Glen Burnie, Md. — The Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is recognizing September as National Preparedness Month and launching a new public survey to better understand how prepared County residents feel for emergencies and disasters.
The 2026 National Preparedness Month theme, “Americans Stand Ready,” emphasizes how actions taken by individuals, households, organizations, and communities contribute to a more resilient nation. During this month, Anne Arundel County OEM encourages residents to take at least one action to improve their readiness. This could include registering for Alert Anne Arundel, creating a household emergency plan, adding supplies to an emergency kit, learning CPR or first aid, or discussing emergency plans and needs with a neighbor.
“Preparedness does not have to happen all at once,” said Preeti Emrick, Director of Emergency Management for Anne Arundel County. “Small, practical actions taken now can help residents make safer decisions and recover more effectively when an emergency occurs. When individuals and households are prepared, the entire community is stronger.”
As a central part of this year’s campaign, OEM is asking residents to complete the Community Emergency Preparedness Survey. The survey will collect feedback about:
- Individual, household, and family preparedness levels;
- Barriers that make preparedness more difficult; and
- The resources, training, and assistance residents would like OEM to provide.
“Emergencies do not affect every person or community in the same way,” Emrick said. “Likewise, each household has different needs and at times roadblocks that affect their ability to be prepared; we hope this information will help us better understand our residents and how we can help.”
The survey is open to all, and contact information is optional. Residents will be provided the option to request that OEM contact them about their responses or preparedness needs.
Complete the survey at:
https://forms.gle/SchDXFNDnfFv8FzUA
For National Preparedness Month information, visit https://www.ready.gov/september.
For more information about Anne Arundel County OEM, visit https://www.aacounty.org/OEM