Prepping in Baltimore
Hurricane Isabel's surge flooded Fells Point and the Inner Harbor in 2003. In rowhouse neighborhoods, heat and water outages are the more common emergencies.
- Heat waves
- Coastal flooding
- Water outages
Sign up today
The official Baltimore alert and lookup tools. Each takes a few minutes and works even if you do nothing else on this page.
- BMORE AlertSign up for BMORE Alert
Baltimore City's official alert system, from the Office of Emergency Management. Get texts, calls, emails and app alerts for your address.
Links checked October 2026. Wireless Emergency Alerts reach most phones automatically; these add local detail.
What can go wrong in Baltimore
- Heat waves
- Rowhouses and paved neighborhoods trap heat, and heat waves are the deadliest weather events here.
- Coastal flooding
- Storm surge from the Chesapeake can push into the harbor neighborhoods, as during Isabel in 2003.
- Flash flooding
- Heavy downpours overwhelm streets and basements quickly.
- Water outages
- Main breaks and boil-water notices have affected parts of the city, including West Baltimore in 2022.
- Winter storms
- Snow and ice bring outages and dangerous travel.
What that means for your plan
In an apartment or rowhouse, plan to stay cool without AC: a power station for fans, a cooler room, and a cooling center you can reach.
Keep two weeks of water. Boil notices and main breaks happen here.
If you live near the harbor, know whether you're in a flood-prone area and where you'd go before a big storm.
Do these first, in this order
- BMORE Alert
Official alerts for your address.
Radios and communication guide - Two weeks of water
Main breaks and boil notices.
Water storage and filters guide - Power station
Fans and medical devices through outages.
Power stations and generators guide - First-aid kit
Know the signs of heat illness.
First aid and medical guide - Warmth without power
Winter storm outages.
Lighting and staying warm guide - Go-bag
For floods or fires that force you out.
Go-bags and evacuation guide
Questions
How do I get emergency alerts in Baltimore?
Sign up for BMORE Alert, Baltimore City's official alert system, and keep Wireless Emergency Alerts on.
Does Baltimore get hurricanes?
Rarely a direct hit, but storm surge and heavy rain from tropical systems can flood the harbor area, as Isabel did in 2003.
How ready is your Baltimore home?
The quiz weights every item for city apartment risks and shows your top gaps. About 3 minutes, no sign-up.