Expo educates for better responses to emergencies Glen Burnie East

When the worst happens, it helps to know what to do and who to call.

That's why the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management held its 2019 Preparedness Expo Sept. 21. The event provides information in how to handle both man-made or natural disasters.

Chrissy Cornwell, the office's deputy director, said the expo follows National Night Out in August, and marks September's Emergency Preparedness Month. It was the fifth year of the expo.

"It's a great opportunity for families and communities and businesses to come together to generate emergency preparedness," Cornwell said. "People get to see what the county has to help prepare them for when an emergency really happens - and a lot of it is geared toward children - they can climb on equipment to see what a response might be. There are live demonstrations with canines where people can interact."

Seeing examples firsthand improves responses, so the expo adopted the motto "prepared, not scared."

For example, a child seeing a firefighter in full gear and mask may be afraid, or the thought of a trip in an ambulance may be terrifying, but the expo offers the community a chance to view emergency responders and their equipment in a safe, stress-free environment, Cornwell said.

"It's all about education - they can understand what some of the county departments do, but when they see it, they realize what each department is doing for the safety of families and communities," Cornwell said. "If they see a piece of equipment, they'll say, 'now I understand.' "

Families were able to put together their own emergency preparedness kits, which involves a communication plan. Cornwell said if families don't prepare for the unthinkable, they won't know how to communicate.

"If cellphones go down, do they know they can't call but may be able to text?" she said. "They may not be able to communicate with county residents, but they can call a family member out-of-state and let them know they're safe. In a fire drill, do they practice alternative ways of exiting the home? Are they really thinking about the dynamics of their families, with kids in school, elderly parents, or thinking of their neighbors?"

With 45 participants, there was plenty of opportunity to check out what a true emergency may really look like. Participants included Anne Arundel County and Annapolis departments, as well as state and federal partners that the Office of Emergency Management communicates or trains with regularly.

In addition to police and fire companies, participants included other local emergency management offices which Anne Arundel County might partner with, such as Maryland Emergency Management and the emergency staff at Ft. Meade and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Other annual participants invited to participate include FEMA, Maryland State Highway Administration, Maryland Department of Disabilities, BWI Airport's crash response team, the Civil Air Patrol and the Coast Guard. The Maryland Insurance Administration can also offer a glimpse of what may be expected following an emergency.

Schools such as Ft. Meade High School and Glen Burnie High School offer signature programs geared toward training students for careers in emergency management, such as a 911 operator.

In years past, Cornwall said the event has been held at the Glen Burnie Improvement Association's carnival grounds or in a Home Depot parking lot. She said when the opportunity to relocate to the mall's parking lot revealed itself, they jumped at the chance and were able to expand the event to bring in more equipment.

Cornwall said it has been a great partnership because of the convenient location and high visibility to attract those who may not be familiar but are just driving by.

The expo encourages folks to think about every possible aspect, such as pets, how to communicate with parents in assisted living or a nursing home, or children in a summer camp, Cornwell said.

"We do try to make it more of a community thing that the public can learn about how we all partner together to work through a disaster."

Caption: Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management Community's outreach coordinator James Krempel and Director J. Kevin Aftung meet with Jay Ringgold, Baltimore County's Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, at the Emergency Preparedness Expo.

Courtesy Photo