MARYLAND HELPING TO REPATRIATE CITIZENS RETURNING FROM DEVISTATION IN HAITI

REISTERSTOWN, MD (January 18, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley has asked the appropriate State agencies to coordinate repatriation of United States citizens returning from Haiti. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency is coordinating the work of several state and local departments with federal officials, led by the Maryland Department of Human Resources, which is the primary state organization in repatriation efforts.

State agencies assisted with the repatriation of about two dozen citizens in the early morning hours Sunday at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County. While federal agencies processed the necessary official paperwork, state agencies coordinated the logistics of finding temporary lodging or assisting the returnees with getting to commercial flights at area airports.

“In our One Maryland, there is no such thing as a spare American. It is our obligation to assist any way we can with the repatriation of citizens who have experienced such tragedy,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “I have asked all appropriate state agencies to do what is necessary to ensure a comfortable and expeditious transition back to the United States for those citizens returning through our State.”

There is no firm schedule for when and where American citizens in Haiti will be sent home. Maryland will work with those arriving at Andrews Air Force Base, BWI-Thurgood Marshall Airport or any other facility in the state of Maryland.

Maryland last assisted with the repatriation of American Citizens in 2006 when thousands returned to BWI in the wake of the deadly civil war in Lebanon.