Project Location: St. Mary’s County, Maryland
Amount Requested: $1,518,750
Project Name: Emergency Operations Center
Applicant: Anne Arundel County Government
Anne Arundel County will utilize federal funds to complete a needs assessment of the current configuration of the local Emergency Operations Center with a focus to improve coordination, communication and interoperability with local and State agencies that better aligns the facility with State and Federal Emergency Management and Homeland Security programs, initiatives, and requirements. The use of a fully interoperable, flexible, secure, and strategically located local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will enhance the State’s capability to better respond and recover from emergencies and disasters affecting Maryland and the Baltimore region. This project has been certified to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program by the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, the total cost of this project is $3,125,000.
Project Location: Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Amount Requested: $2,343,000
Project Name: Emergency Operations Center
Applicant: Prince George’s County Government
The County’s Emergency Operations Center’s content management system has reached its technological End of Life and has security vulnerabilities. This mission critical hardware must always operate and is necessary to support conferencing, virtual operations, and contemporary graphics needs during emergency operations activations for natural disasters or crisis events. Funds will be used to purchase a new content management system and a new weather monitoring system that will give County residents additional early warning to react to flash flooding events. This project has been certified to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program by the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, the total project cost is $600,000.
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Requested: $450,000
Project Name: Frederick County, Maryland Emergency Operations Center
Applicant: Frederick County Government
This capital facilities construction project will replace an adapted classroom utilized as the County’s Emergency Operations Center at the County’s Public Safety Training Facility and establish a centrally located Emergency Operations Center of an appropriate size to support senior government official coordination for a planned complex and/or large‑scale public event, or unannounced emergency or disaster event in the community.This will make meaningful and transformative investments in the capability and capacity to manage complex or large scale emergencies that may occur in Frederick County, MD in cooperation with our governmental or private sector utility partners. Under the direction of the County Executive, Frederick County Emergency Management partners with its municipal, county, state, and federal partners within Frederick County to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters of many types. This project has been certified to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program by the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, the total project cost is $1,182,488.
Project Location: Frederick County, Maryland
Amount Requested: $880,000
Project Name: Garrett County Back-up 911 Radio Communications
Applicant: Garrett County Government
This will allow for the purchase emergency radio equipment to support public information alerts and warnings in coordination with the capabilities from the Emergency Operations Center. This interoperability capabilities are core functions of an Emergency Operations Center and are delineated in the emergency support functions outlined by Garrett’s Emergency Operations Plan. The backup equipment will allow the Emergency Operations Center to have 2-way radio communications and effectively communicate via radio with local, state, and federal agencies. The equipment will allow the Emergency Communications Center to operate as a fully functional backup 9-1-1 Center in the event of a situation or failure at the primary site. This project has been certified to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program by the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, the total project cost is $942,542.
Project Location: Garrett County, Maryland
Amount Requested: $706,500
Project Name: Pre-Disaster Mitigation for Community-Centered Planning to Reduce Climate-Induced Flood Risks in Turner Station, Maryland
Applicant: Baltimore County Government
This project will conduct extensive modeling of future flooding scenarios under various storm intensities and combinations of green and gray infrastructure to better understand how to reduce flood-risk in the historic African-American neighborhood of Turner Station, Maryland. The County will utilize the funding in a way that works with community members and stakeholders to plan for future scenarios and appropriate mitigation options. This project has been certified to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Projects Grant Program by the Maryland Department of Emergency Management.
Project Location: Baltimore County, Maryland
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
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