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Kent County hurricane guide

The Kent County Office of Emergency Services (OES), in Chestertown, manages emergency response for hurricanes, floods, and winter storms. Kent County sits on the Chesapeake Bay and the Chester and Sassafras rivers and takes part in the state's Know Your Zone evacuation zones. The county's shelter plan names the Kent County Community Center as the primary shelter location and the Animal Care Shelter of Kent County as the pet shelter.

Checked on October 8, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from Kent County Office of Emergency Services. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

What to know in Kent County

  • Kent County keeps a Nuisance Flood Plan (2025) on the OES page, for repeated tidal flooding in low areas.

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Emergency 911 Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger.
Emergency management office 410-778-1241 Kent County OES. Office line. Not for emergencies.

Official alerts and information

  • Kent County Everbridge Emergency Alerts: Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Website.
  • Kent County Office of Emergency Services: The county's official emergency services page, with the shelter plan and nuisance flood plan. Website.

Evacuation zones

Maryland uses statewide Know Your Zone evacuation zones lettered A, B, and C. In a severe storm, residents of one or more zones may be told to evacuate depending on tides, storm intensity, path, and other factors, and the order names the zone. Look up your address on the state map. Residents not in a zone should be ready to evacuate if conditions change and should call their local emergency management office with questions. If the map will not load, the state says to call 2-1-1 or your local emergency manager.

Look up your evacuation zone

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Kent County's 2025 shelter plan names the Kent County Community Center in Chestertown as the primary shelter location and the Animal Care Shelter of Kent County as the pet shelter. The county announces storm-specific shelter decisions through its alerts, so do not go to a site until the county says it is open. Check Everbridge alerts and the OES page.

Official list of open evacuation centers

Cities and towns

Each city has its own services and some have their own alerts. The county's evacuation zones, evacuation centers, and emergency alerts cover everyone, in every city and in unincorporated areas.

Sources

Checked on October 8, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.