First Responder Initiative

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Uniting Communities
Preparing the Nation

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Promoting a culture of service, citizenship and
responsibility
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Citizen Corps Mission

• To have everyone participate in
• making America safer

Everyone can do something to be safer from the
dangers we all face natural disasters,
terrorism, crime, public health issues and other
medical emergencies and to help our communities
be safer too.
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Citizen Corps Mission

• Every American can participate through
• Personal responsibility preparedness plans and
• disaster supplies kits - home health and safety
  practices -
• disaster mitigation measures - crime prevention
  and reporting
• Training emergency preparedness - response
  capabilities - first aid - fire suppression -
  search and rescue procedures -
• public health and safety
• Volunteer service law enforcement - fire -
  emergency medical services - community public
  health - emergency management - disaster relief
  community safety organizations

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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 Voice National public awareness and
media campaign
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Citizen Corps CouncilsMembership

• First responder/emergency management
• Volunteer community
• Elected officials
• Business leaders
• School systems representatives
• Transportation sector
• Media executives
• Minority and special needs representation
• Leadership from community sub-structure

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Citizen Corps CouncilsResponsibilities

• Build on community strengths--develop action
  plans
• Focus on public education, training, volunteer
  opportunities
• Promote and oversee Citizen Corps programs
• Provide opportunities for special skills and
  interests
• Organize special projects/community events
• Capture smart practices/report accomplishments

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First Responders Per Capita
1 firefighter for every 280 people 1 million
firefighters 750,000 volunteer 1 sworn
officer for every 385 people 436,000 sworn law
enforcement personnel 291,000 sworn sheriffs
office personnel 1 EMT/paramedic for every 325
people 860,000 all levels of pre-hospital
services basic EMT, intermediate EMT, paramedic

White House Homeland Security website and EMS
Magazine July 2002
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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
Los Angeles Fire Department
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Citizen Corps Programs
Other public education, training and volunteer
service programs promoting community and family
safety
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Neighborhood Watch - DOJ

• 30 years old
• success in crime prevention
• Double number of
• Neighborhood Watch
• Programs to 15,000 over 2 years
• Partnership with the
• National Sheriffs Association

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Volunteers in Police Service - DOJ

• On line directory of existing local programs,
  sample policies and documents at
  http//policevolunteers.org/
• Best practices guidance
  to recruit, train, and use
  citizen volunteers in
  police departments
• Partnership with the International Association of
  Chiefs of Police

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CERT - FEMA

• 20 hour course
• Disaster Preparedness Light Search and Rescue
• Fire Suppression Medical Principles/Treatment
• Team Organization Disaster Psychology
• Terrorism module Final Exercise
• Train-the-Trainer delivery systems
• http//training.fema.gov/emiweb/CERT/

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Medical Reserve Corps - HHS

• Active and retired health care professionals and
  others with an interest in public health issues
• Support in large-scale local emergencies
• Promote community public health year round
• Nov 2002
• 42 demonstration grants
• announced and Guide
• for Local Leaders released
• www.medicalreservecorps.gov

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Citizen Corps Affiliates
The National Fire Protection Association Save-A-Li
fe Foundation The U.S. Junior Chamber
(Jaycees) National Volunteer Fire
Council National Voluntary Organizations Active
In Disaster

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Citizen Corps Affiliates
Points of Light Foundation and the National
Network of Volunteer Centers National Safety
Council American Radio Relay League American Red
Cross National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin.

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State Role

• Promote Citizen Corps
• Approve Councils
• Conduct public information/outreach
• Provide grants management and reporting
• Promote volunteer mutual aid
• Conduct Statewide CERT training
• Ensure volunteer/donations management is included
  in Emergency Operations Plans

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Citizen CorpsCommunity 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 CorpsCommunity Benefits

• Benefits for First Responders
• Year round support
• Reduces burden on first responder
• Creates well trained, better informed, and better
  prepared citizens

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2002 Supplemental

• 25 million to FEMA for Citizen Corps
• 4 M Grants for Citizen Corps
  Councils and Council activities
• 17 M Grants for CERT
• 4 M National program development

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2003 Appropriations

• Total Citizen Corps Programs 33 M
• 3 M DOJ Neighborhood Watch
• Volunteers in Police Service
• 10 M HHS Medical Reserve Corps
• 20 M FEMA Community Emergency
• Response Teams (CERT)

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Organizational Update

• FY 04 budget 45M in House (25 Councils, 20
  CERT) Senate 50M
• Citizen Corps to move to Office for Domestic
  Preparedness in FY 04
• Currently in committee

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Region VII Perspective

• Developed Strategic Plan
• Held Regional Workshop
• Forming Regional Advisory Council
• Granting CERT trailers to states, tribal

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Resources

• www.fema.gov
• www.citizencorps.gov
• www.ready.gov
• www.usaonwatch.org
• www.policevolunteers.org
• www.medicalreservecorps.gov
• www.nationalservice.org

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Linda Winkler FEMA Region VII Program
Manager Phone [phone] Email
linda.winkler_at_dhs.gov