OCEAN CITY — The Maryland Department of Emergency Management hosted a multi-state tabletop exercise May 27 focused on evacuation coordination for a major hurricane striking the Delmarva Peninsula. Local emergency managers from Southern Maryland counties participated alongside officials from Delaware, Virginia and the Baltimore region.
The scenario simulated a Category 3 hurricane making direct landfall on the peninsula — an unlikely but useful extreme case to test response protocols, identify planning gaps and strengthen capabilities before the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. The season officially runs June 1 through Nov. 30.
“Interagency planning and exercises like the Delmarva Regional Evacuation Coordination effort are foundational work of emergency management,” said Russell Strickland, secretary of the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. “We’re grateful to Maryland’s local jurisdictions, Delaware, and Virginia, who dedicated the time to work with us to update plans and participate in this exercise.”
Southern Maryland counties — St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles — lie on the western shore of the Delmarva Peninsula and face unique evacuation challenges. Major routes such as U.S. 50, Maryland Route 235 and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge crossings could see heavy traffic during a storm surge or mandatory evacuation. Local emergency managers reviewed logistics for protective actions, including sheltering options, transportation resources and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions.
“Planning and practicing for a full Delmarva evacuation helps make sure we’re ready to support our local communities when a major disaster happens,” said Brian LeCates, Talbot County Emergency Services director, who participated in the exercise. “These exercises give us a chance to work through challenges ahead of time with our local, state, and federal partners across the Delmarva, so we can help keep people safe, informed, and connected when it matters most.”
The tabletop exercise assessed how different communities would respond and reviewed available resources to address gaps. MDEM will follow up with a functional exercise later in June that activates the State Emergency Operations Center. That exercise will evaluate real-time capabilities across critical sectors including transportation, public safety, public health, medical needs, communications and sheltering.
The planning, tabletop and upcoming functional exercises were funded by FEMA’s Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program. The grant supports regional solutions to catastrophic incidents by closing gaps in housing, logistics and supply chain management.
“Programs like the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program are essential because they support planning, training, and exercises like this,” Strickland said. “These efforts allow us to strengthen coordination, identify gaps, and improve our ability to support communities before a real-world emergency occurs in any of our jurisdictions.”
Southern Maryland residents are encouraged to prepare now. The department recommends installing the MdReady WebApp, which provides instant access to emergency notifications, weather alerts, evacuation information and preparedness resources. Users can visit MdReady.maryland.gov to add the app shortcut to their mobile device home screen or sign up for local text alerts.
Hurricane preparedness is especially important for Southern Maryland’s coastal and low-lying areas. Residents should know their evacuation routes, have an emergency supply kit ready and stay informed through local emergency management offices in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties.
The exercise underscores ongoing collaboration across state lines to protect the Delmarva region. No specific gaps identified during the tabletop were released publicly, but officials said the sessions help refine plans for real events.
