Dear Friends,
The heat has been unrelenting since the Fourth of July. Even at night, it rarely cools down enough to call it “cool” outside.
Montgomery County has been under an Extreme Heat Alert for much of July. For at least five hours, and up to nine hours some days, we have been asking people to be careful because of our heat indices. They have consistently soared past 95 degrees over the past week, and sometimes, it has felt like 105 degrees or more.
On Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning that expired Wednesday. The County also elevated its warning to a Heat Emergency Alert. When temperatures are this dangerous, we bring together our departments to determine what actions must be taken to help keep people safe.
I encourage everyone needing relief from the heat to use our libraries, senior centers and recreation centers. They can provide a cool break from the punishing heat. The centers are open during regular operating hours. County pools may see a surge in activity, but could also reach capacity, so plan accordingly.
The County Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Aging and Disability Services has been distributing a limited number of free desktop fans for the County’s older adults, individuals with disabilities and residents in need. Call the Aging and Disability Resources Unit at 240-777-3000 to arrange for pick up of a fan in Rockville.
If you must be out during the day's heat, drink plenty of water, limit your time outside and never leave kids or pets in cars because vehicles heat up extremely quickly. For more information on hydration, see Heat Stress: Hydration (cdc.gov).
Stay current with signs of heat illness. Look for nausea, excessive sweating, light-headedness and signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Heat exhaustion can cause heavy sweating, weakness, cold, pale, clammy skin, a fast pulse and nausea or vomiting. Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency. Signs include a high body temperature (above 103°F), hot, red, dry or moist skin, a rapid and strong pulse and possible unconsciousness. If there are signs of heat stroke, call 911 and go immediately to the emergency room.
We also pass along messaging through our Department of Permitting Services focused on worker safety and reminding employers to protect workers as much as possible from the heat.
Anyone concerned about the well-being of someone living outside can call the 24-hour line at 240-907-2688. Outreach partners will attempt to locate the individual and offer resources and support.
The science is clear: our planet is warming at an unprecedented rate, leading to more frequent and severe heat waves. These can pose significant health risks, especially to our most vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children and anyone with pre-existing health conditions. Extreme heat exacerbates air pollution, which can aggravate respiratory diseases and other health problems. Please take the danger seriously and seek help if needed.
For more hot weather tips for humans and pets or to learn more about heat warnings, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/heat.
Sign up for the County's Alert Montgomery notification system to receive emergency alerts regarding weather and other emergency information.
Taking Action to Prevent House Party Businesses
We have an update on a topic many people were concerned about last month. Large house parties have gotten the attention of State lawmakers representing Montgomery County, neighbors and public safety leaders.
I am happy to share that we have thwarted a couple of these events over the last week through our efforts. Our efforts forced the organizers to relocate the planned parties out of Montgomery County.
We have identified some of the houses used for multiple parties and are working across departments to respond quickly to any illegal activities that occur during these parties. That includes, but is not limited to, noise violations, capacity issues, parking hazards and alcohol laws.
We know these parties are skirting laws by charging for things like alcohol and food without acquiring proper permits. These safeguards are in place to ensure safety. Without those permits, these parties could be dangerous to partygoers and people living nearby.
Teams are ready to respond if parties off our radar pop up. It is important to understand that most of the violations created by parties like these are civil infractions that may warrant a ticket, but not an arrest.
It is not a police officer’s job to break up parties if no criminal activity is observed or witnessed. Those issued tickets will get their day in court, and repeated tickets could lead to criminal charges. If you think one of these parties has popped up in your neighborhood, notify police via the non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.
New MCFRS Fire Chief Confirmed
I want to welcome Corey Smedley, who will lead the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service as its next chief. When he is sworn on Monday, July 15, he will be the County’s first Black fire chief.
Corey began his fire career as a firefighter and paramedic in Prince George's County before taking on roles like being the lead public safety official at Washington Commanders football games and rising to the deputy chief level. In 2019, he became the fire chief in the City of Alexandria. This past January, he returned to Prince George's County Fire/EMS.
His breadth of experience was a key factor in hiring him. He met all our criteria, having worked in a union environment, in a combined service of volunteers and professionals and in public safety systems that are adaptive to community needs.
I want to thank the County Council for unanimously confirming his nomination this week. I am confident Corey's wealth of experience and dedication to public safety will significantly benefit our community and I look forward to working together.
Fire at Women’s Shelter
An electrical fire at a women’s shelter in the County last week forced the evacuation of around three dozen residents. No one was injured in the fire, but extensive damage to the roof (shown above) forced relocation of that shelter and 16 staff members to a temporary shelter without a working kitchen. This creates a new set of problems for women struggling with homelessness.
Despite the Fourth of July holiday, our Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management members coordinated with our Department of Health and Human Services team to quickly find a temporary shelter. There was a lot of teamwork on display. I also want to commend Montgomery County Fire and Rescue crews, Interfaith Works staff, the American Red Cross, the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps and the Department of Transportation for working to prepare a safe and welcoming place for the women to be sheltered after the fire. Employees and volunteers with these departments and organizations gave up their holiday and worked quickly to help these women handle this disruption.
The women still need help. Interfaith Works is seeking assistance from the community to feed the women housed at the shelter. That could include homecooked meals from organizations with the capacity to feed large groups or donations from restaurants. If you can help, call 240-468-6386 or visit iworksmc.org.
‘Plastic Free July’ and Additional Recycling Opportunities for Plastic
This month is being recognized as “Plastic-Free July.” We are using this month to encourage everyone to find alternatives to single-use plastics. Some easy ways are to bring reusable bags to the grocery store and not buy or use bottled plastic water. Use refillable containers instead. You can find more suggestions and explanations at Give Up Plastics, Department of Environmental Protection, Montgomery County, MD (montgomerycountymd.gov). This link explains why targeting single-use plastics is essential.
