Emergency Planning is one of the two most important parts of Emergency Management. Emergency Planning is the process of identifying potential hazards, disaster, or emergencies and then designing and developing plans for mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

The first and most critical part of the Emergency Management Planning Workgroup's mission is the development and updating of the Emergency Operations Plan, which is a comprehensive outline of Harford County's response to any emergency or disaster.

Hazard-specific appendices have been developed for response to an incident involving the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Terrorism Incident Response, Hazardous Material Emergencies,  Hurricanes, Tropical Storms, , Dam and Flood Emergencies, and Severe Weather Emergencies, as well as   Pandemic Influenza.

The Workgroup also develops/maintains an all-hazard comprehensive exercise and training program. Participation in drills/exercises and all-hazard emergency management training allows all members of Emergency Operations, First Responders, and other local and state government departments and agency staff to become familiar with the Emergency Operations Plan in case of the need to implement the Plan.  Many of our drills and exercises are overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).