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
• (law enforcement, fire, EMS/EMT, public works)
• 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 to develop action
  plans to involve the whole community, including
  special needs groups
• 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
• Capture smart practices and report accomplishments

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Citizen Preparedness

• To ensure that all Americans have the necessary
  information, education and skills to protect
  themselves, their families, homes and businesses

Councils Advocacy Outreach Media Canvassing
Word of mouth Training Exercises
People Taking ACTION!!
Be Ready Are You Ready? Other Publications
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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
  www.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 Urban Search and
  Rescue
• - Fire Safety - Medical Principles and
  Treatment
• - Team Organization - Disaster Psychology
• - Terrorism module (new) - Final Exercise
• Train-the-Trainer delivery system

Triple the number of individuals trained by the
end of 2003 an additional
400,000 nationwide
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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

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

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Citizen Corps Affiliates

• The National Fire Protection Association
• Save-A-Life Foundation
• The U.S. Junior Chamber (Jaycees)
• National Volunteer Fire Council
• National Voluntary Organizations
• Active In Disaster
• Point of Light Foundation and the National
• Network of Volunteer Centers
• National Safety Council
• American Radio Relay League

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National Citizen Corps Council

• Membership Leaders of national organizations
• - law enforcement - volunteer groups
• - fire - private sector
• - emergency management - federal partners
• - emergency medical and -
  intergovernmental
• public health services
  organizations
• whose colleagues at the state and local level
  will collaborate to create local Citizen Corps
  Councils and to advance the Citizen Corps mission

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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 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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What YOU Can Do

• Partner with volunteer organizations, first
  responder and emergency management leadership,
  elected leadership, private sector and
  educational groups
• Help form Citizen Corps Councils and start the
  programs in your community
• Help with public education, risk assessment,
  training, and volunteer participation
• Mentor others organizations and communities

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www.citizencorps.gov
Contact us at citizencorps_at_fema.gov