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5.2. SR 01-27-2003TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM Mayor and City Council Bruce A. West, Fire Chief January 27, 2003 Citizen Corps Council Item ~ 5.2. On behalf of the City of Elk River Emergency Management, I am requesting Council approval by Resolution in support of the establishment of a City of Elk River Citizen Corps Council. Histo .rv After September 11, 2001, our nation and our community have become more aware of the safety of our families, neighbors, and community. In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to serve their country to strengthen and expand service opportunities, to protect our homeland, and to support our communities. Citizen Corps Councils are integral to building Citizen Corps programs within each community by arranging necessary training and providing information for pubhc education and awareness efforts. Working with State and Federal agencies, Citizen Corps Councils will coordinate Citizen Corps programs such as Volunteers and Police Service, Neighborhood Watch, Medical Reserve Corps, Operation TIPS, and Community Emergency Response Teams at the local level. Councils can include leaders from emergency management, law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services, businesses, volunteers and faith-based organizations, and other relevant groups such as schools, places of worship, healthcare institutions, and the transportation sector. Starting a Citizen Corps Council in our area ',viii help create the groundwork for long-term security of our city and neighborhoods. The City of Elk River Citizen Corps Council will initially include the following representatives: Mayor Stephanie Ia4inzing, Bruce West (Fire), Cheryll Edmger (Police), Steve Dittbenner (EMS), Larry Narikawa (Citizen). I will be searching to increase our Citizen Corps Council with representatives from throughout our community based organizations. With the establishment of our Citizen Corps Council, our next task will be developing a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. The following is a background on Community Emergency Response Teams. Currendy m the State of Minnesota, there is only one orgamzed Community Emergency Response Team, which is located m the City of Burnsville. Following a major disaster, First Responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors such as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect in a moments notice through 9-1-1. People will have to rely on each other for help m order to meet their immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs. If we can predict that emergency services will not meet immediate needs following a major disaster, especially if there is little or no warning, and people will spontaneously volunteer, what can government do to prepare citizens for this eventuality? First, present citizens the facts about what to expect following a major disaster m terms of immediate services. Second, give the message about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness. Third, tram them in needed life saving skills with emphasis on decision making skills, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. Fourth, organize teams so that they are an extension of First Responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive. Back,'rouNd The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LAFD) m 1985. Following earthquakes m 1987, the LAFD conf~rmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs. The training program that LAFD initiated makes good sense and furthers the process of the citizen's ability to safely help themselves, their family, and their neighbors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the importance of preparing citizens. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy (NFA) adopted and expanded the CERT materials, believing them applicable to all hazards. The CERT program will benefit any citizen and a community that wants to supplement its response capability after a disaster. Civilians can be recruited and trained as neighborhood, business, and government teams that in essence will be auxiliary First Responders. These groups can provide immediate assistance to victims in their neighborhood area, organized spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster reformation that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster. Starti~ It is recommended that when starting a CERT program, a number of steps shall be followed. · Identify the program goals that CERT will need and the resources available to conduct the program m your area. · Gain approval from appointed and elected officials to use CERT as a means to prepare citizens to take care for themselves during a disaster when services may not be adequate. This is an excellent opportunity for the government to be proactive m working with its citizens. · Identify and recruit potential participants. · Tram CERT instructors. · Conduct CERT sessions. · Conduct refresher training and exercises with CERTS. DeRve~. The CERT Course is delivered in the community by a team of First Responders who have the required knowledge and skills to instruct the sessions. The CERT training for community groups consists of the follo~ving: · Disaster preparedness · Disaster fire suppression · Disaster medical operations · Light search and rescue operation · Disaster psychology and team organization · Course review and disaster simulation Maintaining Involvement When participants have completed this training, it is important to keep them involved and practiced in their skills. Trainers should offer periodic refresher sessions to reinforce the basic training. CERT teams can sponsor events such as drills, picnics, neighborhood cleanup, and disaster education fairs which will keep them involved and trained. CERT members should receive recognition for completion of their training. Communities may issue ID cards, vests, and helmets to CERT program graduates. First Responders need to be educated about CERT and their value to the community. Using CERT as a component of the response system when there are exercises for potential disasters can reinforce this idea. Conclusion CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small f~res; provide basic medical aid by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and the spontaneous volunteers to be effective. The Division of Emergency Management for the State of Minnesota has a 2002 Citizen Corps and CERT grant program through which we are applying for funding. The funding will pay for a CERT Team Instructor and delivery time, program administration, creation and maintenance of CERT database, rental of a training facility, purchase of CERT member equipment, printing of CERT materials, and other CERT items. The Citizen Corps/CERT grant program is 100% Federally funded, no match is required from the State or from local agencies. On-going funding for the Citizen Corps Council and CERT team program will be approximately $750.00 per year and will be funded through the Emergency Management budget. Action Requested I am requesting Mayor and City Council approval by Resolution of the establishment of the City of Elk River Citizen Corps Council. I will be present at the January 27, 2003 City Council meeting to answer any questions the Mayor and City Council may have in reference to the Citizen Corps Council and Community Emergency Response Team program. S: \ OFFSITE\ FIPd-2~ CouncilMemos~ CitizenC orps.doc RESOLUTION 03- A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF ELK RIVER A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER CITIZEN CORPS COUNCIL WHEREAS, We have all experienced many changes as a nation since September 11, 2001 and we are now more aware of our vulnerability, more appreciative of the freedoms we are protecting, and more understanding that we have a personal responsibility for the safety of our families, our neighbors, and our communities; and WHEREAS, In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to serve their country for the equivalent of two years of their lives - the equivalent of 4,000 hours - to the service of others by answering the call to strengthen and expand service opportunities to protect our homeland, to support our communities, and to extend American compassion around the world; and WHEREAS, By working closely with Elk River Emergency Management, Sherburne County Emergency Management, Elk River Police, and Elk River EMS we will be able to help our citizens respond to the President's call; and WHEREAS, We need to reach out to volunteers within our community; and to our corporate citizens as well, in order to have a successful Elk River Citizen Corps Council; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Mayor and City Council establish the City of Elk River Citizen Corp Council as an important contribution to our community and its residents. Together we can make Elk River one of the safest communities in the State of Minnesota. Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 27th day of January, 2003. ATTEST: Stephanie A. Klinzing, Mayor Sandra A. Peine, City Clerk S:~ADMI N\Resolutions\2003 Resolutions\Unapproved\CitizenCorps.DOC About CERT... The Federal Emergency Management Agency, using the model created by the Los Angeles City Fire Department, began promoting nationwide use of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept in 1994. Since then, CERTs have been established in hundreds of communities. CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and the people that they serve. The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for their area. If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community's professional response, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they learned during training. These skills can help save and sustain lives following a disaster until help arrives. CERT skills also apply to daily emergencies. CERT members maintain and refine their skills by participating in exercises and activi- ties. They can attend supplemental training opportunities offered by the sponsoring agency and others that further their skills base. Finally, CERT members can volunteer for projects that improve community emer- gency preparedness. CERT Training will teach participants to: 1. Describe the types of hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities. 2. Describe the function of CERT and their roles in immediate response. 3. Take steps to prepare themselves for a dis- aster. Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes and workplaces. Work as a team to apply basic fire suppres- sion strategies, resources, and safety meas- ures to extinguish a burning liquid. Apply techniques for opening airways, con- trolling bleeding, and treating shock. Conduct triage under simulated conditions. Perform head-to-toe assessments. 9. Select and set up a treatment area. 10. Employ basic treatments for various wounds. 11. Identify planning and size-up require- ments for potential search and rescue situations. 12. Describe the most common techniques for searching a structure. 13. Use safe techniques for debris removal and victim extrication. 14. Describe ways to protect rescuers dur- ing search and rescue. Target Audience Neighborhoods · Businesses · Communities of Faith · Scouting Organizations · School Staff/Students · Clubs/Organizations · Amateur Radio Emergency Services CERT Training is designed to cover the following: Session I: Disaster Preparedness For more information about education and training opportunities, contact your local Emergency Manager. Session II: Session III: Session IV: Session V: Fire Suppression Disaster Medical Operations-Triage and Treating Life Threatening Injuries Disaster Medical 0t t, citizen oorps I~EMA Training for Local Community Preparedness Each to .~s about 3 hours '~Ve u~ll find ways to train and mobi/ige mom vohmteers to he~ ,~hen resc, e and health eme~gena'es arise." President George W. Bush MA http://vox-w.trainin~, fema.~ov/emiweb/cer t/ citizen~corps THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 4, 2002 Dear Fellow Americans: Americans are responding to the evil and horror of the terrorist attacks of September 11 with a renewed commitment to doing good. In communities around the country people are serving others in countless ways, from helping their local fire department, to volunteering with the local Red Cross, to joining a neighborhood or community watch program. To capture the spirit of service that has emerged throughout our communities, we launched the USA Freedom Corps initiative earlier this year. As part of that initiative, we created Citizen Corps to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. Our local mayors, council members, and county commissioners know best what risks their communities face. They also know how best to use the talents and the time of their citizens to prevent, prepare for, and respond to those risks. Because every community is different, we are asking cities and counties across the country to create Citizen Corps Councils of their own design, bringing together first responders, volunteer organizations, law enforcement agencies, and community-serving institutions, such as schools, hospitals, and houses of worship. Some Citizen Corps Councils will feature local activities that reflect new and existing national programs such as Neighborhood Watch, Community Emergency Response Teams, Terrorism Information Protection System, Volunteers in Police Service, and the Medical Reserve Corps. Some will include local programs that involve partnerships with law enforcement agencies, hospitals, first responders, and schools. What all Citizen Corps Councils will have in common is that our local leaders will be working to expand opportunities for their community members to engage in volunteer service that will support emergency preparation, prevention, and response. This guide offers a suggested framework for community activity that will allow local government leaders to begin their own Citizen Corps Council and activities. Together, we can protect our communities and make them places where responsibility and service are reflected in the good we do for others. Thank you for your service, Citizen Corps A Guide for Local Officials EXECUTIVE SUMMARY II III CITIZEN CORPS * Overview * Components of Citizen Corps * Benefits to your Community CITIZEN CORPS COUNCILS * Organizing a Citizen Corps Council * The Importance of Leadership * Responsibilities of the Citizen Corps Council * Liability Issues GETTING STARTED * Initial Meetings * Developing a Citizens Corps Action Plan * Linking Local Activities with the National Effort * Information Sharing * National Citizen Corps Programs in Your Community IV AVAILABLE RESOURCES V COMMUNICATING SUCCESS GOVERNMENT ROLES * Federal Government * State Government vii CONCLUSION APPENDICES ^. Citizen Corps-Related Websites B. Potential Resources for Citizen Corps Councils c. Opportunities for Citizen Corps Volunteers D. Fact Sheets on National Citizen Corps Programs the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Americans have acted with courage, compas- and unity. To capture this spirit and to foster an American culture of service, citizenship, and ~onsibility, President George W. Bush has called upon all Americans to dedicate at least two years 'their lives the equivalent of 4,000 hours in service to others. He launched the USA Freedom Corps initiative to inspire and enable all Americans to find ways to serve their community, their coun- try, or the world. Citizen Corps is the component of USA Freedom Corps that creates opportunities for individuals to volunteer ro help their communities prepare for and respond to emergencies by bringing together local leaders, citizen volunteers and the network of first respondcr organizations, such as fire depart- ments, police departments and emergency medical personnel. The goal is ro have all citizens partici- pate in making their communities safer, stronger, and better prepared for preventing and handling threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds. CITIZEN COILPS LEADEILSHIP The Citizen Corps effort will be coordinated at the local level by Citizen Corps Councils, or a similar coordinating body, which will bring together leaders from the relevant sectors of your community. The purpose of the council is to have all decision makers at the table to manage existing volunteer resources, to leverage mutually supportive endeavors among the represented groups, and to direct the overall local plans to implement Citizen Corps in the community. At the state level, all Governors have appointed a state coordinator for Citizen Corps to facilitate this locally driven initiative. The state coordinator will work closely with the local governments, other state organizations, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of lustice (DOI), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and other federal agencies to implement a successful Citizen Corps program for the state. Key state responsibilities include: identifying needs and developing a statewide strategy fbr increasing the first responder and volunteer col- laboration; developing statewide marketing strategies; matching Citizen Corps training needs with other major state training initiatives; reporting statewide