Governor Larry Hogan Authorizes Deployment of Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team to Assist Rescue Efforts in North Carolina
Maryland to Open Shelters for Hurricane Florence Evacuees

By PRESS OFFICE
Office of the Governor

ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 14, 2018)—Governor Larry Hogan has authorized deployment of the Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (MD-HART) to North Carolina as a measure to assist in rescue efforts from flooding due to Hurricane Florence. Additionally, the governor announced that Maryland will open two shelters for those seeking a safe place to wait out the storm, including potential evacuees coming from states further south.

The MD-HART team consists of two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with eight crew members and three maintainers from the Maryland Army National Guard, and helicopter search and rescue technicians from Baltimore, Harford, Howard, and Montgomery Counties. The team will depart on Sunday to assist with the recovery effort. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) continues to coordinate Maryland’s response and support to affected states through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

“As coastal states feel the impact of Hurricane Florence, we are working to ensure that any travelers, evacuees, or Maryland residents seeking shelter have a safe place to stay during the storm, and we also stand ready to assist other states,” said Governor Hogan. “This elite team is an excellent example of our state and counties working together to provide support to those in need, and we are proud to have the capability to send the MD-HART to North Carolina.”

The MD-HART is able to support multiple missions including vehicle rescues in swift water flood zones, structure rescue through window/door/balcony insertion, and structure rescue form rooftops and confined areas in flood zones, mountain wilderness extrications, tree rescue/extrication, open/inland/swift water rescue, and mass rescue capability. This support is delivered through hoist and short-haul capable helicopters. The team is also trained in disaster assessment.

Yesterday (Thursday, September 13), the governor toured the Maryland National Guard Brigadier General William Smallwood Readiness Center in La Plata, Md. In response to Hurricane Florence, Maryland is opening two pet-friendly shelters to support those who may need a safe place to stay during this storm. The locations are as follows:

University of Maryland College Park (Ritchie Coliseum)

7950 Baltimore Avenue

College Park, MD 20740

Chesapeake College

Health Professions and Athletics Center

1000 College Circle

Wye Mills, MD 21679

People seeking shelter who have specific questions about shelters in Maryland, or need disaster reunification assistance, should please call 1-888-756-7836.

In October 2016, Governor Hogan authorized the deployment of the MD-HART team to Columbia, South Carolina in response to the flooding from Hurricane Matthew. The team flew more than 19 hours conducting search and rescue and reconnaissance missions.

In addition to the HART team, MEMA is sending a Damage Assessment Team Leader to assist South Carolina.

State of Maryland Launches Redesigned Affordable Rental Housing Locator
MDHousingSearch.org provides free searchingand listing for tenants and landlords

By COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

NEW CARROLLTON, MD (September 12, 2018)—Today, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development launched a new version of its free, Web-based affordable rental housing locator, MDHousingSearch.org, the first major redesign of the locator website since its debut in 2008. MDHousingSearch.org enables landlords and property owners to list and advertise their affordable rental units at no cost. Potential tenants receive free access to those listings and can tailor their search for housing to include information on accessibility, neighborhood amenities, and other features.

“Under Governor Larry Hogan’s leadership, the state's investment in affordable rental housing has reached unprecedented levels, creating or preserving more than 15,000 units,” said Secretary Kenneth C. Holt. “The other side of that equation is providing easy access to that housing for Marylanders who need it, and this overhaul of MDHousingSearch.org will improve customer service and help more working families, seniors, and individuals with special needs find a safe, decent, and, most importantly, affordable place to call home.”

MDHousingSearch.org currently features more than 103,000 housing units registered statewide, which can be searched free and anonymously. With the redesign, the site will now provide information about affordable units currently under construction, enabling potential tenants to apply for housing in advance. The redesign includes a cleaner, more modern look, as well as mobile-responsiveness.

In addition to online technical support and a toll-free, multilingual call center for customer service, MDHousingSearch.org also provides live webinar trainings upon request for service and property providers, housing and social caseworkers, and agency and property staff. The service features information about local resources for rental, legal, energy, veterans assistance and supportive housing for persons with disabilities. MDHousingSearch.org also features an array of reporting tools for housing professionals assisting with tracking and compliance under programs like the Low Income Housing Tax Credit.

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