Disaster Preparedness Month |
Hello everyone,
We hope you are in good health and spirit. To those of you in school, teaching, or now serving as home-schoolers, happy first month of school!
Though most of us associate September with back-to-school excitement, you may not know that September is also National Preparedness Month. This serves as a reminder to us all that other hazards--like the hurricanes, extreme heat, or wildfires we are seeing--don't stop occurring just because we're in the middle of a pandemic. That said, there are some easy steps that you can take to be ready. Go ahead and gather supplies that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home. Talk to your kids about preparing for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Form a plan for communication with your friends and family members. For more suggestions, visit the Ready.Gov site.
Another important step for all Baltimore City residents is to sign up for the BMore Alert emergency notification system. Just follow the link and let them know how to contact you in the event of an emergency.
Start preparing now, and don't forget: "Disasters Don't Wait. Make Your Plan Today."
Take care,
BoS Staff
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Sabrina Martin, founder of Determine Your Destiny. Photo c/o Sabrina Martin. |
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Sabrina Martin -- Determine Your Destiny |
Next up on #EveryStoryCounts -- Sabrina Martin! Sabrina has always had a passion for helping others, thanks to her background in mental health and addiction counseling, family experiences, and community connections. Last year, she started Determine Your Destiny, a new non-profit that connects people in need to services and resources. While her main focus is children and families, when COVID-19 hit Baltimore in March, she pivoted to delivering food to elderly neighbors. Her message to all those feeling broken and confused is that you are worthy.
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You don’t have to be a climate scientist or city planner to help improve the sustainability and resilience of Baltimore. Everyone has a story to tell about making Baltimore a stronger, fairer, and safer place for all of us. We’ve been collecting stories on our website, and we invite you to share yours with us by posting on social media with the hashtag #EveryStoryCounts and/or by emailing us.
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Nuisance Flood Plan Draft and Public Meeting |
The City of Baltimore is in the process of identifying nuisance flooding--aka "sunny day flooding"--locations and developing a Nuisance Flood Plan, as mandated by the State of Maryland, House Bill 1427 (2019). As part of this effort, please fill out this short survey and share your experiences with nuisance flooding in Baltimore. You can also review and provide input on the Nuisance Flood Plan draft through Sunday 9/20.
Additionally, we have a virtual public information session scheduled for Thursday 9/24 at 4pm to present the final draft of the plan. Please visit the Baltimore Office of Sustainability calendar for meeting details.
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Nuisance flooding along the promenade in the Inner Harbor on April 30, 2020. Photo by BoS Staff. |
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Intern with the Office of Sustainability! |
The Baltimore Office of Sustainability is seeking up to two part-time interns to work with us starting this fall. The internships will be fully remote, and the number of positions offered will be dependent on funding. Applications will be accepted through September 28th. View the job announcement for more information about the positions and click here to apply.
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Sustainability Highlights |
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Flyer by Maryland Insurance Administration. |
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Live Webinar on Disaster Preparedness |
The Maryland Insurance Administration is holding a virtual event on 9/16 (1-2pm) to promote family and community disaster planning. As our nation continues to respond to COVID-19, and with Maryland's increases in disasters, there's no better time to be involved, know your risk, and make a plan. Presenters include the Maryland Emergency Agency, Maryland Insurance Administration, Maryland Dept. of the Environment and the American Red Cross.
Registration is recommended. You can join the event online through Google Meet or by phone (413-438-4175 | PIN: 347 834 570#). We hope to see you there!
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Baltimore Complete Streets Manual |
Baltimore City Department of Transportation released its draft of the Baltimore City Complete Streets Manual. The draft provides guidelines to prioritize, plan, and design transportation that promotes equity and safety while facilitating walking, biking, and using transit. Everyone is invited leave comments here--the public comment period runs through Friday, October 30, 2020.
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Climate Change and Mass Incarceration |
Climate change and human rights are inextricably linked, and as global temperatures rise and disasters become more frequent and intensified, marginalized populations are hit hardest.
In recent weeks, the effects of climate disasters on incarcerated people have been highlighted as California's wildfires spread close to prisons--inmates were not evacuated, and to compound the injustices, California uses inmates to fight wildfires. Though the US has a huge incarcerated population and 7,000 prisons/ jails, they are not included in national disaster plans.
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California fire inmate crewman sprays down a hotspot at the Rim Fire. Photo c/o USDA
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Urban Tree Planting for Equity |
This Bloomberg CityLab article discusses the Trillion Trees Initiative and similar programs that encourage cities to plant trees in disinvested communities for cooling, shade, and green space, as well to support citywide decarbonization.
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Students and volunteers at a Baltimore City School plant a tree together. Photo c/o Carrie Stockwell. |
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You Can Still Recycle in Baltimore! |
The Department of Public Works (DPW) has temporarily diverted recycling collection's crews to trash collections, but you can still recycle! Community Collection Centers are open to accept recycling in each of the 14 City Council Districts, and five DPW Citizens’ Convenience Drop-off centers are available to accept recycling.
Information on Community Collection Centers is available here on DPW's website. Go check out their new hours and locations, and follow their Facebook for regular updates!
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We Love Feedback
Tell us what you want to hear! Do you have ideas on newsletter content? Or would you like to nominate an organization or person to be featured? Email us at sustainability@baltimorecity.gov.
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Our Mission
The Office of Sustainability develops and advocates for programs and policies that improve Baltimore's long-term environmental, social, and economic viability.
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417 E Fayette St, 8th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
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Editor-in-Chief: Aubrey Germ, Climate and Resilience Planner |
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