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Emergency management details cooling centers, special-assistance roster and heat policy
Summary
Annapolis Office of Emergency Management outlined cooling-center activation criteria and locations, a special assistance roster for vulnerable residents, and a new city heat-related illness policy for staff. Officials said cooling centers had opened multiple times and will continue as needed.
Dave Mandel, deputy director of the Office of Emergency Management, told the committee the city has already opened cooling centers several times this season and will continue activations when thresholds are met. The OEM uses a heat-index trigger (open at heat-index ~105) and considers air-quality alerts (code orange/red) combined with a heat index of 95 or more for activation.
Mandel listed city-operated and city-supported locations that can function as cooling centers, including Pit Moyer Recreation Center and the Annapolis Wall Community Center, plus supported sites such as the Annapolis Senior Activity Center, the Bush Library and American Legion Post 141 on Forest Drive. He stressed these sites are not medical facilities, that service animals are allowed but routine pets are not, and that activation times and locations may vary with need.
Mandel also described the special assistance roster, which the city maintains for people who need extra help during emergencies (mobility challenges, oxygen-dependent, etc.). Individuals can register to receive pre-, during- and post-event contact and assistance. He noted a new city heat-related illness plan for staff driven by a state regulation that requires shaded rest areas, hydration and monitoring for employees working in heat.
On storm recovery, Mandel reported full power restoration across Annapolis following recent storms but acknowledged remaining cleanup and isolated structural or property damage; he encouraged residents to use the Prepare Annapolis mobile app and Alert Annapolis notification system.