accomplishments; and ensuring that Citizen Corps communities receive considerations for relevant grant funding administered by the state. President Bush has requested more than $230 mil- lion from Congress in Fiscal Year 2003 to support and expand Citizen Corps initiatives. This amount includes funds to support the five national Citizen Corps programs, including nationwide training and grants to communities through the state to support local activities that foster preparedness programs and partnerships between the first responder organizations and the volunteers. CITIZEN CORPS PROGRAMS Citizen Corps programs build on the successful efforts that are in place in many communities around the country to prevent crime and respond to emergencies. Programs that started through local innovation are the fbundation for Citizen Corps and this national approach to citizen participation in community safety. Currently three federal agencies, FEMA, DOI, and HHS, administer five programs that are being promoted at the national level as part of Citizen Corps. These programs will be implemented nationwide by fall 2002. FEMA coordinates the overall effort of helping communities establish local Citizen Corps programs. The five national Citizen Corps programs are: ~k The Neighborhood Watch Program, funded by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and administered by the National Sheriffs' Association, has been reinvigorated to increase the number of groups involved in crime pre- vention and homeland security and preparedness efforts. The goal is to double the number of groups participating in Neighborhood Watch by 2004. Additional informa- tion about registering a watch group or obtaining resources to support Neighborhood Watch efforts is available www. usaonwatch.org. ~k FEMA's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program provides training in emergency preparedness and in basic response techniques to local trainers who in turn train citizens, enabling them to take a more active role in personal and public safety. The goal is to triple the number of citizens who are CERT trained, increasing the number nationwide to 600,000 by 2004. Additional information on CEtI.T is available at www. training, fema.gov/emiweb/cert. ~k Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)is a pro- gram administered by DOl. The program, which was launched nationwide in spring 2002, provides training fbr volunteers to perform administrative and non-inter- vention policing activities to free up law enforcement professionals for frontline duty. Additional information is available at www. policevolunteers.org. · HHS will administer a community-based Medical Reserve Corps that will be launched in fall 2002. Through this program, currently practicing and retired volunteers trained in healthcare will be able to assist during large-scale emergencies and will augment the emergency medical response community. Medical Reserve Corps volunteers can also play a productive role in meeting pressing but non-emergency public health needs of the community throughout the year. Additional information is available at www. medicalreservecorps.gov. ~k Terrorism Information and Prevention System (Operation TIPS), under development by DOJ, Operation TIPS would provide a hotline and referral system for workers in the trucking, shipping, maritime, and mass transit industries to report suspi- cious, and potentially terrorism-related, activities occur- ing in public areas to local, state, and federal law enforcement. The initiafive's design is based on existing programs, such as Highway Watch and Coast Watch, that allow truckers and ship captains to report danger- ous conditions along their routes. There are also many other opportunities fbr participating in Citizen Corps. There is a vast array of educational and volunteer activities already underway across the country that fbcus on making communities safer, stronger, and better prepared. These activities are also part of Citizen Corps. LOCAL GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTATION Citizen Corps is designed to be tailored to each community and will be managed at the local level by Citizen Corps Councils, or a similar entity, comprised of leaders from: emergency management and the first responder community; volunteer, community service, faith- and community-based organizations; educational institutions; medical facilities; business and industry; and the community's neighborhood networks. Each community that is implementing Citizen Corps should consider creating a Citizen Corps Council. This guide will help your community join the many others across the country that have already started Citizen Corps Councils in order to be prepared to fully implement the Citizen Corps programs in their communities. The primary objectives of the councils are to: ~k Match the needs of first responders with the skills and abilities of volunteers to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from the threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters. ~k Educate the public on safety, help citizens take an active role in protecting themselves from harm, and teach citizens what to do in the event of a crisis. ~ Spearhead efforts to offer citizens new and existing volunteer opportunities, educational informa- tion, and training courses to address crime, terrorism, and natural disaster risks. _Executiv_e_Sum.marLy_~m~ed) ~ Promote all Citizen Corps programs and activities across the community. · Capture innovative practices and report accomplishments that can be replicated in other communities nationwide. ~ Survey the community to assess increased awareness and Citizen Corps participation. Creating a new organization to start Citizen Corps is not required. If your community already has a strong team that brings together all sectors of your commu- nity, including first responders and volunteer groups, you may want to ask this group to take on the responsibility of promoting Citizen Corps and to acknowledge this group as affiliated with Citizen Corps. You are strongly encouraged to leverage exist- ing resources and build on current successful pro- grams whenever possible. BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY Major disasters in a community can overload the capability of first responders, especially during the first 12 to 72 hours of the response. Having citizens who are better prepared to take care of themselves and others during times of crisis ,vill allow first responders to focus their efforts on the most critical, life-threatening situations. In addition, there are many tasks that a well-trained and organized group of volunteers could perform on an ongoing basis that would free up sworn officers, licensed health professionals, and professional firefighters so that they could focus more on immediate emergency response needs and less on the routine or administrative aspects of their responsibilities. Successful models of such activity exist throughout the country and are primed to be taken nationwide. Citizen Corps will help citizens take a more active role in crime prevention, risk reduction, and emergency preparedness. It will bring together all sectors of the community involved in first responder issues and will enable them to establish ongoing working relationships and to work together in times of crisis. As a component of President Bush's call to service, Citizen Corps will also help build a community's sense of pride and cohesion.. OVERVIEW During his 2002 State of the Union address, President W. Bush called upon every American to at least two years of their lives - the equivalent 000 hours - to the service of others. Through the USA Freedom Corps, he wants to help every ~erican answer that call to service by strengthening ~anding service opportunities to protect our to support our communities, and to extend compassion around the world. by the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA), Citizen Corps is the component of USA Freedom Corps that focuses on opporttmities !people across the country to participate in a range to make their families, homes, and safer from the threats of terrorism, crime, [ disasters of all kinds. Citizen Corps also brings a community's first responders, firefighters, health care providers, law enfbrcement, and managers with its volunteer resources. Corps will help people across America take a role in crime prevention, support the medical community, and be better trained of emergency preparedness and response activities. The events of this past motivated many Americans to want to help and to strengthen their communities. >s offers the means for citizens to help communities safer, stronger, and better