DISASTER! - Homeland Security and Emergency Management ...

APPENDIX ACitizen Corps / CERT(Volunteer Programs for Americans & Canadians)WHAT IS CITIZEN CORPS?Citizen Corps was created to help coordinate volunteer activities thatmake the nation’s communities safer, stronger, and better prepared torespond to any emergency situation. Citizen Corps is managed at locallevels by Citizen Corps Councils, which bring together existing crimeprevention, disaster preparedness, and public health response networkswith the volunteer community and other groups.CITIZEN CORPS PROGRAMS & PARTNERSCommunity Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) educate people aboutdisaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills, suchas fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations.Using their training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhoodor workplace following an event and can take a more active role inpreparing their community. The program is administered by DHS. Learnmore at www.citizencorps.gov/certFire Corps promotes the use of citizen advocates to enhance the capacityof resource-constrained fire and rescue departments at all levels: volunteer,combination, and career. Citizen advocates can assist local fire departmentsin a range of activities including fire safety outreach, youth programs, andadministrative support. Fire Corps provides resources to assist fire andrescue departments in creating opportunities for citizen advocates andpromotes citizen participation. Fire Corps is funded through DHS and ismanaged and implemented through a partnership between the NationalVolunteer Fire Council, the International Association of Fire Fighters, andthe International Association of Fire Chiefs. Visit www.firecorps.orgMedical Reserve Corps (MRC) strengthens communities by helpingmedical, public health and other volunteers offer their expertise throughoutthe year as well as during local emergencies and other times of communityneed. MRC volunteers work in coordination with existing local emergencyresponse programs and also supplement existing community public healthinitiatives, such as outreach and prevention, immunization programs, blooddrives, case management, care planning, and other efforts. The MRCprogram is administered by the Department of Health & Human Services.Check out www.medicalreservecorps.gov222 www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325