The Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management has activated its damage assessment portal in the wake of the coastal flooding brought on by Tropical Storm Debby. Any residents or business owners affected by the storm, which hit the area this past Friday, August 9th, are urged to report the extent of the damage they've suffered by using the designated assessment form available through August 19th, as detailed by Anne Arundel County press release.

It's vital to note that the damage assessment form is only for data collection purposes and, as stated by the Office of Emergency Management. Preeti Emrick, the director of the Office, underscored the importance of this process, "understanding the full extent of disaster damage through data collection helps build resilience for future challenges," as cited by the county's press release. These words hammer home the notion that preparation is as much about data and infrastructure as it is about community.

Residents are also provided an alternative method to report damages by calling the Office of Emergency Management at 410-222-0600. For those reaching out after hours, they should leave a detailed message that includes their name, contact number, and an overview of the damage incurred.

For residents who require different formats for the available resources, the Office of Emergency Management can accommodate those needs. Contact details for alternative format requests are provided as follows: call the Office at (410) 222-0600, email at [email protected], and for TTY users, please proceed via Maryland Relay 7-1-1.