When you must use plastic, please recycle. To see what you can put in your recycling bin at the curb, check here.
And now big news: So much of the other plastic that previously was put in the trash can now be taken to the Shady Grove Transfer Station to be recycled. While many of us usually make an extra effort to recycle the plastic shopping bags we get from the grocery store, you can now recycle those bags and much more at the transfer station. Here is what is now accepted:
We have seen an increase in cases over the last few weeks. However, our levels of COVID-19 in Montgomery County pale in comparison to past levels. Nor are we seeing the same impact on our hospitals and healthcare system that the past summer waves of COVID-19 brought. The graphic above shows where we are right now compared to COVID-19 levels in the past. It also shows how COVID-19 persists even as the flu dies out with the cold weather.
The elevated risk of contraction is still something to be prepared for, especially if you are around the elderly. Precautions are as simple as washing your hands frequently and staying home if you are sick.
Home test kits for COVID-19 are no longer widely available for free. They can be bought at most pharmacies when needed. Montgomery County has continued to make COVID-19 test kits available, mostly at our libraries.
This month, the resupplies of test kits will end. You can check the MCPL website to see if your branch still has some available. I want to thank the staff at our public libraries and at the Department of General Services for their work as a resource for the community in supplying kits and facemasks for several years.
Gardening and Home-Grown Food Gets a Boost
If you did not know, we have produced two videos over the past year in which I discussed my love of gardening. You can find links to those videos here and here. They have allowed me to show everyone one of my favorite ways to relax and eat healthy.
The new Resident and Community Food Gardening Grant Program is one way to help our community partners get healthier, homegrown options to families struggling with food security. The money will be used to expand local food production and access gardening and small-scale farming, which could feed more than 1,800 residents.
Congratulations to the grant winners including AfriThrive, Community Food Forest Collective and Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER). Groups like the Islamic Center of Maryland and Shepherd’s Table also have created unique proposals to help feed more hungry County residents. The Charles Koiner Center for Urban Farming will expand its community-based education farm in Wheaton. At the same time, the People’s Community Baptist Church will aim to get more youth from the Black community involved in gardening.
Our commitment to local food production and access is about more than growing food. It is about building resilient communities, improving public health and fostering a deeper connection to our environment.
These grants support thousands of residents who have experienced high barriers to accessing nutritious, culturally relevant food. By supporting these innovative projects, we are empowering residents to take control of their food sources and contribute to a sustainable future for Montgomery County.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
- Plastic films labeled with No. 2 or No. 4 recycling symbols (polyethylene films), like bread bags
- Product wrap (such as the plastic wrapping around paper towels and toilet paper)
- Dry cleaning bags
- Newspaper sleeves
- Clean and dry produce bags
- Ice bags (must be dry)
- Wood pellet bags
- Salt bags
- Clean cereal box liners
- Pallet wrap
- Stretch film
- Case overwrap (such as on water bottles and drink cases)
- Shrink-wrap
- Mattress bags
- Furniture wrap
- Air pillow packaging material
- Plastic shipping envelopes
- Film bubble wrap
You can also recycle—for free—electronics, mattresses and other items that should not be set out to be thrown away. For a list of how to recycle or dispose of various household and yard items, follow this link to the Department of Environmental Protection website.
Summer COVID Uptick
Since 2020, we have warned the public to be ready for a summer wave of COVID-19. The recipe is simple: More people traveling and interacting with people they do not typically interact with leads to more transmission and a rise in cases.
We have seen an increase in cases over the last few weeks. However, our levels of COVID-19 in Montgomery County pale in comparison to past levels. Nor are we seeing the same impact on our hospitals and healthcare system that the past summer waves of COVID-19 brought. The graphic above shows where we are right now compared to COVID-19 levels in the past. It also shows how COVID-19 persists even as the flu dies out with the cold weather.
The elevated risk of contraction is still something to be prepared for, especially if you are around the elderly. Precautions are as simple as washing your hands frequently and staying home if you are sick.
Home test kits for COVID-19 are no longer widely available for free. They can be bought at most pharmacies when needed. Montgomery County has continued to make COVID-19 test kits available, mostly at our libraries.
This month, the resupplies of test kits will end. You can check the MCPL website to see if your branch still has some available. I want to thank the staff at our public libraries and at the Department of General Services for their work as a resource for the community in supplying kits and facemasks for several years.
Gardening and Home-Grown Food Gets a Boost
If you did not know, we have produced two videos over the past year in which I discussed my love of gardening. You can find links to those videos here and here. They have allowed me to show everyone one of my favorite ways to relax and eat healthy.
The new Resident and Community Food Gardening Grant Program is one way to help our community partners get healthier, homegrown options to families struggling with food security. The money will be used to expand local food production and access gardening and small-scale farming, which could feed more than 1,800 residents.
Congratulations to the grant winners including AfriThrive, Community Food Forest Collective and Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER). Groups like the Islamic Center of Maryland and Shepherd’s Table also have created unique proposals to help feed more hungry County residents. The Charles Koiner Center for Urban Farming will expand its community-based education farm in Wheaton. At the same time, the People’s Community Baptist Church will aim to get more youth from the Black community involved in gardening.
Our commitment to local food production and access is about more than growing food. It is about building resilient communities, improving public health and fostering a deeper connection to our environment.
These grants support thousands of residents who have experienced high barriers to accessing nutritious, culturally relevant food. By supporting these innovative projects, we are empowering residents to take control of their food sources and contribute to a sustainable future for Montgomery County.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
