The Charles County Department of Health Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response serves the community by ensuring Charles County can prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from all-hazards, which negatively impact the health of the public. We collaborate with Maryland Department of Health Office of Preparedness and Response staff, local and regional Federal Emergency Management Agency partners, and area Healthcare Preparedness Program coalition partners, to strengthen preparedness and response capabilities.
We do this by functioning within the scope of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Response Readiness Framework.
Our key strategies are as follows:
To request a presentation on community health resilience and emergency preparedness or to request our participation in your health fair/community event, email us at ccdh.phep@maryland.gov.
Disaster can strike at a moment’s notice and your knowledge, skills and abilities can help save lives. The scope of volunteer roles ranges from preparedness and response exercises to assisting in real-world disasters, such as mass medical countermeasure dispensing operations. If you are willing to help your community prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, please click on the buttons below to learn more.
We can follow the Ready calendar together each month by clicking on the calendar links and participating in the #Hashtag campaigns. See this site and our social media sites for highlights.
Make an emergency plan: choose a safe place to meet, learn evacuation routes, and establish an out-of-town contact.
Take a current photo of you and your pet together in case you get separated during a disaster.
Get to know your neighbor and invite them to be a part of your emergency plan.
Snap photos of important documents and save them in a secure place or online.
Set up group text lists so you can communicate with friends and family during emergencies.
Take a class in CPR and first aid.
Keep and update emergency supplies; remember to include cash.
Have back-up power sources available to charge devices in case of a power outage.
Snap pictures of your property for insurance purposes.
Check your insurance for coverage on disasters like floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
Sign up for alerts and warnings. Download the FEMA app to get real-time alerts, safety tips, and locate open shelters.
Save for a rainy day! Start and grow your emergency fund.
Financially prepare for the New Year. Find out how with the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit.
Spend within your means. Use a personal budgeting worksheet to help plan for holiday expenses and beyond.
Build up your savings. Put a small amount in your account the first of every month beginning January 1.
4545 Crain Highway
White Plains, MD 20695
Phone: 301-609-6900
Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM – 5 PM
Health Officer
Dianna E. Abney, M.D.
To protect, promote, and improve the health, safety, and environment of Charles County residents.
A healthier Charles County