The Queen Anne’s County Department of Emergency Services Special Operations Division has been recognized by the Maryland Emergency Management Association (MEMA) with the Preparedness Project of the Year Award for its innovative Multi-Agency Shelter Exercise and Capability Enhancement Initiative.
The award was presented during the recent Maryland Emergency Management Association Conference and recognizes outstanding projects that strengthen emergency preparedness, response capabilities, and community resilience.
The initiative centered around a two-day full-scale emergency sheltering exercise conducted at Centreville Middle School in July 2025. Designed and coordinated by the Department of Emergency Services, the exercise brought together county agencies, regional partners, nonprofit organizations, and more than 100 community volunteers to simulate the opening and operation of an emergency shelter during a large-scale disaster.
The exercise tested the County’s ability to provide sheltering services for residents and their pets while evaluating coordination among agencies responsible for public health, social services, emergency management, public information, transportation, law enforcement, and animal care.
“This recognition reflects the dedication and hard work of our entire team and our many community partners,” said Scott Haas, Director of Queen Anne’s County Department of Emergency Services. “Preparedness is an ongoing effort that requires planning, collaboration, training, and a willingness to identify areas for improvement before a real emergency occurs. This exercise demonstrated the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to protecting the residents of Queen Anne’s County.”
The exercise was led by Emergency Planner Debra Hopkins and involved extensive collaboration among the Queen Anne’s County Department of Social Services, Department of Health, Animal Services, Public Schools, Community Affairs, Aging and Transportation, the American Red Cross, the Maryland Animal Response Team, and numerous local, regional, and state partners.
Beyond testing plans and procedures, the exercise produced measurable improvements to the County’s emergency sheltering capabilities. Participants identified facility, logistical, and operational challenges that informed updates to emergency plans and preparedness strategies. Several lessons learned during the exercise were later validated and applied during an actual shelter activation in January 2026 during a winter weather emergency.
The project was also recognized for its innovative inclusion of companion animal sheltering, access and functional needs scenarios, and realistic operational challenges that required agencies to work together in real time to solve problems and support shelter residents.
This initiative serves as a model for other jurisdictions seeking to strengthen preparedness through scalable, cost-effective exercises that rely on collaboration and community engagement.
Queen Anne’s County extends its appreciation to all participating agencies, evaluators, volunteers, and community partners whose contributions helped make the exercise a success.
