Queen Anne’s County recently completed a successful full-scale emergency sheltering exercise, hosted by the Department of Emergency Services (QAC DES) and held at Centreville Middle School on July 16–17. The two-day event brought together multiple county agencies, volunteers, and community partners to simulate the opening and operation of an emergency shelter in response to a disaster scenario.
The shelter was initially managed by Queen Anne’s County Department of Social Services, who then simulated transferring management responsibilities to the local chapter of the American Red Cross—mirroring the type of transition that may occur in a real-life disaster. The Queen Anne’s County Department of Health participated by overseeing the health and wellness needs of shelter clients, while Queen Anne’s County Animal Services along with volunteers from the Maryland Animal Response Team handled the intake and emergency sheltering of pets. Queen Anne’s County Community Services, Transportation Division provided real world injects regarding transportation during the exercise.
Queen Anne’s County Community Affairs led public information efforts during the exercise, and Queen Anne’s County Television (QACTV) participated as a mock media outlet to test communication policies and procedures. The Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff, School Resource Unit provided on-site security, reinforcing the importance of safety in emergency shelter operations.
The exercise also included a visit from County Commissioner Chris Corchiarino, who observed shelter operations, spoke with staff about policies and procedures, and even joined in the fun by helping to check in some simulated pets.
Many other county and regional agencies assisted with scenario development, injects, and observation. Talbot County Emergency Management, Kent County Emergency Management, Department of Agriculture, Kent County Health Department, Cecil County Health Department, Cecil County Department of Social Services, and Prince George's County Office of Emergency Management.
Queen Anne’s County Public Schools served as a critical partner in the exercise by providing access to Centreville Middle School, helping ensure the site was ready for this important training event.
“This exercise was a tremendous success,” said Department of Emergency Services Director Scott Haas. “I especially want to commend our Special Operations Division for their strong leadership and thorough planning, which made this simulation possible. It gave us the opportunity to test our sheltering capabilities in a realistic environment and identify areas for improvement in future emergency responses. We’re also incredibly grateful to the many community volunteers who stepped up to support this effort, we couldn’t have done something of this scale without them.”
This exercise provided a valuable opportunity for staff and volunteers to gain hands-on experience in shelter operations and improve coordination among agencies. The feedback and lessons learned will directly inform future planning and strengthen Queen Anne’s County’s emergency response capabilities.
For more information about emergency preparedness or volunteering during disasters, visit www.qac.org or contact the Department of Emergency Services at 410-758-4500.