Dear Friends,
Today’s global IT outages have captured the public’s attention and remind us that a lot of our daily lives depend on technology, and technology sometimes fails. County government services have been largely unaffected by these outages, except for a limited number of programs that interface with State agencies, which have been impacted. The outage was caused by a security vendor’s failed software update. Our offices remain open for business and are handling resident services as usual. For non-County services, we recommend contacting the agency or company directly to determine if their services are being impacted.
Drones As First Responder Program Expanding
Since becoming County Executive, I have directed all County departments to explore new technologies and innovations to make our operations more effective. One example is our police department’s use of drones as first responders: these drones help increase public safety as well as better protect our officers and the communities they patrol.
This week, a town hall discussion helped the Bethesda community learn more about how the Montgomery County Police Department’s drone response can improve public safety. You can watch the discussion here.
Since we launched the program in Downtown Silver Spring last fall, we have seen it improve our emergency response capabilities by getting eyes on the scene faster than we can get an officer there. The drones have helped track down wanted suspects trying to evade police and thwart car thefts.
Just this week, 3rd District Officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle entering Silver Spring from the District. MCPD’s drone “Raven 1” along with officers safely apprehended the suspect.
Today’s global IT outages have captured the public’s attention and remind us that a lot of our daily lives depend on technology, and technology sometimes fails. County government services have been largely unaffected by these outages, except for a limited number of programs that interface with State agencies, which have been impacted. The outage was caused by a security vendor’s failed software update. Our offices remain open for business and are handling resident services as usual. For non-County services, we recommend contacting the agency or company directly to determine if their services are being impacted.
Drones As First Responder Program Expanding
Since becoming County Executive, I have directed all County departments to explore new technologies and innovations to make our operations more effective. One example is our police department’s use of drones as first responders: these drones help increase public safety as well as better protect our officers and the communities they patrol.
This week, a town hall discussion helped the Bethesda community learn more about how the Montgomery County Police Department’s drone response can improve public safety. You can watch the discussion here.
Since we launched the program in Downtown Silver Spring last fall, we have seen it improve our emergency response capabilities by getting eyes on the scene faster than we can get an officer there. The drones have helped track down wanted suspects trying to evade police and thwart car thefts.
Just this week, 3rd District Officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle entering Silver Spring from the District. MCPD’s drone “Raven 1” along with officers safely apprehended the suspect.
🚨Technology + Teamwork = Stolen car arrests ⚖️
— MCPD 3D Commander (@MCPD3DCommander) July 19, 2024
Last night proactive @mcpnews 3rd District Officers were alerted by a license plate reader to a stolen vehicle entering Silver Spring from Washington DC.
The MCPD Drone as First Responder "RAVEN 1" along with officers began…
Using technology to help respond to crime has been critical when our resources are stretched thin because of officer shortages.
We anticipate having the program running soon in the Upcounty area and Bethesda, and I appreciate our police department proactively talking to our communities by hosting town halls to explain the program and answer questions, and address concerns.
As was explained earlier this week, the drone first responder does not proactively patrol. So, you won’t see a drone flying around Bethesda on patrol. The drones in this program are only used in response to a call. Our online data dashboard detailing the program shows that the drone is often deployed in theft and robbery cases. The second-highest number of calls are for suspicious persons or vehicles.
Visit the Montgomery County Police Department website to learn more about the program and review the data shared with the public through the dashboard.
Heat, Drought & Climate Change
Excessive heat was back to start the week. Our break from heat indexes above 100 came courtesy of severe thunderstorms that carried warnings of flash flooding. Our normal high temperatures should return next week.
The chart above illustrates the rapid progression of drought conditions in Montgomery County. In just three months, we have moved from a drought-free zone to 100 percent of Montgomery County grappling with abnormally dry conditions. Over half of the County is now in a moderate drought, with over 5 percent facing severe drought. This is not just a statistic but a shared challenge that affects us all.
This prolonged heat and dry weather means our farmers are experiencing a lack of rain, impacting crops grown here. This is not just a problem for our farmers but for all of us who rely on their produce for our food.
We take a weekend each summer to spotlight our Agricultural Reserve, and this summer is no different. Please plan to take advantage of this year’s Farm Tour and Harvest Sale happening on Saturday, July 27, and Sunday, July 28. The tour will feature a variety of produce and products from 24 farms. All sales will directly benefit those responsible for fresh, locally grown food. It is a great opportunity to support our local farmers and learn more about where our food comes from. Visit the Office of Agriculture’s website to plan your trip.
We need sustained rainfall and a break from the heat to aid growers. I will continue to reiterate the importance of looking after your neighbors, family, and friends—especially older adults and those with medical conditions when temperatures rise to potentially dangerous levels. Stay on top of all threats by signing up for our text alerts through Alert Montgomery. And please remember all the pets – they need to be protected from the heat too. Information about heat and pets is available on the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center website.