and to answer the President's call to service. OF CITIZEN CORPS Corps effort will be coordinated at the by Citizen Corps Councils, or a similar body, which will bring together leaders relevant sectors of your community. The Council is to have all decision makers to manage existing volunteer resources, mutually supportive endeavors among the groups, and to direct the overall local Citizen Corps in the community. of the Citizen Corps Councils Section II. Current National Programs Currently, there are five federal programs that are being promoted at the national level to be implemented locally as part of Citizen Corps. The long-term goal is to have every community implement all five programs: ~¢ The Neighborhood Watch Program, funded by the Department of j'ustice (DOJ) and administered by the National Sheriffs' Association, has been reinvigorated to increase the number of groups involved in crime pre- vention and homeland security and preparedness efforts. The goal is to double the number of groups participating in Neighborhood Watch by 2004. Additional informa- tion about registering a watch group or obtaining resources to support Neighborhood Watch efforts is available at www. usaonwatch.org. ~ FEMA's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program provides training in emer- gency preparedness and in basic response techniques to local trainers who in turn train citizens, enabling them to take a more active role in personal and public safety. The goal is to triple the number of citizens who are CERT trained, increasing the number nationwide to 600,000 by 2004. Additional informa- tion on CERT is available at wwvw. training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/cert. ~k The Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) is a pro- gram administered by DOl. The program, which was launched nationwide in spring 2002, provides train- ing for volunteers to perform administrative and non- intervention policing activities to free up law enforce- ment professionals for fronfline duty. Additional information is available at www. policevolunteers.org. · The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will administer a community-based Medical Reserve Corps that will be launched in fall 2002. Through this program, currently practicing and retired volunteers trained in medicine will be able to assist during large-scale emergencies and will augment the emergency medical response community. Medical Reserve Corps volunteers can also play a productive role in meeting pressing but non- emergency public health needs of the community throughout the year. Additional information is available at www. medicalreservecorps.gov. * Terrorism Information and Prevention System (Operation TIPS), under development by DO~, Operation TIPS would provide a hodine and referral system for workers in the trucking, shipping, maritime, and mass transit industries to report suspicious, and potentially terrorism-related, activities occuring in public areas to local, state, and federal law enforcement. The initiadve's design is based on existing programs, such as Highway Watch and Coast Watch, that allow truckers and ship captains to report dangerous conditions along their routes. Additional Citizen Corps resources include: Y¢ Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness, produced by FEMA, this guide pro- vides comprehensive practical information on how your family can prepare for any disaster. It includeds up-to-date hazard specific safety alps, including natu- ral and technological disasters, and newly updated information on terrorism. Are Tou Ready? is available on the Citizen Corps website, www. cifizencorps.gov. ~ The Citizens' Preparedness Guidebook, produced by the Nafionai Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) with support from DOI, provides current crime and disaster preparedness techniques, as well as the latest information on terrorism, to give Americans guidance on how to prepare in our homes, neighbor- hoods, at work, at the airport, in places of worship, and in public spaces. The guide is available on the Citizen Corps website www. cifizencorps.gov or by calling NCPC at 1-800-WE-PREVENT (1-800-937-7383). * Appendix A provides the website address of other federal agencies and organizations that have useful. information relating to the Citizen Corps mission. Other Activities There are many other opportunities for participating in Citizen Corps. There is a vast array of educational and volunteer activities already underway across the country that focus on making communities safer, stronger, and better prepared. They can be either interest-based programs or broad, community-wide initiatives. If your community participates in such activities, you may choose to integrate these efforts into the local Citizen Corps fight away. Examples could include: ~g Local activities that are similar to Neighborhood Watch, CERT, or VIPS, but may have different names in your community; ~ Family preparedness materials being taught and distributed in neighborhoods, in the workplace, and throughout the school system; ~ Community, faith-based, and youth programs that establish neighborhood support networks and disseminate disaster preparedness educational materials and preparedness kits to disadvantaged, elderly, non-English speaking, and persons with disabilities; ~ Programs that involve volunteer medical profes- sionals in an organized response to emergencies, such as those administered by the American Red Cross; ~ Volunteer amateur radio operators serving as reserve communications experts in times of crisis; ~ Volunteer engineers and engineering students performing structural analysis on critical infrastructure, lifelines, schools, and at-risk buildings; ~ Programs for volunteers to participate in projects to reduce the damage to schools, hospitals, and other public buildings from known hazards in your area, such as floods, tornados, earthquakes, and hurricanes; ~g Community and family disaster preparedness efforts conducted by established volunteer groups such as local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and Volunteer Centers, or commu- nity service organizations, churches and faith-based organizations already active in your .community; ~ Volunteer fire departments and emergency medical teams; ~ Programs supported by the local Chamber of Commerce to train business owners and employees on disaster preparedness and emergency response measures; · High schools and college community service groups that promote Citizen Corps principles; and ~ Volunteer participation in developing a commu- nity communications system for the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System. Every community is different. Citizen Corps calls on your community's creativity and inventiveness to develop other programs or activities that work in your area and that encompass all sectors of your community. Successful programs or approaches to citizen participation that start in one community can spread nationwide through the Citizen Corps network. BENEFITS TO YOUR COMMUNITY Securing our safety and freedom requires that we all work together. Every American has a critical role to play. Major disasters in a community can overload the capability of first responders, especially during the first critical 12 to 72 hours of the event. Citizen Corps will provide the community with a well-trained, readily available pool of local people who know their community and who can help during this critical time when outside assistance may have not yet arrived. On a day-to-day basis, your council will help citizens take a more active role in crime prevention, risk reduction, emergency preparedness, and public health issues. Citizen Corps Councils and the programs they oversee will make your community a safer, better place to live. Specific benefits include: ~ Supplementing a community's professional police, fire, emergency management, public health, and public safety capabilities where appropriate, espe- cially in times of emergency; ~g Giving the residents of your community a greater sense of security, responsibility, and personal control; · Showcasing your community's efforts in crime prevention, public health and safety, emergency med- ical response, risk reduction and mitigation practices, emergency preparedness, and emergency response as part of the national Citizen Corps initiatiVe; $: Bringing together the volunteer and the first respondcr communities to promote thc concept that everyone has a role in making their community safer, stronger, and better prepared; 8 Demonstrating your leadership and your personal commitment to the safety of your community; · Building community pride