Maryland Completes Disaster Assistance Center Playbook Validation Exercise: Strengthening Support for Disaster Survivors
The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) announced on October 22 that its full-day Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) validation exercise was successfully completed, marking the practical testing of its newly developed Maryland Disaster Assistance Center/Disaster Recovery Center Playbook. The exercise, held in Hagerstown, brought together local, state, federal and nonprofit partners to strengthen support for disaster survivors through coordinated, efficient recovery operations.
During the exercise, participating agencies reviewed and confirmed their roles and responsibilities, practiced multi-level recovery coordination, identified resource and capability gaps, and tested assistance center siting, staffing, communications and survivor support processes. The morning featured a guided discussion covering center activation procedures, staffing models and logistics planning; the afternoon involved scenario-based exercises with state agency partners simulating real survivor needs and practicing coordinated responses. MDEM Secretary Russ Strickland said: 'This exercise brought all our partners together, and the validated playbook is both survivor-centered and operationally sound.' Lessons learned from the exercise will be incorporated into the playbook's next edition. Disaster risk reduction planner Vanessa Calaban said: 'Our goal is to ensure every survivor receives timely, coordinated support.'
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 黑格斯敦历史街区 / Hagerstown, Maryland historic district — Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
