What is Citizen Corps? Presented by the Schoolcraft County Citizen Corps

1. What is Citizen Corps?
Schoolcraft County Citizen Corps
www.schoolcraftcountycert.org

2. What is Citizen Corps?
Citizen Corps is a United States
national service program under
the jurisdiction of the
Department of Homeland
Security that seeks to mobilize
the population of the country
against threats to national
security as well as to assist in
the recovery after a disaster or
terrorist attack.
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3. History
Following the tragic events that occurred on Sep. 11, 2001, state and local
government officials increased opportunities for citizens to become an
integral part of protecting the homeland and supporting local first
responders.
In Jan. 2002, the President of the United States launched Citizen Corps, to
capture the spirit of service that emerged throughout our communities
following the terrorist attacks and to help answer two key questions being
asked by citizens, “What can I do?” and “How can I help?”.
Citizen Corps was created to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make
our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any
emergency situation. It provides opportunities for people to participate in a
range of measures to make their families, their homes, and their
communities safer from the threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all
kinds.
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4. Why Involve Citizens?
In 95% of all emergencies,
bystanders or victims
themselves are the first to
provide emergency assistance
or to perform a rescue.
Source: Los Angeles Fire Dept
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5. Why Citizen Corps?
“The first responder on the street may not even be
the police or fire; it's the guy who's there when
the accident occurs.
The Citizen Corps, followed by the local first
responders, followed then by the national
officials can make a real difference in our
community.”
Robert Eckels, Harris County Judge
U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
September 28, 2005
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6. Citizen Corps Mission
To harness the power of every individual
through education, training, and volunteer
service to make communities safer,
stronger, and better prepared to respond
to the threats of terrorism, crime, public
health issues, and disasters of all kinds.
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7. We all have a role in
hometown security
Citizen Corps asks you to
embrace the 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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8. Citizen Corps Partners
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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9. Council Responsibilities
• Promote and strengthen the Citizen Corps programs, partners and
affiliates, at the community level
• Provide opportunities for special skills and interests
• Develop targeted outreach for the community, including special
needs groups
• Provide opportunities of training in first aid and emergency
preparedness
• Organize special projects and community events
• Encourage cooperation and collaboration among community leaders
• Capture smart practices and report accomplishments
• Create opportunities for all residents to participate
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10. Citizen Preparedness
– Help to educate residents about important preparedness
measures:
• Developing a household disaster plan and disaster supply kits
for the home, workplace, and vehicle
• Learning about emergency plans for schools, workplaces,
neighborhoods, and communities
• Understanding alerts, warnings, and local emergency
services
• Conducting drills
• Observing home health and safety practices
• Implementing property damage prevention measures
• Participating in crime prevention and reporting.
– Citizen Corps Councils conduct public education and outreach
efforts to provide critical local guidance on these actions.
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11. Trainings & Exercises
– Provide training to improve citizen preparedness, prevention,
and response capabilities:
• First aid; cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and
automated external defibrillators (AED)
• Crime prevention and terrorism awareness
• Learning about the Incident Command System
• Skills included in Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT) training, such as fire safety, search and rescue
procedures, and disaster medical operations
– Councils also promote the importance of drills in the home,
workplace, and school, and help coordinate citizen participation
in community disaster response exercises.
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12. Volunteer Services
– Coordinate volunteer opportunities that support local
emergency responders, disaster relief groups, and
community safety organizations.
• Everyone can do something to support local
emergency management, law enforcement, fire
service, emergency medical services, and
community public health efforts.
– Councils also coordinate additional volunteer
opportunities as appropriate for the community and
for people with special skills and interests
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13. 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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14. Emergency 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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15. Schoolcraft County
• Schoolcraft County Citizen
Corps acts as the county’s
Citizen Corps Council and
operates two programs:
– Community Emergency
Response Team
– Medical Reserve Corps
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16. Schoolcraft County CERT
An organization of volunteer
emergency workers who
have received specific
training in basic disaster
response skills, and who
agree to supplement
existing emergency
responders in the event
of a major disaster.
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17. Schoolcraft County MRC
A network of community-
based units initiated
and established by
local organizations to
meet the public health
needs of their
communities.
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18. Schoolcraft Co. Activities
• Community Events
• Festivals
• Outreach Programs
• Emergency
Preparedness
• Training Programs
• Health Fairs
• Local Emergencies
• Public Health
Initiatives
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19. Thank You For Your Time
Schoolcraft County Citizen Corp Council
500 Main Street
Manistique, MI 49854
(906) 341-3232
www.schoolcraftcountycert.org
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