and patriotism; and · Preparing us all for the vital role of caring for ourselves and others in times of crisis. · OB. GANIZING A CITIZEN COP, PS COUNCIL Communities all across America already embrace the principles of Citizen Corps. There are many elected officials, business leaders, and involved citizens already doing their part to make their community a great place to live. Many communities also already have an organization that promotes public health and safety, disaster preparedness, and crime prevention in the community. No doubt, there is a strong base already involved in this effort in your own community. These activities are at the heart of Citizen Corps. The Citizen Corps Councils will bring together leaders from the relevant sectors of your community to coordinate the Citizen Corps effort. The purpose of the council is to have all decision makers at the table to manage existing volunteer resources, to leverage mutually supportive endeavors among the represented groups, and to direct the overall local plans to implement Citizen Corps in the community. Each community should have only one group that has the lead role in implementing Citizen Corps. Each community and region will have to determine its geographic boundaries and its own membership. Suggested membership of the Citizen Corps Council, or similar entity, includes the following: ~ Leadership from elected officials, such as the mayor, city council members, county commissioners, or the tribal government leaders; ~ Leadership from emergency management and from the first responder community: law enforce- ment, fire, and emergency medical services, and health care providers; :~ Leadership from volunteer, community service, and faith-based groups, including a local VOAD group and Volunteer Center, if you have one; ~ Leadership from any existing community sub- structure, such as advisory neighborhood commissions, wards, voting districts, census tracts, water and sewer districts, or other groups that represent a large cross- section of the community; and ~ Leadership from major industries or other groups in the area, such as community leaders from educa- tional institutions and school boards, the business community, environmental and transportation groups, including airports, and utility providers. Other representatives could be from specific segments of the community, such as the elderly, minority popula- tions, non-English speakers, and local media executives. The primary qualification to participating on the coun- cil is making a commitment to educate the public on safety, to help citizens take an active role in protecting themselves fi:om harm, to teach citizens what to do in the event of a crisis, and to expand volunteer opportu- nities that will make thc community safer. ' You do not need to create a new organization to start Citizen Corps. Leveraging existing resources is strongly encouraged. If your community already has a strong team that brings together all sectors of your community, including first responders and volunteer groups, you may want to ask this group to take on the responsibility of promoting Citizen Corps and to acknowledge this group as atTxliated with Citizen Corps. There may be an existing group in your community that includes many of the appropriate participants, such as local emergency planning committees, that could take the lead in joining with additional rele- vant parties to implement Citizen Corps. There are a number of national organizations, such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, that could be key participants in your local management structure. If your community does not have local representation of these groups, you may want to contact the national organization to sec how you can start a local affiliate. The purpose of the Citizen Corps Council, or similar coordinating group, is to develop a systematic, efficient, and effective method for providing public However you choose to establish the local manage- ment structure, this group should be charged with managing all aspects of Citizen Corps at the local level and with bringing Citizen Corps programs and principles to residents of the community. education and training opportunities, stimulating wide-spread participation, and organizing volunteer programs to increase the safety of your community. Having duplicative efforts or competing entities is not productive. Depending on the size of your community, you may need to have a steering committee within the Citizen Corps Council and subcommittees to focus on partic- ular efforts. Subcommittees could be assigned a par- ticular function, such as marketing and communica- tions, or a particular focus, such as K-12 education on emergency preparedness. THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADEIhSHIP Leadership within thc council is critical for success. This leader could be an elected community official, an execu- tive with one of your community's major employers, the head of your community's economic development group, or a leader t~om the volunteer commtmity. Because of the first rcsponder's role in the event of an !'emergency, it is suggested that first responder represcnta- take thc lead role for the council. most important qualifications for the leader of the the ability to motivate team members to collective goal of making your community a to live, work, and play and of providing · ' for all citizens to participate; and a eom- to broad community representation. If the official is not the operational leader of the it will be critical that he or she provide clear and support ro the council through public endorse- be kept informed of council activities. ILITIES OF THE CoRPs COUNCIL this initiative provides tremendous flexibility to implement Citizen Corps in a way that your community, some general ~onsibilities of the local organizing group include: Creating an action plan to involve the community preparedness, and response activities [ to mobilize the community in a large-scale event; ways in which the community's volunteer can help meet the needs of its first responders; ~ Working with existing neighborhood leaders, or creating a neighborhood leadership structure, to design a systematic approach to educate the public and encourage Citizen Corps participation through- out the community; * Spearheading efforts to offer citizens new and existing volunteer opportunities, educational informa- tion, and training courses to address crime, terrorism, public health issues, and natural disaster risks; ~: Recognizing all activities that promote preven- tion, preparedness and response training as a part of Citizen Corps and encouraging new endeavors; ~ Organizing special projects and community events to promote Citizen Corps activities and recruiting volunteers to participate; ~ Fostering a spirit of mutual support by working with Citizen Corps Councils in neighboring commu- nities and jurisdictions to be able to share resources in times of need; ~ Capturing innovative practices and reporting accomplishments to the state coordinator for Citizen Corps; and ~ Surveying your community to assess increased awareness and Citizen Corps participation. LIABILITY ISSUES Councils should consult with a local attorney regarding any risks or liabilities that might arise from its activities· Most local bar associations encourage members to provide pro bono (free of charge) services to worthwhile causes. A council's potential exposure to liability for acts or omissions of its staff or volunteers will vary from state to state· Individuals who participate in council activities should be advised of their potential risks of liability under state law as well. Some volunteer activities may be covered by so-called Good Samaritan laws in the various states, these laws protect volunteers who render assistance in limited circumstances. Councils may consider obtaining release from liability and similar instruments if the local counsel deems it necessary. A compendium of state liability laws is available at www. citizencorps.gov/ccorps.