The Maryland National Capital Region Emergency Response System (MDERS) recently marked its 10-year anniversary with a commemorative event at the Prince George’s County Public Safety Range. This milestone celebration brought together public safety officials, emergency response professionals, and other stakeholders to reflect on MDERS’s impact and advancements over the past decade. The event included speeches from key figures, an insightful presentation on emerging technologies, and an expo showcasing state-of-the-art emergency response equipment procured by MDERS for the benefit of our stakeholders.

Since its creation, MDERS has played a crucial role in enhancing the preparedness and response capabilities of emergency services in the Maryland-National Capital Region. Funded through the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant, the organization has continuously worked to improve coordination, training, and technological resources for first responders, healthcare professionals, emergency managers, and other partners. As MDERS continues to grow, its leaders and stakeholders took the opportunity to celebrate past successes and look ahead to future advancements in emergency response and public safety.

Reflections on MDERS’s Contributions

The event commenced with an introduction by Lauren Collins, Director of MDERS, followed by an address from Luke Hodgson, Director of the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) for Montgomery County.

Director Hodgson, who previously led MDERS for nine years, shared his reflections on the organization’s most significant contributions to the National Capital Region:

“Over the past decade, MDERS has provided countless contributions to the response community and the public it serves in the form of capability enhancements that span multiple disciplines and jurisdictions. In countless crises over the years, these capabilities have brought about improved outcomes for an incalculable number of people. However, it is my opinion that the most impactful contribution that MDERS has provided to the response community and the public we serve is the development of lifelong relationships between public safety practitioners across and beyond the Maryland-National Capital Region. These relationships, built upon trust, respect, and collaboration, have brought about innovation and growth that span disciplines and jurisdictions. They are the backbone of our uniquely capable response community, bringing about planning, training, and exercising during times of calm and unparalleled collaborative response during times of crisis. The community is fortunate to have the framework of MDERS to build and maintain these relationships that bring about superior service to the residents and visitors of the area.”

These relationships are vital in both training environments and real-life crises. Through consistent planning, training, and joint exercises, MDERS has helped create a response community that operates with seamless coordination. This framework allows first responders to deploy strategies efficiently in times of calm and act with precision during crises. Director Hodgson credited MDERS with laying the foundation for this collaboration and ensuring that the region remains well-equipped to handle emergencies.

Emerging Technology Presentation

As part of the event’s agenda, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence experts Netta Squires and Nick Reese delivered a presentation on emerging technologies. Their discussion covered advancements in AI-driven threat detection, cybersecurity resilience, and the integration of digital tools in public safety operations. 

They highlighted how artificial intelligence can enhance real-time decision-making for first responders, streamline data analysis, and improve threat anticipation. They also addressed the increasing cybersecurity challenges that emergency response agencies face, emphasizing the importance of securing digital infrastructure against evolving cyber threats. Their insights underscored the need for continuous adaptation and investment in technology to keep pace with the rapidly changing landscape of emergency response.

Networking and Expo

Following the presentations, attendees participated in a networking session and explored an expo showcasing cutting-edge emergency response equipment. The exhibition featured items from the following departments:

• Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service (MCFRS)- Technical Rescue Trailer
• Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department (PGFD)- Command Competency Simulation
• Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD)- Bearcat Armored Vehicle, Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Van, and Augmented Reality Training System
• Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD)- Vehicle Barriers and Trailer

All the showcased equipment was acquired through UASI grant funding, demonstrating the impact of federal resources in strengthening regional emergency preparedness and response efforts. These assets have significantly improved response capabilities, offering enhanced mobility, communication, and situational awareness for first responders.

Looking Ahead: The Future of MDERS

The Maryland-NCR Emergency Response System’s 10-year anniversary event highlighted the organization’s dedication to strengthening emergency preparedness through collaboration, innovation, and investment in new technologies. Over the past decade, MDERS has provided critical resources, fostered professional networks, and enhanced the region’s emergency response capabilities.

As MDERS enters its second decade, we remain committed to advancing emergency response strategies, integrating emerging technologies, and building stronger partnerships to ensure the safety and security of the Maryland-National Capital Region. The continued investment in state-of-the-art solutions and professional development will be essential in shaping the future of emergency response.

Director Collins stated, “As I look ahead, I’m most excited about the continued growth and evolution of Maryland ERS. The system has made incredible strides over the past decade, and the future holds even greater opportunities to enhance emergency preparedness, response coordination, and stakeholder engagement across the region. One of the most exciting aspects is the ongoing innovation in technology and training. By integrating cutting-edge tools and data-driven decision-making, we can strengthen our stakeholders’ ability to respond effectively to complex incidents. Another key focus is the continued professional development of our personnel. Investing in leadership, training programs, and interdisciplinary exercises will ensure that Maryland ERS remains at the forefront of emergency response excellence.”

Moving forward, MDERS will continue to evolve in response to emerging threats and challenges. By fostering collaboration and leveraging technological advancements, the organization and its partners will remain at the forefront of public safety, ensuring a resilient and effective emergency management system for years to come.

