State of Emergency Declared Ahead of Weekend Winter Storm

News Release # 2026-009

Friday, Jan. 23, 2026

The National Weather Service is forecasting a significant snowstorm this weekend for Charles County and surrounding areas. Today, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II signed an order declaring a local state of emergency in Charles County. A state of emergency declaration allows the Department of Emergency Services to engage, deploy, and coordinate available resources to protect Charles County residents' lives and property in the event of severe weather impact from the snowstorm.

A local state of emergency is also an indicator to residents that this will likely be a significant winter storm, and to take necessary precautions. Motorists are urged to stay off the roads during the height of the storm. Driving could be dangerous soon after the snow begins.

The state of emergency order will take effect at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24 and continue to be in effect for up to 7 days.

Stay tuned for snow operation updates this weekend on our snow operations web page to prepare for inclement weather.

Residents can also get the latest updates by following Charles County on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, X) and signing up for emergency alerts through the Citizen Notification System.

For information on power outages, view the SMECO outage map at stormcenter.smeco.coop. Call 877-747-6326 to report a power outage. Call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.

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