State Of Emergency Declared In Maryland Before Inauguration

MARYLAND — Gov. Larry Hogan has declared a state of emergency in Maryland before the presidential inauguration. This is a separate declaration from the public health emergency the state has been under since March. It enables Maryland to coordinate with neighboring states and support local jurisdictions in response to the inauguration activities.

The inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden is slated for Wednesday.

“The State of Maryland will continue to do everything we possibly can to secure our nation’s capital and to ensure the peaceful transition of power,” Hogan said in a statement Friday. "We did not hesitate to provide critical support during the January 6 insurrection, and will continue to work closely with allied agencies, local governments, and our federal partners to support the inaugural ceremonies."

Being under a state of emergency means the following:

• The governor can activate the Maryland National Guard.
• The Maryland Emergency Management Agency and other state agencies can activate their emergency plans and deploy resources accordingly.
• In the interest of public safety, the executive branch can do things like implementing curfews and controlling traffic, places of assembly, storage and transportation of explosives and possession, sale and use of firearms and other weapons, according to the declaration.

The emergency declaration also allows Maryland to receive assistance from other states as part of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

Hogan's proclamation states that Maryland is still subject to the effects of riots in the District of Columbia Jan. 6 and is "endangered by the reasonable possibility of impending additional riots, commission of unlawful acts including destruction or damage of public or private property, and disturbance of the public peace from Jan. 15, 2021, to Jan. 21, 2021, in response to the upcoming 2021 Presidential Inauguration."

Maryland's governor issued the emergency proclamation Thursday, Jan. 14.

The emergency declaration came days after a regional response to the inauguration.

Hogan, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam asked residents not to come into Washington, D.C., for the inauguration and to instead participate virtually, signing a joint letter Jan. 11.

The District of Columbia is also under a state of emergency related to the inauguration.

At Bowser's request, President Donald Trump declared a pre-Emergency Declaration in D.C. This helped expedite direct federal assistance to the District to prepare for the inauguration.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security agreed to extend the National Special Security Event period, so it would begin Jan. 13 instead of Jan 19 as originally planned, in response to the events of Jan. 6.

Hogan asked the White House for a Presidential Disaster Declaration to reimburse state and local governments in Maryland for costs from the Jan. 6 Capitol mob and federal support before and during the inauguration as well.

Because the inauguration is a federal ceremony and due to recent disasters, including the coronavirus pandemic, Hogan asked the White House to waive the cost sharing between federal and state government for the event.

See Also:

• MD Boosts Statehouse Security; FBI Warns Of Armed Protests
• Secret Service, National Guard Bring Heightened Security To DC
• Don't Come To Biden Inauguration: Maryland, VA, DC Leaders
• Coordinated Security Response Needed For Inauguration: DC Mayor
• MARC Cancels Train Service Around Inauguration

Patch editor Michael O'Connell contributed to this report.