Written by John Finnerin

A structural collapse can quickly evolve into a complex response that necessitates specially trained personnel, specific and technical equipment, and support from neighboring departments and regional assets. The nature of these unique situations warrants in-depth planning and training to adequately prepare fire department resources. To assess the structural collapse capabilities of the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service (MCFRS) and Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department (PGFD), and as part of a larger evaluation, the Maryland-National Capital Region Emergency Response System (MDERS) hosted two tabletop exercises (TTXs) in early March. The exercises were effective in assessing both departments’ ability to communicate, coordinate resources and personnel, and implement response strategies.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has defined a structural collapse event: “when internal load bearing structural elements fail, a building will collapse into itself and exterior walls are pulled into the falling structure” (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, n.d.).  Natural or man-made actions can cause these incidents and vary in scope, severity, and potential operational duration (OSHA, n.d.).

Both MCFRS and PGFD maintain an internal capability to respond to incidents involving structural collapse. Most commonly, both departments deploy these resources for minor incidents like a vehicle inadvertently crashing into a building, which causes minimal damage. However, MCFRS and PGFD can integrate with local, regional, and federal resources during large-scale incidents.

Prominent events can also often be the catalyst for internal review of a department’s capabilities. In the aftermath of the 2021 Surfside collapse, MCFRS and PGFD began a process with MDERS to evaluate and enhance each department’s existing structural collapse capability. These three entities followed the POETEE (planning, organizing, equipping, training, exercising, and evaluating) model to have a streamlined framework for departmental improvements. Adhering to this meticulous approach has produced measurable achievements for both departments with more training for personnel, and the acquisition of specialized equipment such as Paratech Guardian Systems, Bluetooth listening devices, and most notably a technical rescue trailer for MCFRS.

As part of the POETEE model, MDERS, MCFRS, and PGFD have recently been coordinating exercises to gauge the current status of each department’s structural collapse capability. The first phase of the exercise portion was two TTXs. The goals for these TTXs were to:

• Evaluate the ability of MCFRS and PGFD to cohesively integrate personnel and equipment into a unified response to a structural collapse incident.
• Assess each department’s command structures’ ability to manage the initial response and transfer oversight to special operations.
• Examine each department’s procedures for establishing a unified command, coordinating resources, and delegating tasks to the appropriate personnel and entities to ensure seamless incident management.
• Determine if each department has the needed trained personnel and specialized equipment to effectively respond to a structural collapse incident.

Two scenarios, one in Montgomery County and one in Prince George’s County, were devised to test each department’s ability to effectively manage and respond to a large structural collapse incident. A battalion chief from each department spearheaded the response, coordinating with specialized personnel. The exercise strained participants to identify, parse, delegate, and overcome the litany of tasks associated with these complex responses. The TTXs were well received by the participants and yielded areas for further discussion.

These TTXs were engineered to focus on command-level decision making, but the next exercise as part of this process will be a two-day full-scale exercise with participants from MCFRS and PGFD. This larger exercise allows aspects from the TTXs to be implemented and assess the technical skills of each department.

 

Source

OSHA. (n.d.). Structural Collapse Guide. Retrieved September 22, 2024, https://www.osha.gov/emergency-preparedness/guides/structural-collapse

On March 3rd, the Maryland-NCR Emergency Response System (MDERS), in collaboration with the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), conducted a tabletop exercise (TTX) designed to enhance command and control capabilities in response to a high-threat incident. The scenario, which involved two active shooters entering a school, provided an opportunity for command staff to refine their decision-making and coordination strategies in a complex, high-pressure environment.

The exercise challenged participants to manage resources effectively, maintain situational awareness, and make critical decisions under stress while coordinating with multiple law enforcement agencies and Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service (MCFRS).

Key Objectives and Outcomes

First-On-Scene Leadership
Recognizing the importance of immediate action, the exercise included scenarios where patrol officers had to operate independently for the first 5–10 minutes before reinforcements arrived. This tested their ability to make critical decisions under pressure, communicate situational updates, and initiate the foundation for an organized response.

Command & Control
One of the primary objectives was to assess the ability of command staff to establish and maintain operational control during the unfolding crisis. The exercise tested how well commanders could structure their response, delegate responsibilities, and adapt to changing conditions in real time.

Resource Management
With a multi-agency response being a crucial component of any large-scale emergency, the exercise evaluated the ability of participants to coordinate resources across different jurisdictions.

Decision-Making Under Stress
The scenario placed significant emphasis on enhancing participants’ ability to make rapid, high-stakes decisions with incomplete information. Through multiple simulated injects and radio transmissions, command staff were required to prioritize response actions, manage evolving threats, and make strategic choices that impacted the overall outcome of the exercise.

Situational Awareness & Tracking
Ensuring personnel accountability and effectively tracking resources was another critical objective. Participants refined their skills in staging management, tracking deployed teams, and maintaining real-time awareness of the operational environment. This aspect of the exercise reinforced the need for robust information-sharing and disciplined resource allocation.

MDERS remains committed to providing ongoing exercise support to our Montgomery and Prince George’s County law enforcement stakeholders. These exercises are tailored to bolster response capabilities, fortify our communities’ resilience, and allow for improvement through the after-action report (AAR) process.

Written by Hannah Thomas