Our Mission

The Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will maintain the highest level of preparedness to protect Baltimore’s citizens, workers, visitors, and environment from the impact of natural and man-made disasters. OEM will prepare the City for emergencies, prepare the public for emergencies, and coordinate interagency response and recovery. To achieve this mission, OEM will implement a comprehensive program of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

Our Vision

• Well-prepared households and businesses

• Resilient communities

• Integrated, efficient, and rapid response and recovery

OEM’s emergency management operations can be divided into five mission areas:

Prevention - Prevent, avoid or stop an imminent, threatened or actual act of terrorism.

Preparedness -  Conduct risk assessments, train personel, and develop plans to protect residents, visitors, and assets against the greatest threats and hazards in a manner that allows our interests, aspirations and way of life to thrive.

Mitigation - Reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of future disasters.

Response - Respond quickly to save lives, protect property and the environment, and meet basic human needs in the aftermath of a catastrophic incident.

Recovery - Recover through a focus on the timely restoration, strengthening and revitalization of infrastructure, housing and a sustainable economy, as well as the health, social, cultural, historic and environmental fabric of communities affected by a catastrophic incident.

Additionally, also coordinates the activities for the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The EOC is a central location where representatives of local government, nonprofit and private sector agencies convene during special events or disaster situations to make decisions, set priorities and coordinate resources for response and recovery. OEM also provides support to Incident Command Posts or in the field as needed.