Members of AAACERT participated in an active shooter drill on the Eastern Shore for the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants on September 27. Using realistic wounds, AAACERT members acted as victims at five stations. Each station focused on a specific wound and or type of care. We love doing this type of event since we get to help train our first responders and healthcare professionals who might one-day save our own lives.
These stations included:
Station #1 CHEST WOUND: The victim will have an entrance and exit wound.
Station #2 GROIN WOUND: The victim will have a GSW to the groin requiring the wound to be packed with combat gauze.
Station #3 PRESSURE DRESSING: The victim will have two GSW’s, one to the upper arm and one to the lower leg.
Station #4. TOURNIQUET: GSW wounds to both legs, that are actively bleeding.
Station#5 HEAD WOUND: This will GSW to the head.
The organizer provided the following update on the actor victims.
“I wanted to let you know that Ian, Marilyn, Jane, James and Jeff were absolutely amazing people. The active shooter workshop was a huge success. Everyone at the conference who went through the training are still talking about have great the victims were. They made the scenarios very very realistic. I can’t thank you enough for your assistance and for the help of the 5 above mentioned people.”
Check out our Facebook page for pictures of the event.
Click HERE if this is something that interest you and you want to learn more about AAACERT.
The 2024 Russett Community’s Fall Festival had over 60 vendor tables. AAACERT was honored to be asked to help direct vendor traffic into their assigned spots while keeping pedestrians safe from vehicle traffic. We look forward to helping again next year.
If your community or organization holds similar events and would like trained, traffic, crowed, and/or basic first aid support from our volunteer organization please reach out to certcoordinator@aaacert.org.
The COVID-19 pandemic might be over, but food insecurity is not. Many residents of Anne Arundel County are struggling to put food on their table.
Members of the Salvation Army and AAACERT member Bruce Morgenstern (right).
AAACERT supports a number of weekly and monthly food distribution events, and we are honored to have been asked to help the Salvation Army’s monthly food distribution in Glen Burnie.
Members of AAACERT were happy to help keep patrons of this food distribution safe as we managed traffic and parking for this park-and-walk-up event.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining AAACERT or interested in how to keep you and your family and neighbors safe during a disaster, please consider taking the FEMA CERT course.
Tom Cagle (black shirt) lead city parade marshal surrounded by 11 AAACERT members.
One of the more active list of events AAACERT members support are the many parades in the City of Annapolis. On Sunday, March 17, 11 AAACERT members served as City Parade Marshals for the annual Annapolis St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
As City Parade Marshals, AAACERT members serve as the city’s eyes and ears, helping authorities to keep the event safe by ensuring crowds stay clear of the parade elements, and participants engage safely. Not content to be mere safety spotters, many AAACERT members also sported first aid kits, standing ready to step in with immediate assistance if needed.
Parades serve as excellent opportunities for AAACERT members to practice their crowd management, emergency communication, and incident response training. AAACERT is the only volunteer group that is certified by the City of Annapolis to work as parade marshals.
From left: Marta Jones, Operations Manager, AACo Food Bank; Roy Dunning, AAACERT Member; Leah Aiello Paley, CEO, AACo Food Bank; Bruce Morgenstern, AAACERT Member.
AAACERT members Roy Dunning and Bruce Morgenstern helped to direct traffic in the parking lot of the Anne Arundel County Food Bank in Crownsville, MD on May 3, 2023. This was a special occasion as County Executive Steuart Pittman signed Executive Order No. 60 to establish the Anne Arundel County Food Council.
Elktonia Beach, a 5-acre waterfront parcel on the Chesapeake Bay, is the last remnant of the original 180-acre property purchased by Fred Carr in 1902. Carr’s and Sparrow’s Beaches were privately-owned and operated by Fred Carr’s daughters, Elizabeth Carr Smith and Florence Carr Sparrow. The “Beaches” (1930s-1970s), as they were called, represented the heart of entertainment throughout the mid-Atlantic region and welcomed Blacks during a time of segregation.
County Executive Steuart Pittman (left) and AAACERT President Bruce Morgenstern (right) stand in front of the AAACERT tent.
Anne Arundel Annapolis CERT was honored to participate in the 2022 Pride Festival in Annapolis on Saturday June 04. Volunteer members of AAACERT also participated as the Pride Parade Marshals, helping to organize the participants and keep the parade route safe for everyone.
Karen Demyanovich helps at AAACERT tent.
At the festival, our tent was joined by tents from Anne Arundel County OEM, Anne Arundel County PD, Annapolis OEM, Annapolis PD, and Annapolis FD. Our little enclave of first responders, emergency specialists and volunteers had a surprising large number of visitors. All very interested in who AAACERT was. We hope anyone that took a brochure signs up for our next CERT Basic class coming in the fall.
