The Baltimore City Health Department’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) is committed to preparing Baltimore City for public health emergencies such as large-scale disease outbreaks, bioterror events, and other incidents with an impact on the health of the community. 

We do this by: 

• Talking to residents and community leaders about ways we can prepare ourselves for health emergencies. 
• Planning together with government agencies and local healthcare for emergency response. 
• Monitoring information from hospital emergency department visits, the weather, and other data to identify risks to health or possible health emergencies. 
• Partnering with the city, state, private partners, and community groups to identify resources to meet the needs of the public during emergencies, including extreme heat (Code Red Extreme Heat) and extreme cold (Code Blue Extreme Cold). 

Our office is largely grant-funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).  

Bioterrorism preparedness 

• Bioterrorism is a deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other biological agents used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. For more information visit the links below.  
  • Bioterrorism preparedness information
  • Ready.gov   

Community health resilience and outreach 

• Community resilience focuses on strengthening the day-to-day health and wellbeing of communities to reduce negative impacts of disasters.  
  • Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response (ASPR)  
  • Do1Thing 
  • Ready.gov 
• To request a presentation on community health resilience and emergency preparedness or to request our participation in your health fair/community event, call us at 443-984-2622 or email us.  

Healthcare preparedness 

• Healthcare preparedness is a hospital’s ability to anticipate, respond to, and recover from hazardous events such as disasters or emergencies that could affect healthcare delivery.  
  • ASPR Technical Resources Assistance Center and Information Exchange (TRACIE) 
  • CDC's Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)   

Infectious disease preparedness 

• Infectious disease preparedness is the process of planning for outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics caused by germs like viruses and bacteria.  
  • COVID-19  
  • General Infectious Disease Preparedness  
  • Measles (Rubeola)  
  • Pandemic Flu   
  • School Preparedness for Infectious Disease  
  • Vector-Borne Diseases  

Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps  

• The Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a network of community-based, civilian volunteers that help to build public health infrastructure and response capabilities in Maryland communities. These volunteers can be activated in an emergency to assist with the public health response.  
  • See the Maryland Responds page for more information on how to register/apply. 

Natural disasters 

• Natural disasters are events caused by natural hazards that have the potential to pose a significant threat to human health and safety, property, critical infrastructure, and homeland security. Natural disasters occur both seasonally and without warning and can result in economic disruption, property damage, and loss of life. 
  • Earthquakes 
  • Floods  
  • Hurricanes 
  • Landslides/Mudslides 
  • Lightning 
  • Tornadoes 
  • Winter Weather 

Weather monitoring  

• OPHPR uses a coordinated approach to provide relief from extreme temperatures to vulnerable populations in Baltimore City through the Code Red Extreme Heat and Code Blue Extreme Cold programs.  

Local and state preparedness and response partners 

• Baltimore City Fire Department 
• Baltimore City Police Department 
• Baltimore City Recreation and Parks 
• Baltimore City Department of Public Works 
• Baltimore City Department of Transportation 
• Maryland Department of Health Office of Preparedness and Response 
• Maryland Department of Emergency Management 
• Office of Emergency Management 
• Maryland Region III Health & Medical Coalition 

Contact information: 

Phone: 443-984-2622  
OPHPR@baltimorecity.gov