I believe this extreme weather is a result of inaction on climate change. What we are experiencing now will not be the worst of it. If you follow the news, you can see that we are not at the peak; this will not be the plateau. Instead, the most likely scenarios foresee a rise in temperature, stronger storms and rapidly rising sea levels that will exceed the previous projections.
It is time to act. Years of misleading messaging from the fossil fuel industry have led to confusion about the dangers of rising carbon emissions, but we see more of climate change's true impacts every day. The facts are clear, and they don't suggest reversing these trends any time soon. We need to reverse the processes that drive climate change.
The County is taking this on with a sense of urgency, and I hope that you will examine what you can do to contribute to these efforts. This could be as simple as reducing energy consumption, supporting local sustainable agriculture or advocating for climate-friendly policies. Because the government cannot do it alone-- this requires an all-in approach. Visit our Department of Environment Protection’s website for information about steps you can take as an individual or business. You will also find information on rebates, including for residential energy, commercial energy and electric vehicle incentives that can help make individual changes to contribute to a greener community.
Cooling Down the Political Rhetoric
Around the country this week, there has been a lot of discussion over toning down political rhetoric following the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump. Any form of political violence is unacceptable, regardless of who it is directed at or the issue at hand. I have never seen this level of violent rhetoric in my life, and it is stunning how out-of-bounds things have gotten.
Beyond the rhetoric, it is striking that the national conversation about this mass shooting has not focused on the weapon used or the mental health of the suspected shooter.
We need to ensure that all our political discussions moving forward – no matter what level of government or venue – are based on facts, not lies, and with complete transparency. Soundbites meant to rile up the masses have not served us well. I hope we can replace the vitriol with arguments that are accurate and based on data. If all politicians focused more on informing the public and less on incendiary rhetoric, we would all be much better off.
Chief Smedley Sworn-In as Fire Chief
We welcomed Chief Corey Smedley to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service this week. He is the Fire and Rescue Service’s first black chief. You can watch my comments and his from the day of his swearing-in here.
I have lived in this County most of my life and have clear memories of the blatant and systemic racism that guided our government for a long time. Over the past five decades, we have changed to become one of the most diverse jurisdictions in the nation, if not the world. While Chief Smedley is now a trailblazing figure for our County and our Fire Service, let me be the first to remind us that it should not have taken this long for this moment to happen.
I did not know Corey before the process to fill this vacancy. Still, from our first meeting to his confirmation process, he has communicated to me, our County Council, and our leadership in both our career and volunteer fire departments who he is as a person. He is a leader who understands how to move forward for MCFRS and the fire and emergency medical services profession, in general.
He sees how our society is changing, with more emphasis on community health and rescue operations, rather than only putting out fires. He recognizes we have the means and will make the best decisions for MCFRS and our community. Montgomery County will benefit from Chief Smedley being at the helm.
Start Planning for Back-to-School Vaccinations
Parents can avoid headaches and long lines in August and September by scheduling their child’s vaccination appointments in preparation for the upcoming school year. Through the end of September, free vaccinations will be available for school-aged children (pre-K through high school) at several locations throughout the County.
Maryland law requires students to be vaccinated against various diseases to attend school anywhere in Maryland. They include protection against tetanus, meningitis and chickenpox.
The Department of Health and Human Services provides free vaccinations for school-age children who are missing any required immunizations before each new school year begins. The free vaccinations will be available through the end of September. Vaccine requirements also apply to young children attending a state-licensed childcare facility or early learning program.
Booking an appointment with a family physician now or getting vaccinated at one of our upcoming clinics is an excellent way to start the school year off right. Appointments are preferred at our clinics, but walk-ins are accepted.
You can make an appointment and find more information about vaccine requirements on the Immunization Program’s website.
Health Report
COVID-19 cases are on the rise again. Since the end of the flu season, we have seen case levels drop to the point where we stopped including them in this weekly update. While the levels are still low compared to historical highs, the cases continue to increase weekly, and I think it is important to mention COVID-19 again.
We have noticed an increase in COVID-19 activity at emergency rooms in our area. While we have not seen a corresponding rise in hospital stays or ICU admissions, it tells us that the virus continues to spread in our community.
I want to remind everyone that the vaccine is still your best defense against COVID-19. During my weekly media briefing, a reporter asked if it was too late to get a vaccination, with another update expected before the next flu season. The answer is no. Protecting yourself is always the best option, even if it delays your ability to get the new booster this fall because of the wait time recommended between vaccinations.
I also encourage everyone to wash their hands frequently and stay home if they are sick. We know the virus is still with us. Do not put those most at risk of having severe complications from the virus at risk by ignoring the dangers. We must all remain vigilant to keep our entire community safe.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
