Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) raised its State Activation Level to ENHANCED at approximately 5:00 AM UTC on February 22, 2026, to support winter storm operations and plans to transition to PARTIAL later today, as announced in an official statement during the reporting window from 3:45:50 AM to 5:45:37 AM UTC. Marylanders are urged to stay informed, prepare now, and adjust plans. The update follows Maryland Governor Wes Moore's State of Preparedness declaration earlier at 2:15 AM UTC, directing MDEM to coordinate readiness efforts across state government, according to the agency's X post (https://x.com/MDMEMA/status/2025438388879311203). The statement quotes the governor emphasizing family safety first and advising early preparation, staying informed, postponing travel, and signing up for alerts by texting MdReady to 211-631 or MdListo for Spanish. MDEM specified the activation supports winter storm operations ahead of the incoming system, building on the governor's directive issued hours earlier. Over the past two hours, these measures prioritize resident safety as conditions evolve, with the agency using hashtags #MdWx and #WeCare in its communication.
