Anne Arundel County and City of Annapolis

Community Emergency Response Team

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Traffic Control and Crowd Management

Traffic Control and/or Crowd Management

2024 MDAPA Active Shooter Drill

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Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants
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.

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2024 Russett Community Fall Festival

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Russett Fall Fest 2024
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.

2024 Russett Community Fall Festival Read More »

2024 Traffic Management Training (Fall)

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This approximately four-hour training is led by AAACERT skilled traffic management members and is a combination of classroom instruction and practical exercises.

To remain qualified in Traffic Management, you must take this training with one year of the last training or within one year of the last time you volunteered to perform traffic management with AAACERT, whichever is later.

Held at AACC, please check D4H for more details and to sign up.

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AAACERT Supports Salvation Army

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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.

Click here to visit our training page to learn more.

AAACERT Supports Salvation Army Read More »

2024 St. Patrick’s Day Parade

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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.

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Creation of the New Food Council

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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.

Please click here visit the Anne Arundel County Food Bank’s site to read the full story and please, consdier a donation to this valued resrouce many of our fellow county residents rely on every day.

 

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Elktonia Carr’s Beach Signing Ceremony

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View of Elktonia Beach
Image from the Chesapeake Conservancy website.

AAACERT was very proud to provide traffic and parking support to the City of Annapolis during the historic Elktonia Carr’s Beach Signing Ceremony.

AAACERT President Bruce Morgenstern posing with Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford.
AAACERT President Bruce Morgenstern posing with Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford.

CERT member Mark Demyanovich greets Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford.
CERT member Mark Demyanovich greets Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following snippet is from the Chesapeake Conservancy website at: https://www.chesapeakeconservancy.org/elktonia-beach/

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.

Elktonia Beach Parcel
Image from the Chesapeake Conservancy website.

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Last Minute Request, No Problem!

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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.

Diaper Distribution June 2022 Anne Arundel Food Bank 2
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.

Diaper Distribution June 2022 Anne Arundel Food Bank 3
DJ Haslbeck, another volunteer with AAACERT, prepares to send cars to the loading dock at Anne Arundel County Food Bank.

Diaper Distribution June 2022 Anne Arundel Food Bank
AAACERT President Bruce Morgenstern navigates pallets of diapers through the warehouse at Anne Arundel County Food Bank.

 

Last Minute Request, No Problem! Read More »

AAACERT Makes FEMA News

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AAACERT is proud to have been recognized in the FEMA CERT/ICPS newsletter for April 2022. Our work last year at the Russett Community Cleanup Day for Earth Day was our first but not our last event with the Russett Community. We’ll continue again this year and expand to help with other events the community has planned.

A special thanks to Rick and Anne for helping last year and for signing up to help this year.

You can read the full story on FEMA’s site by clicking THIS LINK.

AAACERT Makes FEMA News Read More »

Helping Our Neighboring Counties

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Lining up vehicles for smooth operations

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 PayPal and/or by signing up for Amazon Smile.

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Still Lending a Helping Hand

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Traffic lines up for food

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 PayPal and/or by signing up for Amazon Smile.

Still Lending a Helping Hand Read More »

2021 Russett Community Fall Festival

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Island being decorated with fall themed props.
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 team memembers
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.

Vehicles and tents being setup.
Looking down the parking lot at vendors setting up.

2021 Russett Community Fall Festival Read More »

Dumpster To The Left, Please Watch For Pedestrians

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Russett Community Cleanup Day Spring 2021
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.

Dumpster To The Left, Please Watch For Pedestrians Read More »

Please Continue Turning Left

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AAACERT President Bruce Morgenstern and Coordinator Joe Dorffner watch an active member of AAACERT practice traffic control.

Do they see me? Did they hear my command to stop? You should never assume the answer to these questions is YES. One of the more common tasks members of AAACERT participate in is traffic control. A group of AAACERT members underwent training on April 11, 2021, at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold. President Bruce Morgenstern and Coordinator Joe Dorffner served as instructors. Before the practical exercise, members attended a 1-hour virtual class. Traffic control is just one of many volunteer opportunities available to AAACERT members during every season each year. To find out more visit www.aaacert.org.

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Always Look Both Ways, Twice

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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.

Shady Side Vaccine Traffic Management - 002 - 2021 Feb 25
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.

https://www.aaacert.org/donate
https://aaacert.org/why-join/

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.

Always Look Both Ways, Twice Read More »

Thank You, Team Rubicon!

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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?

MDVOAD members help with traffic control.
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.

Thank You, Team Rubicon! Read More »

Congratulations To Firefighter Recruit Class #60

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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.

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Members Take Traffic Training

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AAACERT President Bruce Morgenstern and Coordinator Joe Dorffner prepare AAACERT active members for traffic control training.

Members of the Anne Arundel-Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) underwent Traffic Control training on Oct. 9, at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold. President Bruce Morgenstern and Coordinator Joe Dorffner served as instructors. Before the practical exercise, members attended a 1-hour virtual class. AAACERT members routinely perform traffic control at many sites around the County, both for special events, and particularly now for COVID-19-related emergency management tasks. Traffic control is just one of many volunteer opportunities available to AAACERT members during every season each year. To find out more visit www.aaacert.org.

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