Maryland’s award-winning official emergency management mobile app, MARYLAND Prepares, launched by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), has been enhanced to provide real-time regional emergency alerts to keep Marylanders informed during an emergency or severe weather. The mobile app displays real-time regional alerts for power outages, severe weather, traffic incidents, flooding, hospital status updates and shelter information from multiple sources statewide.

“Downloading the MARYLAND Prepares mobile app is one way that residents can prepare themselves for emergencies before they occur,” said MEMA Executive Director Russell Strickland. “This free app equips Marylanders with resources and alert information that can help keep them safe and informed after a disaster.”

During National Preparedness Month, MEMA is encouraging all Marylanders to download the MARYLAND Prepares mobile app to setup an emergency go-kit and family communications plan. Thousands of Marylanders have already downloaded the free mobile app that is available in the app stores for Apple and Android devices. Links to the mobile app can also be accessed through the State’s official website, Maryland.gov, or through MEMA’s website, mema.maryland.gov.

The MARYLAND Prepares mobile app provides on-the-go resources Marylanders need to be prepared before, during and after an emergency or severe weather incident and provides real-time alerts for citizens. With the addition of MEMA’s aggregated real-time alert data to the mobile app, residents receive the most up-to-the-minute information. The device’s location automatically determines the region, but users can manually select a different region and manage the push notifications in the device settings. iPhone users also receive the push notifications on a paired Apple Watch.

Additional Features Include:

• Prepare Emergency Kits through interactive checklists
• View Emergency Preparation Guides for different types of emergencies
• Create customized Family Communication Plans
• Send an “I’m Safe” message via email, text, and social networks
• Monitor current cyber threats and suspicious activity
• Access Maryland Emergency Management Agency news and events
• View current and extended national weather forecasts based on current location; ability to save multiple locations
• Locate Maryland Emergency Management Agency contacts and other useful emergency resources
• Customizable application settings and privacy controls

The MARYLAND Prepares mobile app was developed at no charge for the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) by NIC Maryland, through the self-funded eGovernment services contract with the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT).

About NIC Maryland

NIC Maryland builds, operates, maintains, supports and markets Maryland.gov and its eGovernment services. Maryland.gov is the official website of the State of Maryland (http://www.maryland.gov) and is a collaborative public/private partnership managed by the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) and NIC Maryland. NIC Maryland helps Maryland state and local government entities web-enable their services and operates without tax funds through a Self-funded eGovernment Services contract. NIC Maryland has developed more than 60 eGov products and services for the State of Maryland since the contract was awarded in August, 2011.

About NIC

Founded in 1992, NIC (NASDAQ: EGOV) is the nation’s leading provider of official government websites, online services, and secure payment processing solutions. The Company’s innovative eGovernment services help make government more accessible to everyone through technology. The family of NIC companies provides eGovernment solutions for more than 3,500 federal, state, and local agencies in the United States. Forbes has named NIC as one of the “100 Best Small Companies in America” six times, most recently ranked at No. 36 (2014), and the Company has been included four times on the Barron’s 400 Index. Additional information is available at https://www.egov.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150923005083/en/