If disaster strikes in Anne Arundel County or a nearby metropolitan area, do you know what to do?

Which important papers should you take if you must evacuate? If you and your children become separated and there is no phone service, how will you find each other? How can you protect your small business from a natural disaster?

Get answers to these and other questions on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, by attending “Prepare Anne Arundel: Anne Arundel Community College Disaster Readiness Fair.” Co-sponsored by the college, city of Annapolis and the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management, this free event runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the AACC Pascal Center for Performing Arts, 101 College Parkway. Should inclement weather occur, the event will take place March 5, 2005.

The morning program features two one-hour panel discussions by federal, state and local experts.

“Hometown Security” is the focus of the first discussion led by presenters from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department headquarters, the county Police Department Emergency Operations Center, Baltimore Urban Area Security Group, City of Annapolis Emergency Management, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center, Maryland Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Task Force.

Next is a “Personal Preparedness” panel discussion. Experts will suggest guidelines for personal preparedness at home, work, school and while traveling. Presenters represent the AACC Public Safety Department and Risk Management office, Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management and Anne Arundel County Public Schools Office of School Security.

From noon to 12:45 p.m., eat lunch on your own and visit vendors exhibiting products geared toward planning for, preparing for and recovering from disasters.

Breakout sessions from 1-1:45 p.m. offer a choice of five topics:

“Animal Issues” led by E. Joseph Lamp, AACC professor of communications and an animal activist, will address steps necessary to protect your pet in a disaster. Get answers to questions such as what to do with pets during an evacuation.

“Kids and Parents” offers tips on talking to children about emergencies without scaring them. Prepare them for a possible separation from parents. The session leader is Louis L. Aymard Jr., Ph.D., director of the Family Outreach Network and a licensed child psychologist with more than 30 years of teaching, clinical and research experience.

“Special Needs Populations” addresses preparing those with physical challenges for emergencies, communicating with those who have language barriers and getting messages to hearing- and vision-impaired individuals. The session leader is Luis Peralta, emergency planner, Maryland Department on Disabilities.

“Volunteer Opportunities” offers ways to help the community in emergencies by signing up to answer phones, release information or work in an emergency response center. Leading the session is Fay R. Mauro, executive director of the Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County.

“Ready Business” covers steps a business should take to prepare and recover from a natural or manmade disaster. The session leader is Elizabeth R. Harrison, coordinator of the AACC Cybercrime Studies Institute.

For information, call 410-777-2910. Call disability support services, 410-777-2307 or Maryland Relay 711, 72 hours in advance, to request special accommodations.

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