Brandon Gosnell helps at the AAACERT tent.
To learn more about the class checkout our training page. Perhaps even consider a donation.
On June 2, the Anne Arundel County Food Bank realized they needed help with an expected rush of vehicles coming to pick up diapers. Their first call, AAACERT.
AAACERT volunteer Joe Stanik stands ready to direct traffic to the loading docks at Anne Arundel County Food Bank.
Without hesitation, AAACERT president Bruce Morgenstern made a few calls and arrived on scene with two other AAACERT volunteers.
Traffic vests on and radios charged, they handled the rush with smiles abound. Bruce even got in some practice with the pallet jacks. Please follow AACFB on Facebook, subscribe to their newsletter and consider a donation. They do wonderful work year-round. The volume of food and supplies that come in and out of their warehouse is truly mind boggling.
DJ Haslbeck, another volunteer with AAACERT, prepares to send cars to the loading dock at Anne Arundel County Food Bank.
AAACERT President Bruce Morgenstern navigates pallets of diapers through the warehouse at Anne Arundel County Food Bank.
AAACERT doesn’t just help around Anne Arundel County. In January, PG Co requested support through AA Co OEM for traffic control at the UM Laurel Hospital Center. COVID-19 testing had begun and the turnout was fantastic. Members of AAACERT happily provided traffic trained members over the course of a few days while the MD National Guard organized their troops.
Traffic Control is just one of the many skills you can learn when you are a member of AAACERT. Click HERE to learn more and sign up for our next CERT Basic class.
Anne Arundel-Annapolis CERT is an all-volunteer non-profit. As volunteers, we rely on donations to continue our efforts. Please consider a donation so we can continue supporting communities around Anne Arundel County. It’s easy to provide support through PayPaland/or by signing up for Amazon Smile.
Volunteer members of AAACERT continues supporting food distributions around the county. Here, AAACERT helps to organize vehicles at Quarterfield Elementary a few days prior to Thanksgiving.
Traffic Control is just one of the many skills you can learn when you are a member of AAACERT. Click HERE to learn more and sign up for our next CERT Basic class.
Anne Arundel-Annapolis CERT is an all-volunteer non-profit. As volunteers, we rely on donations to continue our efforts. Please consider a donation so we can continue supporting communities around Anne Arundel County. It’s easy to provide support through PayPaland/or by signing up for Amazon Smile.
Community Association members setting up welcome and picture stations with fall-themed props.
The 2021 Russett Community’s Fall Festival had over 90 vendor tables. This year AAACERT was honored to be asked to help direct vendor traffic into their assigned spots while keeping pedestrians safe from vehicle traffic. We look forward to helping next year and with many other events planned at Russett.
AAACERT members (from left) Brett Wagner, Brandon Gosnell, and Heather Pierce helped to keep traffic flowing and pedestrians safe during the event.
If your community or organization holds similar events and would like trained, professional traffic, crowed, and/or basic first aid support from our volunteer organization please reach out to certcoordinator@aaacert.org.
Looking down the parking lot at vendors setting up.
Members of AAACERT march with other participants in the City of Annapolis’ July 4th parade.
This year not only was Anne Arundel Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) honored to be parade marshals for the City of Annapolis’ July 4th parade, but we also marched along with all the other great participants. This was the first parade where AAACERT had a group march within the parade.
Parade marshal is one of many unique skills you can train in if you are a member of AAACERT. The responsibilities are numerous including performing safety checks for all vehicles registered in the parade; knowing each of the rules and safety guidelines, many of which are unique to the location and sponsor city; and walking along with the parade and your assigned group keeping a watchful eye out for any issues or safety concerns that may impact the parade or the people watching. It’s a long day but very fulfilling not to mention fun as you walk the path with the parade.
Interested in know what else you can do as a member of AAACERT? Check out our website for more information and links to our social media sites. www.aaacert.org
AAACERT parade marshals gather for the early morning briefing. The parade may start at 1030, but the parade marshals must be ready to start lining up participates a few hours before that.
AAACERT parade marshals are briefed on parade guidelines, receive their first aid gear, and team up before they begin lining up and checking parade participants and their vehicles.
An original WWII Jeep Willy is staged for the parade. The vehicle’s safety systems have been checked and a AAACERT parade marshal has briefed the driver on safety guidelines for the parade.
A look back towards the end of the parade as thousands of people line the streets watching the festivities. Parade marshals must constantly scan the street for people trying to run across to the other side.
