Disaster Recovery Volunteer Opportunities

 

The Anne Arundel - Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT) is a non-profit organization that vets, trains, and certifies volunteers to prepare for hazards and cope with emergencies. AAACERT courses and drills cover basic disaster prevention, preparation, and response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, communications, and emergency medical procedures. AAACERT members also support training, exercises, and emergency operations for Anne Arundel County and the City of Annapolis’ Offices of Emergency Management. To learn about, join, or support AAACERT visit www.aaacert.org. To apply to become a member, email membership@aaacert.org.

  

 

The Anne Arundel County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) team is part of a nationwide corps of trained volunteer amateur radio operators organized to assist in public service and emergency communications. They assist the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management as well as the Maryland Department of Emergency Management during emergencies. The team also operates under Federal regulations to provide continuous operations during times of Presidentially-declared national emergencies. The only requirements to join ARES are a willingness to serve and a current FCC amateur radio license! To learn more about the Anne Arundel County ARES/RACES Team visit https://sites.google.com/site/aacaresraces/?pli=1

 

 

 

The American Red Cross is a nationwide corps of trained volunteers that work to prevent and alleviate suffering in the face of emergencies. The Southern Maryland Chapter of the Red Cross has tons of volunteer opportunities in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St.Mary’s counties including positions in Disaster Response, Blood Services, Preparedness Education, Service to the Armed Forces, International Humanitarian Services, Fundraising, and Leadership. They also have opportunities for teens and young adults! For more information visit www.redcross.org/local/dc-va-md-de/volunteer.html.

 

 

 

The Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association is a network of volunteers who support the Anne Arundel County Fire Department providing fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to the residents and visitors of the County. Volunteer opportunities are available for firefighting operations, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), administrative services, or fire scene rehabilitation. To become a volunteer, contact one of our County’s volunteer stations. Visit https://www.aacvfa.org/content/links/Anne%20Arundel%20Stations.cfm for more information.

 

 

 

Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a community-based, volunteer program that helps build the public health infrastructure and response capabilities of communities in Maryland. The MRC is composed of community members and healthcare professionals who donate their time and skills to support public health initiatives and provide assistance in emergencies. Volunteers can assist with mass distribution operations, staffing shelters, and providing assistance during exercises or drills. Volunteering with the MRC is a great way to utilize and improve skills while gaining valuable hands-on experience in disaster preparedness and response. For more information visit https://mdresponds.health.maryland.gov/faq.php.

 

 

 

Maryland Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (MD VOAD) is the largest volunteer disaster response organization in the State of Maryland, made up of nearly thirty different disaster response agencies including faith-based organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGO), local non-profit agencies, and government partners (state, county, municipal). MD VOAD creates the framework for these agencies to coordinate and collaborate to foster an effective response and recovery during times of disaster. To volunteer visit https://www.marylandvoad.org/volunteer/ or call 410-375-5053.

 

 

 

The Maryland Wing, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) volunteer pilots that perform search and rescue, disaster relief, emergency service, and homeland security missions across the state. CAP is responsible for 90% of inland search and rescue missions in the United States and Maryland members conduct approximately 52 Air Force-assigned search and rescue missions each year. CAP members watch over the Chesapeake Bay every weekend and holiday from Memorial Day through Labor Day to assist boaters and motorists along the Route 50/301 corridor. They also maintain a post at the Maryland Department of Emergency Management State Emergency Operations Center, providing rapid response during natural disasters.

 

In September of 2021, the Maryland Wing flew an emergency aerial reconnaissance mission for the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency to assess the damage caused by an EF-2 tornado that struck Annapolis and South County. A CAP volunteer pilot and photo reconnaissance officer flew an aerial damage survey within ten hours of the tornado touching down. The digital imagery from the mission pinpointed the impacted communities and guided a follow-on multiagency ground-based damage assessment the next morning.

 

If you are interested in joining, find your local squadron at https://mdwg.cap.gov/squadrons and contact the commander.