Maryland Emergency Management Agency Issues Public Comment on FEMA Notice

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Blake Langford, National Capital Region program manager at the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, Reisterstown, has issued a public comment on the Federal Emergency Management Agency notice entitled "Request for Information on Effectiveness in Maintaining and Improving State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Preparedness". The comment was posted on Nov. 10, 2020:

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The answers provided in the following questions have been collated across a variety of subject matter experts involved in the management, administration, and execution of HSGP. The content has been developed by the Maryland Governor's Office of Homeland Security (MD GOHS) Deputy Executive Director, MEMA Grants Branch Manager and staff, Maryland State National Capital Region Program Manager (MD NCR PM), and the Baltimore Urban Area Security Initiative (BUASI) Coordinator. As such, this document is a reflection of several organizational and governmental perspectives and predicates the holistic State of Maryland response to this HSGP RFI. In many cases, the responses within questions have been logically separated to denote the different perspectives provided, when necessary.

Priority Research Questions for FEMA on HSGP include:

1. What studies and evidence exist on assessing HSGP outcomes? What are the study, findings, sample, and methods employed? Is there a URL(s) publicly available with the study report and information?

NCR UASI

In 2008, SAIC, under contract of the All-Hazards Consortium, developed a report titled, A comprehensive Review of the Governance Structure and Administrative Organization Used by the Regional Partners in the National Capital Region (NCR) to Administer the NCR Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Program.

The goals of the report were to review and make recommendations regarding the current governance structure, in specific relationships between the disparate entities associated in the implementation, execution, planning, and administration of the NCR UASI monies.

The study also made recommendations on the establishment of measurement and/or monitoring systems. Much of this report, if not all of it, is now a legacy effort. Further information and questions on this study regarding recommendations that were accepted and implemented, and the downstream impacts, should be directed to DC HSEMA and MWCOG. Furthermore, MWCOG also retains other studies, perhaps more recent, for assessing a variety of HSGP outcomes as it relates to NCR UASI funding and governance.

MD BUASI

The Hazard Mitigation plans in each jurisdiction of the BUASI assesses the threat to the jurisdictions. These plans provide a foundation for jurisdictions to develop the appropriate EOPs, annexes, and other supplemental response plans to address the identified threats and hazards that face the Baltimore UASI. They are also used to support the development of the Baltimore UASI's Federal THIRA/SPR where grant outcomes are assessed each year. Methods for data collection vary and include such methods as the as a Risk Tool that assesses four risk categories: Likelihood, Impact, Warning Time, and Duration; and assigned a numerical score AND the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Planning's "How To" Guides. Hazard Mitigation Plans for all the jurisdictions of the UASI can be found on their localities government URL.

Anne Arundel County https://www.aacounty.org/departments/county-council/legislation/bills-and-resolutions/2018%20AACo%20Hazard%20Mitigation%20Plan%20DRAFT.pdf

Baltimore City https://www.baltimoresustainability.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2018-DP3-ForPrint.pdf

Baltimore County http://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Emergency Op/hazardmitigationplanupdate.pdf

Carroll County https://www.carrollcountyga.com/DocumentCenter/View/1527/2016-Hazard-MitigationPlan--Final-Draft?bidId=

City of Annapolis https://www.annapolis.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10064/Consolidated-CRHMPReport-April-2018

Harford County file:///C:/Users/jcalandro/Downloads/Resolution%20No.%20020-17%20%20Enrolled%20_%20Executed.pdf

Howard County https://www.howardcountymd.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=DP6ULty54Xg%3d&tabid=2497&portalid =0

2. What meta-analysis and/or summaries of evidence exist on the HSGP program?

MD NCR UASI

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) is a crucial player in developing meta-analysis and/or summaries for the NCR UASI UAWG. MWCOG coordinates the development of the HSEC Regional Guidance which provides an executive-level snapshot of how HSGP funding has assisted, and is currently building and sustaining core capabilities.

MWCOG develops, retains, and updates summaries, aligned with the priorities established in the Regional Guidance, that provide high-level descriptions of the genesis, activities, funding, governance, projects, and any other high level information associated with that priority.

Finally, the Maryland State NCR Program Manager (MD NCR PM) conducts meta-analysis on the entire MD NCR UASI program, both at the regional, state, and local level. These analyses are primarily focused on financial monitoring and evaluations to determine which projects are unaligned with cost and schedule baselines and determine potential for reprogramming - thereby maximizing grant dollar utilization.

Furthermore, these analyses focus on macro-level capability maturting efforts across the regional governance structures as well as state and local levels of government to determine if conflicts, gaps, and/or synergies exists that should be elevated to senior MD State homeland security and emergency management leadership and/or articulated to MD State program and functional managers for execution.

For example, Maryland State is creating a Cyber Preparedness Unit within MEMA. Other MD State entities and local jurisdictions are also pursuing maturity of cyber security and preparedness capabilities.

This presents many opportunities for multiple entities to synergize efforts and, in turn, also presents risk for conflicting and, at worst, inefficient capability development if communication and coordination are not established early on across all levels of governance.

Baltimore UASI

Summaries of HSGP, specifically the Baltimore UASI program, exist through the management committees. In the Baltimore UASI, this is through the Urban Area Working Group (UAWG) and its subcommittees. In particular, the Executive Subcommittee reviews and approves all grant related processes.

The UASI governance is documented in the Baltimore UASI Charter which was most recently updated and submitted to FEMA with the UASI FY20 application. Committee activities consist of either monthly or quarterly committee meetings to update the UASI members on project sustainment products and activities. Meeting minutes are logged and are utilized to maintain and/or develop sustainment investment justification for additional HSGP opportunities.

View full comment at: https://downloads.regulations.gov/FEMA-2020-0008-0005/attachment_1.pdf

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The notice can be viewed at: https://beta.regulations.gov/document/FEMA-2020-0008-0001

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