Catalysts for change: How partnerships and transparency created the Maryland Department of Emergency Management
Abstract
The Maryland Department of Emergency Management was established in October 2021 after decades of reorganisation and relocation within state government. The elevation of the agency from under the Maryland Military Department to a cabinet-level department was a result of years of partnership building with stakeholders as well as two significant external pressures: the COVID-19 response and the interest in improving 911 delivery through the implementation of next-generation 911 technology. This case study examines the history of emergency management organisation in Maryland and highlights lessons learned and best practices for emergency managers seeking to elevate emergency management from a subagency level to a cabinet level or direct report to the highest elected official.
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Author's Biography
Anna Sierra is the Chief Development Officer for the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, where she leads strategic planning, quality improvement and legislative affairs work to help shape a more equitable and resilient Maryland. She has worked at all levels of government in the USA, getting her start in emergency management as a federal contractor for the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Emergency Response. Prior to her current role in state government, Anna was the Director of Emergency Services for two rural Maryland counties, where she was the Governor-appointed Local Emergency Manager, overseeing county emergency medical services and 911 services. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a master’s degree in disaster management and medicine from Philadelphia University.
Citation
Sierra, Anna (2023, December 1). Catalysts for change: How partnerships and transparency created the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. In the Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, Volume 17, Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.69554/NXTV3778.
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