· INITIAL MEETINGS Creating a Citizen Corps Council or asking an existing organizing group to expand their mission and take on this responsibility is an easy first step to making Citizen Corps an active part of your community. You may want to hold one or more brainstorming sessions, where council members can collectively identify goals for your community and develop a better understanding of the risks your community faces. Topics that the Citizen Corps Council might address can include: · Educating council members on the roles, respon- sibilities, and practices of the first responders, volun- teer organizations, and any existing neighborhood organizational structure in the community; ~g Identifying the existing activities and resources within your commtmity that support Citizen Corps principles; · Identifying volunteer groups and opportunities within your community that could assist in reducing risk or that could supplement resources in an emergency; ~ Creating a menu of volunteer opportunities in which community residents could easily participate or partnering with the local Volunteer Center, if you have one, to design volunteer recruitment strategies; ~ Assessing resources within your community that could be drawn on to support volunteerism and pub- lic education in your community; ~g Identifying possible resources to support Citizen Corps, including local private sector support and contri- butions from foundations and non-profit organizations; $: Discussing opportunities to build public aware- ness and to educate the community about Citizen Corps opportunities within your community; and · Developing a wish list of additional resources that your community might need to support a com- prehensive Citizen Corps effort. DEVELOPING A CITIZEN CORPS ACTION PLAN As you begin to assess your needs and resources, you should work toward developing a clear mission statement and an action plan. Your Citizen Corps Council action plan could include short and long-term goals, a community communication system for emergency warn/ngs, and a community mobilization plan with a specific plan outlining how to meet these goals. Short-term goals could include having working smoke alarms and emergency kits in every household by the time school starts again in the fall, having each business in the community practice their evacuation plans within a month, training all senior high school students in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), or having Neighborhood Watch groups in all neighborhoods of the community. You may also want to target specific groups within your community, such as people living in high-risk areas, the youth population, and Americans with disabilities or disadvantaged populations. It will be important for you to set meaningful, attainable goals, to make them public, to meet them, and then to recognize and celebrate your success. LINKING LOCAL ACTIVITIES WITH THE NATIONAL EFFORT It will also be important for you to link local activities to the national effort. Although you may have an existing organization take on this responsibility and not create a new Citizen Corps Council, it is critical that all activities at the local level that encompass citizen participation in emergency preparedness, response capability training, crime prevention, and skill-based volunteer programs related to community safety be identified with Citizen Corps. A great way to get started is to have a public event to recognize the activities that volunteers, first responders, and residents in your community are already doing that relate to Citizen Corps. Explain that there is a new national initiative to link all these activities and to introduce other activities to promote personal and community safety. Make a commitment to help each resident in the community participate in Citizen Corps. Citizen participation can include: · Becoming better prepared and taking measures to reduce risk within their home, such as putting together a family emergency preparedness plan and kit, installing smoke detectors or elevating electrical appliances above flood stage, securing free standing shelving to a wall or strapping down a water heater; ~ Being a part of a Neighborhood Watch Program group; ~ Becoming a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical technician; ~ Volunteering their particular skills to help with community risk assessments; and ~ Volunteering with community organizations already active in disaster preparedness and response. The goal is to include everyone in your community. One of your first steps to support Citizen Corps is to promote the initiative and to expand the range of opportunities available to the residents of your community. Other opportunities for Citizen Corps volunteers are listed in Appendix C. There is no standard way to approach promoting your local efforts; each community is encouraged to be creative and to use the Citizen Corps message to promote participation. Your community may host community-wide Citizen Corps community preparedness days to challenge everyone in thc community to put together a home emergency preparedness kit. Another may put thc Citizen Corps logo on appropriate local websites. Another may use the local media outlets to promote local Citizen Corps activities and to educate the public. Another may focus on the school system to disseminate information. And some communities will do all of these and more. INFORMATION SHARING A critical part of making Citizen Corps a success is building a network of communities that are committed to engaging their citizens in making their neighborhoods safer, stronger, and better prepared for all situations. To facilitate this network, FEMA maintains a web-based directory of Citizen Corps Councils. Through this directory you will be able to contact other Citizen Corps Councils throughout the nation and have 'a direct exchange of information with your counterparts. This directory will also enable your state and federal partners to contact you with updated information as the programs evolve nationally and to collect innovative local practices for national promotion. As soon as you have designated a group to coordinate Citizen Corps in your community, please log on to www. citizencorps.gov/ccorps and register your 'Citizen Corps Council contact information by clicking on the registration link. In providing this information to FEMA, you will be agreeing to be part of a list to be shared with other community leaders working to create Citizen Corps in their community. NATIONAL CITIZEN CORPS PROGIhSMS IN YOUR COMMUNITY The current five federal Citizen Corps programs will be implemented nationwide by fall 2002. Right now, every community can start Neighborhood Watch groups. Guidance on how to begin is available from your local sheriff's department, your local police department, or from the National Sheriffs' Association. (Visit the National Sheriffs' Association at www. usaonwatch.org for more information.) A strong network of Neighborhood Watch groups can also serve as a delivery system for other Citizen Corps materials, such as emergency communications, Community Emergency Response Team training, or a family preparedness checklist. FEMA's Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness provides practical information on how your family can prepare for any disaster. Available on the Citizen Corps website, www. citizencorps.gov, this guide can be used to help everyone in your community be better prepared. The Community Emergency Response Team training program is a 20-hour course, typically conducted over a seven-week period. Training sessions cover disaster preparedness, fire suppression, basic disaster medical services, light search and rescue, team organization, and a module on protection against terrorist threats. The training also includes a disaster simulation in which participants practice skills that they learned throughout the course. Your local fire and emergency medical services departments (EMS) may have a key role in bringing CERT to your community. Many states already have experienced CERT trainers who could come to your community and provide training. Soon, every state will have this capability. VIPS was launched nationwide in May 2002 and examples of best practices are available at www. policevolunteers.org. The Medical Reserve Corps guidance will be launched nationwide in falll 2002. Operation TIPS is in development. · :ortunately, implementing Citizen Corps in your :ommunity can be accomplished with resources you may already have available. Volunteer in your community and your Volunteer if you have one, can help you better direct :eer interest to Citizen Corps activities. There many low-cost ways fbr local businesses to )ate; by donating the cost of a publication, a Citizen Corps volunteer fair, by training for employees or neighborhood and by practicing emergency preparedness for the business. The federal and state ents will provide training materials and ical assistance to help you get started and to you sustain the momentum. ~Corporation for National and Community (CNCS), a federal agency that operates service programs, may make available to Corps Councils volunteers that participate ps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve programs. Many of these participants are active in disaster-related programs with agencies. Volunteers could