Citizen Corps Mission

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Citizen Corps Mission
To have everyone in America participate in making
themselves, our communities, and our nation safer

We all have a role in hometown security a
personal responsibility to be prepared to get
training in first aid and emergency skills
and to volunteer to support local emergency
responders, disaster relief, and community
safety.
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The Need to be Ready
In 95 of all emergencies, bystanders or victims
themselves are the first to provide emergency
assistance or to perform a rescue
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Office of Grants and Training
National
Citizen Corps Council
Citizen Preparedness Training Exercises
Volunteer Service
Federal Partner Programs
Affiliate
Affiliate
Programs
Programs
Are You Ready?
Are You Ready?
DHS
DOJ/NSA
DOJ/IACP
DHS
DHHS/OSG
DHS/USFA NVFC/IAFF/IAFC
Citizen Corps Council
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Citizen Corps Programs
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) works to
enhance the capacity of state and local law
enforcement to utilize volunteers
Neighborhood Watch/USAonWatch incorporates
terrorism awareness education into its existing
crime prevention mission
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
program educates and trains citizens in basic
disaster response skills
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program helps
medical, public health, and other volunteers
offer their expertise
Fire Corps promotes the use of citizen advocates
to provide support to fire and rescue departments
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Citizen Corps Affiliates

• Programs and organizations that
• - provide materials and resources for public
  education or
• training
• - provide volunteer service opportunities to
  support first
• responders, disaster relief activities, and
  community
• safety efforts or
• - represent volunteers with an interest in
  homeland
• security

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Citizen Corps Affiliates
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Citizen Corps Approach

• National network of state/local/tribal
• Citizen Corps Councils to
• - tailor activities to the community
• - build on community strengths to develop and
  
• implement a local strategy for all to
  participate

National and state public awareness and media
campaign
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Citizen Corps Councils
Law Enforcement
Fire Service
Emergency Medical
National Citizen Corps Council
Emergency Management
Intergovernmental
Volunteer Service
Private Sector
Individuals with Disabilities
State Citizen Corps Councils
Tribal/Local Citizen Corps Councils
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Citizen Corps Councils

• Focus on public education, training, and
  volunteer opportunities for community and family
  safety
• Promote and oversee Citizen Corps programs
• Provide opportunities for special skills and
  interests
• Organize special projects/community events

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Citizen Corps Community Benefits

• Greater sense of security, responsibility, and
  personal control
• Builds community pride, unity and patriotism
• Promotes risk reduction, mitigation, and
  preparedness practices
• Prepares us all for helping others in a crisis

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Citizen Corps - Emergency Responder Benefits

• Year round support through volunteer programs
• Reduces burden on first responder services by
  promoting mitigation and preparedness measures
• Creates well trained, better informed, and better
  prepared citizens to take care of themselves and
  others during times of crisis -- allowing first
  responders to address the most critical needs

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CITIZEN CORPS IN NC

• Approved Citizen Corps Councils 89
• County Councils - 58
• Local Councils (towns/cities) 29
• Tribal - 2
• Community Emergency Response Teams 74
• Neighborhood Watch Programs 372
• Volunteers in Police Service Programs 35
• Medical Reserve Corps Units 19
• Fire Corps Programs - 19

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How Can CPAC Members Help?

• Corporations and businesses can support and
  sponsor employee CERT Teams by providing training
• One of the best ways organizations can protect
  themselves in a disaster. 
• While systems and facilities may be recovered,
  they are of little value if employees are
  unavailable. 
• CERT training is one of the ways organizations
  can help ensure their employees can return to
  work as quickly as possible following a disaster.

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CERT Is

• A Serious Effort to Involve Community Members in
  Disaster Preparedness and Response

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CERT Goal

• A network of teams who are trained by
  emergency service professionals that can be
  called upon during local emergency and disaster
  situations. Also CERT members are a volunteer
  resource for non-emergency preparedness projects.

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CERT Training Modules

• Unit 1 Disaster Preparedness
• Unit 2 Fire Safety
• Unit 3 Disaster Medical Operations-Part 1
• Unit 4 Disaster Medical Operations-Part 2
• Unit 5 Light Search and Rescue Operations
• Unit 6 CERT Organization
• Unit 7 Disaster Psychology
• Unit 8 Terrorism and CERT
• Unit 9 Course Review and Disaster Simulation

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History of CERT in NC

• 1997-1998
• 3 train-the-trainer classes held with 5 counties
  participating
• FY 2002-FY 2004
• 76 grants have been awarded by NC Citizen Corps
  to County Emergency Management Agencies to create
  Citizen Corps Councils and CERT teams
• Currently reviewing 56 grant proposals for
  Citizen Corps Councils, CERT teams, MRC units,
  and VIPS programs in the state.
• The state has conducted 28 train-the-trainer
  sessions since 2002.

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CERT Disaster Response Activities

• Assisted in several out-of-state disasters
  (Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, Katrina)
• Assisted in flooding in western NC in 2004
• Assisted in Emergency Operations Centers
• Checked on senior citizens without electricity
• Assisted in American Red Cross
• shelters

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CERT Non-Disaster Activities

• Traffic control for special events
• Crowd control for special events
• Preparedness education/outreach
• Market CERT make speeches
• Member of other Citizen Corps Programs

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Continuing Education

• Chainsaw Safety
• Shelter Operations
• Weather Spotter
• Search and Rescue
• CPR
• Damage Assessment
• Traffic Control
• Mass Care

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SUCCESSES

• Widespread interest among county
• administrators and citizens
• Recognition of CERT teams positive contribution
  
• to both disaster and non-disaster activities
• Passage of statewide liability coverage by 2005
• General Assembly
• Counties and municipalities beginning to budget
• for CERT activities

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NC CERT Goals

• Statewide CERT association
• Continuing education for CERT instructors
• CERT curriculum for senior citizens and disabled
  population
• NC CERT website

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www.citizencorps.gov faye.stone_at_ncmail.net citizen
corps_at_ncmail.net 919-715-8676 Cathy Henry, CERT
Program Managerchenry_at_ncem.org 336-312-2962