2025 Annual Report - Report - Page 36
Charles County Government Annual Report • 2025
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
RESPONSE AND SAFETY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE ENHANCEMENTS
In 2025, Charles Count y strengthened its Hazardous
Materials Response Team by expanding full-time HazMat
Technician staffing to support 24/7 operational readiness.
This enhancement ensures continuous availabilit y of
specially trained personnel capable of responding to
chemical, biological, radiological, and other complex
hazardous materials incidents at any hour. The addition
of around-the-clock staffing improves response times,
increases on-scene technical expertise, and reinforces
the County’s commitment to maintaining a high level of
preparedness for both routine and large-scale emergency
events.
Complementing this staffing expansion, the Department
of Emergency Services introduced an innovative robotic
platform, HAZ-MUTT, to support hazardous materials
operations. Haz-Mutt is a four-legged robotic responder
designed to enter environments that may be unsafe for
personnel. Equipped with advanced sensors and remote
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monitoring capabilities, the robot can conduct reconnaissance, collect environmental readings, and generate
detailed mapping of hazardous or unstable areas. By
providing real-time situational awareness while limiting
responder exposure, Haz-Mut t enhances operational
safety and effectiveness during high-risk incidents.
Together, the expansion of 24/7 HazMat staffing and the
integration of advanced robotic technology represent a
significant advancement in Charles County’s emergency
response capabilities, prioritizing both community safety
and responder protection.
Meet Haz-Mutt, the robotic “dog”
helping Emergency Services keep our
community safe. Watch at: Youtube.
com/watch?v=f6rNWQk96BY
CharlesCountyMD.gov
