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WEBVTT SERIOUS IN THESTATE THAT HE IS DECLARING ASTATE OF EMERGENCY TO BATTLE IT.>> I WILL BE SIGNING ANEXECUTIVE ORDER ECLARING ASTATE OF EMERGENCY IN RESPONSETO RAPID ESCALATION OF THEHEROIN AND OPIOID CRISIS IN OURSTATE.LOWELL: WE USUALLY ASSOCIATESTATES OF EMERGENCY WITH WEATHEREVENTS.GOVERNOR HOGAN SAYS HE CONSIDERSTHE HEROIN OPIOID EPIDEMIC IMARYLAND TO BE A NATURALDISASTER AS DEATHS INVOLVING TDRUGS HAVE DOUBLED IN THE STATEIN THE LAST YEAR.>> WITH THIS CONTINUING THREAT,INCREASING AT SUCH AN ALARMINGRATE, WE MUST ALLOW FOR RAPICOORDINATION WITH OUR STATE ANDLOCAL EMERGENCY TEAMS.LOWELL: GOVERNOR HOGAN ISSUEDTHE STATE OF EMERGENCY MAINLY TOCUT THROUGH RED TAPE TO GIVELOCAL EMERGENCY AGENCIES MOREFLEXIBILITY FOR PREVENTIONTREATMENT AND ENFORCEMENTEFFORTS.-- PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND, ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS.LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOYDRUTHERFORD WHO HEADS THE, GOVERNOR'S HEROIN AND OPIOIDEMERGENCY TASK FORCE SAYS THIS, WILL HELP HIS EFFORTS.>> THE FACT OF THE MATTER ISTHAT PEOPLE ALL ACROSS MARYLANDAND THE NATION FOR THAT MATTERARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS WHEN ITCOMES TO THIS HEROIN AND OPIOIDEPIDEMIC. LOWELL THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSOPLEDGED AN ADDITIONAL 50 MILLION-- IN FUNDING FROM THE STATE AND$50 MILLION WILL CONTINUE TOSEEK FEDERAL FUNDS.FORMER MEMA DIRECTOR CLAY STAMPWHO WILL NOW LEAD THE EMERGENCY, COORDINATION AROUND THE STATESAYS IT'S ALL ABOUT SAVING, LIVES.>> WE HAVE PEOPLE DYING EVERYDAY IN THIS STATE RIGHT NOW.THERE IS NOTHING I HAVE BEENINVOLVED IN MORE IMPORTANT IN MYCAREER.LOWELL: I AM TOLD THAT WORKSESSIONS WITH LOCAL AND STATEEMERGENCY OFFICIALS SHOULD BEGINIMMEDIATELY, WITH THE HOPE THATTHEY WILL ACTUALLY START SEEINGSOME RESULTS WITHIN THE NEXT

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Gov. Larry Hogan is declaring a state of emergency to battle Maryland's heroin and opioid epidemic. Download the WBAL app The governor made the announcement Wednesday morning at the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. "I will be signing an executive order declaring a state of emergency in response to rapid escalation of the heroin and opioid crisis in our state," Hogan said. States of emergency are usually associated with weather events. Hogan said he considers the heroin opioid epidemic in Maryland to be a natural disaster, as deaths involving the drugs have doubled in the state in the last year. "With this continuing threat increasing at such an alarming rate, we must allow for rapid coordination with our state and local emergency teams," Hogan said. Hogan is issuing the state of emergency mainly to cut through red tape to give local emergency agencies more flexibility for prevention, treatment and enforcement efforts. Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, who heads the governor's Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force, said the state of emergency will help his efforts. "The fact of the matter is that people all across Maryland, and the nation for that matter, are looking for answers when it comes to this heroin and opioid epidemic," Rutherford said. The governor has also pledged an additional $50 million in funding from the state and will continue to seek federal funds. Former MEMA Director Clay Stamp, who will lead the emergency coordination around the state, said it's all about saving lives. "We have people dying every day in this state right now. (There's) probably no more important endeavor that I've been involved in my career in emergency management than what we're facing," Stamp said. Maryland Democratic Party spokesman Bryan Lesswing released a statement, saying: "It took two years and 2,600 deaths for Gov. Larry Hogan to finally follow through on what he promised to do on day one. While Gov. Larry Hogan's announcement today is a good start after two years of delay, Marylanders deserve to know how Hogan plans to defend another tool in fighting the heroin and combat epidemic -- the Affordable Care Act -- which has been a centerpiece in combating the crisis." Work sessions with local and state emergency officials will begin immediately, officials said. The hope is actually to start to see some results within the next couple of months.