A look up towards the front of the parade. Parade marshals must constantly scan the sidewalks for people attempting to run out and pick up a souvenir a parade participant may have dropped. This is one of the most dangerous things that can happen during a parade.
From Left: AAACERT Member Rick Cooper, AACo Exec Steuart Pittman, AAACERT Member Anne Coooper, and AAACERT Member Brandon Gosnell.
Members of AAACERT where happy to assist the Russett Community Association by directing traffic to the community dumpster during the Russett Community Cleanup Day. The dumpster was located in the back of the community center parking lot with lots of community volunteers walking around picking up trash. AAACERT members posted at three locations to help direct cars and people.
Not everyone was there for cleanup day. Some needed to visit the library while others simply wanted to play some tennis. Our presence helps to free up association members and volunteers so they can focus on the event. AAACERT members are specially trained to manage traffic and pedestrians.
We look forward to helping helping with many more community events as organizations and communities begin to open up from COVID lockdowns.
Interested in volunteering or need similar help with your community event? Visit our WEBSITE to find out more.
Seniors in the Shady Side, MD area are excited to finally get the call to come and receive their COVID-19 vaccination shot. With limited parking at the Lula Scott Head Start Center, many visitors need to park across the street. Walking across a busy two-lane road can be dangerous especially since some drivers do not always follow traffic signs including speed limits.
AAACERT member Paul Bowling (front) instructs a visitor on where to park. Meanwhile, AAACERT member Amy Bleich (background) awaits to point the driver to the correct spot.
In steps volunteer members from the Anne Arundel – Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT). With no designated crosswalks and the need to park across the street seniors are thankful the AAACERT volunteers are there to stop traffic and provide them a safe time to cross. The AAACERT members are also there to help direct traffic within the small parking lot and provide extra support into the building, if needed.
Traffic control is just one of many community needs being filled by members of AAACERT. There are many ways you can help support AAACERT, perhaps consider a donation (see link below). Beyond donations, you can also join and learn the skills needed to help yourself, your family, and your community during an emergency.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccination including sites and how to sign up, please click this link to visit the Anne Arundel County Health Department.
Team Rubicon has come to help backfill at a critical junction, literally. Maryland Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (MD VOAD) members, Anne Arundel – Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) and Team Rubicon have teamed up to support pedestrian and traffic safety at the Maryland Live! Casino vaccination site in Hanover, Anne Arundel County.
With AAACERT’s resources stretched thin helping across the county, Anne Arundel County OEM reached out to MD VOAD via MEMA for additional support, and Team Rubicon stepped up. After a one-day orientation and transition, Team Rubicon has taken a primary role, with AAACERT supporting as needed. Helping for the greater good. Isn’t that what’s it’s all about?
Bruce Morgenstern, AAACERT President (let), and Anthony Graves-Buckingham, Team Rubicon Task Force Leader (right) assist people coming to get their COVID-19 vaccine cross a busy intersection. In the back right, people wait for the vaccination center to reopen.
AAACERT member Neal Anders provides parking directions to family members of a graduating firefighter before Firefighter Recruit Class #60 graduation ceremony.
Anne Arundel-Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) provided traffic support to honor and assist the Anne Arundel Fire Training Academy’s graduation of Recruit Class #60. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the graduating class was unable to hold their ceremony safely indoors. AAACERT members stepped up to facilitate the outdoor ceremony, helping to park around 100 cars on the Training Academy Yard and directing the recruits’ proud family members, in vehicles, to the stage area for pictures and cheers for their new firefighter. AAACERT volunteer members supported this important logistical task so that fire department personnel were available to participate in the recruits’ graduation ceremony.
AAACERT members Joseph and Rosy Dorffner pause while serving Annapolis, May 30. Members Greg Burch, Joseph Whitworth, and Laurie Goodell (not pictured) also served that day in the state capital city.
Anne Arundel-Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) members are assisting the City of Annapolis in the downtown area as safe health practice ambassadors. While on their walks, the AAACERT members encourage downtown guests to maintain social distancing, avoid large groups, and wear masks. When they have masks available, they are also handing out face coverings and offering hand sanitizer to those who want them. AAACERT has no enforcement role while performing this function, though they are equipped with radios to maintain situational awareness or contact police, if necessary.
Being safe practice ambassadors is only one role AAACERT is serving right now. Members are also volunteering at the Anne Arundel County Food Bank in Crownsville, the County Donation Center in Odenton, the food drives in Brooklyn Park and Annapolis, and the county Office of Emergency Management call center in Glen Burnie. To date, AAACERT has supported the county with more than 1800 hours of volunteer service since the stay-home orders began in March.