serve to · 'es establish a training and delivery system in neighborhoods, and businesses, and could help with family and crime prevention initiatives in the or across a region. Volunteer support and participation in Citizen Corps can come from a variety of sources. Encourage your council members to be creative when thinking about potential resources that exist throughout the community. Appendix A is a list of government, emergency management, and first responder community websites that may be helpful to you as you expand your volunteer base. Appendix B includes a list of questions to help your council identify possible resources, including people, materials, and financial. President Bush has requested more than $230 million from Congress in Fiscal Year 2003 to support and expand Citizen Corps initiatives. This amount includes funds for FEMA, DOJ, and HHS to support the five national Citizen Corps programs, including nationwide CERT training, and grants to communities through the state to support local activities that foster preparedness programs and partnerships between the first responder organizations and the volunteers. · Communicating success is a key element of sustaining momentum. It is important to share your success with the residents of your community as well as with your state and federal partners. By sharing ideas and practices that work in one community, similar actions can be embraced by other communities and can inspire further creativity. Developing a strong Citizen Corps Council will require significant proactive communication with residents of your community. Identifying creative ways to get the message out about opportunities available through Citizen Corps, as well as calling your citizens to action and communicating success, will require an ongoing communications strategy that can include media coverage, events, and presentations. You may want to consider forming a communications committee within your council that includes local media representatives, public relations and marketing executives,.and talented spokespersons who will help you to effectively recruit and educate the members of your community. The communications committee may want to consider: ~ Developing a presentation about Citizen Corps in your community that can be shared at meetings held by groups within your community. Once a presentation has been developed, council members can fan out to present Citizen Corps to community groups, local parent/teacher associations, volunteer clubs and other groups that are interested in Citizen Corps. ~ Planning a media outreach strategy that will tap into and develop relationships with your community's local media to educate them on Citizen Corps. Media opportunities might include interviews with partici- pants active in Neighborhood Watch, coverage of your local government's proclamation of Citizen Corps week, letters to the editor, or meeting with the editorial board about Citizen Corps. Local media could also sponsor a regular newspaper or television spot to feature volunteer opportunities and Citizen Corps activities/success stories. ~ Designating contacts for speaking to the media and working with these contacts to develop a consis- tent message for promoting Citizen Corps within your community. ~ Incorporating Citizen Corps into newsletters and other publications developed by your community's local government, Chamber of Commerce, or neigh- borhood associations. ~ Planning a community Citizen Corps fair to bring together specific volunteer opportunities in your com- munity with citizens interested in contributing. By inviting a local radio station to sponsor it, they could also provide public service announcements in advance to promote the fair and broadcasting live from the fair on the day of the event. Your local Volunteer Center may be able to help arrange such an event. ~ Contacting members of Congress and their local staff to help promote Citizen Corps activities within your community. You may also want to create a recognition committee to provide support and recognition to Citizen Corps volunteers. Your local Volunteer Center can assist you with ideas for appropriate public recognition. · )ERAL GOVERNMENT Corps is a vital component of President new USA Freedom Corps initiative, through he wants to inspire every American to answer call to service and to strengthen and expand opportunities to protect our homeland, to ,orr our communities, and to extend American .assion around the world. President Bush will to echo his call to service and encourage icans to serve their communities through Corps. aspects of the federal government role ;itizen Corps will include: Promoting Citizen Corps at the national level and a national message, a logo, and a brand; g state and community participation, progress, recognizing accomplishments, opportunities for mentoring and shar- and resources; g accurate information and developing standards and training materials for Citizen activities; g train-the-trainers courses to develop itraining capabilities and providing on-line edu- opportunities, as appropriate; identify volunteer programs and inifia- that support the goals of Citizen Corps; secure national partnerships to promote Corps throughout the country; and financial incentives and fie-ins with federal programs to encourage local govern- 'participation in Citizen Corps. national level, Citizen Corps is coordinated in collaboration with DOJ, and HHS and by CNCS. In addition, FEMA is :with other federal agencies, national organizations, and representatives from ~onders associations. FEMA's regional offices with states and communities to help make Corps a success. STATE GOVERNMENT The responsibilities of state governments mirror those of the federal government and include the mission to encourage every community in the state to participate in Citizen Corps. Local Citizen Corps Councils will be supported by a state coordinator for Citizen Corps. States are also encouraged to create a state Citizen Corps Council to bring together a number of state, local, and community organizations to discuss opportunities for collaboration and ways to address the needs of communities across the state and to share innovative practices and ways to avoid pitfalls. Since this is primarily a local government initiative, it is critical that the state coordinator has a good working relationship with the local governments and serves as an advocate. Key state responsibilities include: identifying needs and developing a statewide strategy for increasing the first responder and volunteer collaboration; developing statewide marketing strategies; matching Citizen Corps training needs with other major state training initiatives; reporting statewide accomplishments; and ensuring that Citizen Corps communities receive consideration for any relevant grant funding administered by the state. States could also support Citizen Corps by developing relevant state policies and practices. To lend their support, governors and other state representatives could also promote Citizen Corps in public speaking engagements, press conferences, and media events. We have experienced many changes as a nation since September 11, 2001. We are now more aware of our vulnerabilities, more appreciative of the freedoms we are protecting, and more understanding that we have a personal responsibility for the safety of our families, our neighbors, and our communities. Citizen Corps was created to engage all Americans in making our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared for any situation. This is an exciting time in our nation's history. We have the opportunity to reinvigorate our national identity and to build an American culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility. We must not miss this opportunity to harness the innumerable acts of kindness taking place in our communities everyday and to make them a part of this profound cultural change. · GOVERNMENT USA Freedom Corps yvww. usafreedomcorps, gov Citizen Corps www. citizencorps.gov Corporation for National and Community Service Federal Emergency Management Agency www. fema.gov Department of Justice _www. justice.gov Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Regulatory Commission Environmental Protection Agency Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office www. epa.gov/ceppo National Weather Service www. nws.noaa.gov U.S. Geological Survey Office of Homeland Security www. whitehouse.gov/homeland U.S. State and Local Gateway www. statelocal.gov EMERGENCY MANAGERS National Emergency Managers Associations www. nemaweb.org International Association of Emergency Managers www. iaem.com FIRST RESPONDEKS Police Volunteers in Police Service www. policevolunteers.orE International Association of Chiefs of Police _www. theiacp.org National Sheriffk' Association www. sheriffs.org National Crime Prevention Council www. ncpc.org Police Executive Research Forum www. policeforum.org National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center Fire International Association of Fire Chiefs www. iafk.org National Volunteer Fire Council www.