AAACERT Coordinator Joe Dorffner, AAACERT President Bruce Morgenstern, Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley, and Pastor Sheryl D. Menendez at the food distribution on April 27 at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center in Annapolis.
The City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management (OEM) tasked nine trained, certified volunteers from the Anne Arundel-Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) to support the city’s fire department, police, and police cadets during a food distribution to help families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic on April 27. AAACERT’s roles at the event, which took place at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center located at 237 Hilltop Lane in Annapolis, included traffic management and maintaining social distancing. Volunteers at the event all wore face masks and gloves as Personal Protective Equipment.
Pastor Sheryl D. Menendez of Light of the World Family Ministries and the nonprofit Restoration Community Development Corporation in Glen Burnie, who helped organize the event, said, “People lined up in cars for several blocks a couple of hours before we were scheduled to open. What does that tell you about how serious this issue is? So many people in need are determined to feed their families.”
After pausing for a photo with Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley, AAACERT President Bruce Morgenstern, and AAACERT Coordinator Joe Dorffner, Pastor Menendez continued:
“To organize this food distribution in Annapolis, which we call Pantry on the Go, we partnered with Diana Taylor — the Senior Manager from the county’s Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families — as well as the Maryland Food Bank. We generally give out from 8,000 to 10,000 pounds of food. On a day like this, it was 8,000 pounds. We did a similar food distribution on April 16 at Whitmore Park in Annapolis.”
Ten AAACERT volunteers helped with traffic management and social distancing at the April 16 food distribution. To date, AAACERT has contributed more than 650 hours of community service in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
‘They can see the smiles in our eyes and in our body language. They hear the smiles in our voices. And that does a lot.’
Pastor Sheryl D. Menendez
“We also run a Maryland Food Bank pantry at our Brooklyn Park location, where we give out food every Monday,” said Pastor Menendez. “We’ve got another food distribution coming up in Bay Ridge Gardens off Forest Drive in Annapolis around noon on May 6. We have four events scheduled over the next four or five weeks.”
Unfortunately, the demand was so high that volunteers ran out of boxes of food and had to turn away a long line of families in need at least an hour before the event had been scheduled to close.
“I’m crying because we are not going to have enough food,” said Pastor Menendez. “We give out quality food, including fruits and vegetables, from the Maryland Food Bank; they get chicken, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, onions, melons. And more than 25 restaurants provide pre-cooked meals through Feed Anne Arundel. This crowd-funded effort pays restaurants across Anne Arundel County to prepare nutritious meals for those in our community in need. Today, we received 600 prepared meals; two weeks ago, we got 1,000.”
How does food distribution make a difference?
“A lot of people for the first time find themselves without jobs, and there are some folks whose unemployment or stimulus checks have not come through yet,” said Pastor Menendez. “Even that’s not enough, because people have to pay rent. On top of that, our school systems are closed, so the kids are not receiving meals there. We are seeing how food insecurity is compounding mental health issues. People worried about feeding their families are experiencing an increase in stress, depression, and anxiety. So what we’re doing helps people on several levels.
“When people come out to receive food, they can’t see us smiling behind our face masks. But they can see the smiles in our eyes and in our body language. They hear the smiles in our voices. And that does a lot.”
Anne Arundel-Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) members supported the annual Preparedness Expo on Sept. 21 at Marley Station in Glen Burnie. Arriving by 6:30 a.m. for the operational briefing, CERT members then took their stations to participate in traffic control, assisting vendors with set-up, directing vehicles within the perimeter, and helping to provide extra eyes and ears for general safety. Most of the CERT members stayed to work the entire event, including teardown, which concluded around 3:00 p.m.
The Preparedness Expo is a yearly event hosted by the Anne Arundel Office of Emergency Management to familiarize the public with the many functions and activities of the response community. At the 2019 Expo, more than 45 participating organizations provided displays of their skills, literature, gifts, and personal representatives to help individuals and families learn how to be ready for disasters and incidents. Exhibitors invited children to climb into vehicles to see the dashboards; animal handlers gave demonstrations of canine aptitude; and fire personnel gave live demonstrations of safety or extinguishing practice.
“You just don’t realize everything these [responders] do every day,” remarked one visitor in passing, “and we are so blessed to have them in our community.” She added her thanks to responders for their availability, time, and training.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security designates every September as National Preparedness Month. Visit the agency’s website to find numerous resources aimed at helping families be ready for any emergency or disaster they might face.
AAACERT trains volunteers in disaster response skills and emergency preparedness. AAACERT volunteers assist others in our community following a disaster when professional responders are not immediately available to help. When activated under the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management, or the City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management, AAACERT supports emergency response agencies.