~ International Association of Fire Fighters www. iaff. org National Fire Protection Association ..www. nfj?a.org Fire Department Safety Officers Association www.~ Public Health and Emergency Medical Services Medical Reserve Corps www. medicalreservecorps, gev National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians www. naemt.org National Association of EMS Educators www. naemse.org International Rescue and Emergency Care Association www. ireca.org Volunteer Organizations National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster www. nvoad.org American Red Cross www. redcross.org Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network www. pointsoflight.org United Way www. unitedway, org Association for Volunteer Administration and Volunteer Managers www. avaind.org Network For Good www. networkforgood.org The Independent Sector www. independentsector, org Volunteer Match www. volunteermatch.org Business Associations US Chamber of Commerce www. uschamber, com Center for Corporate Citizenship www. uschamber, com/ccc The United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees) www. usjaycees.org These questions may help you identify resources to help you implement Citizen Corps. GENEIL&L 1. Who could champion this initiative in your community? Who might champion it within segments of your community? What is the best way to foster city/county/regional collaboration? .2. What organizations are already active in programs i relevant to Citizen Corps objectives? t. Which organizations usually sponsor or participate ~ various events that happen in your community days of service, parades, fairs, block parties, carnivals, etc.)? :. What federal, state, or non-profit agencies serve community? Could they provide staff; guidance, training to participate in Citizen Corps activities, as United Way? Does a regional planning council or a related include your community within its of interest? current preparedness activities are in progress communities? How can you involve youth such Boy Scouts, Gift Scouts or in Citizen Corps activities? you have a Volunteer Center in your community volunteer opportunities can be registered and .you can receive assistance with recruitment What do you need to do to start one? a state or local VOAD that could provide and planning assistance for emergency mitigation, response, and recovery? you involve organizations such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army that are in disaster preparedness and response? 10. Are there courses and programs already being provided in your community by voluntary organizations? 11. What volunteer groups are already in active in the community that can be called upon to serve as Citizen Corps Council partners, including community service groups, faith-based groups, and high school civic groups? 12. Is your community served by AmeriCorps volunteers? Does your community have an active Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)? 13. Are there volunteers already working and trained with organizations whose missions complement the goals of Citizen Corps? How can you tap into organizations that already recruit, manage, and place volunteers? 14. What other organizations, such as universities, volunteer groups, civic organizations, business councils, mosques, churches, or synagogues, can be tapped to sponsor volunteer participation or community events? SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES 15. Are there colleges, universities, or vocational/ technical schools in your community that have sponsored or participated in local preparedness activities? 16. Do any of these institutions have curricula or degrees of study programs related to civic administration or emergency management? Do they have an internship program that you could tap to support council efforts? 17. What other resources might your community's colleges, universities or vocational/technical schools provide to your Citizen Corps Councils? 18. Do your local high schools incorporate a community service element as part of their graduation requirement? How can you involve high school clubs' members or their leaders in Citizen Corps? BUSINESS SECTOR 19. Which businesses in your community have corporate policies and value statements that encourage worker participation in community life? 20. Are there businesses in your community that have a good fit with the goals of Citizen Corps, such as insurance companies, security firms, training facilities, or manufacturers of preparedness kit items? MEDIA 21. Are there individuals or local celebrities in your community who would be willing to serve as motivational speakers to encourage people to participate in Citizen Corps? 22. Which TV, radio, print, or other media outlets in your area are community-service oriented? 23. Which journalists or reporters in your community frequently cover human interest stories or stories on disaster and emergency management? 24. Is there a local weather forecaster or news anchor who could be encouraged to serve as a Citizen Corps Council member? The fbllowing are examples of how citizens can engage in volunteer opportunities that support the efforts of Citizen Corps. This is by no means an exhaustive list but is intended to give you some ideas for getting your citizens involved. NEIGHBO1LHOOD YVATCH PROGRAM * Arrange for home security inspections by crime prevention officers to identify security vulnerabilities * Upgrade locks, security hardware, and lighting ~ Train family members to keep valuables secure to lock windows when leaving home $ Train family members on identifying suspicious )ehaviors that could indicate terrorist activity $ Ask neighbors to watch for suspicious activity the house is vacant $ Organize block WATCH groups to assist chil- the elderly, and other especially vulnerable per- if they appear to be distressed, in danger, or lost Organize meetings with neighborhood groups trained crime prevention officers to discuss secu- r needs and crime prevention strategies Obtain and study informative materials from the Sheriffs' Association, the National Crime Council, and local law enforcement agencies EMERGENCY TE~MS (CERT) Staff a community education booth at communi- safety needs and vulnerable individuals in neighborhood disaster education material in your in multiple languages if appropriate with writing and distributing a CERT organize drills, activities, and supplemental for your team )ate in a speaker's bureau to schools * Assist emergency management officials and fire departments with installing smoke alarms and other special projects * Help with CERT administrative duties by main- taining databases, helping with class registration, and assisting with class logistics * Organize recognition activities for volunteers ~ After CERT training, assist in evacuation, shelter management, donations management, care of respon- ders at fires or emergencies, mass care of victims from a large event, damage assessment, and perimeter control VOLUNTEERS IN POLICE SERVICE (VIPS) · Take police reports · Make fbllow-up telephone calls to victims · Conduct fingerprinting · Engage in crowd/parking control at special events · Participate in search and rescue missions · Participate in mounted patrols in parking lots at high school football games · Operate metal detectors at a courthouse · Serve subpoenas MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS During emergencies, members of the Medical Reserve Corps could: · Assess and monitor the condition of patients ~ Counsel patients · Perform support and management activities (e.g., inventory and distribution of pharmaceuticals, sup- plies, and food, and facilitating patient transfers) · Administer and distribute medication In non-emergency situations, local agencies could request volunteers to assist them in performing their routine duties. Volunteers could: · Distribute educational materials about the need fbr immunizations * Give immunizations Assist with health education · Provide additional support for community screening efforts (e.g., breast cancer, hypertension, diabetes, etc.) FIRE D EP ?_~zRTMENT ~ Become a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical services technician ~g Offer to help the fire department in its fundrais- ing efforts. Help with bingo or bake sales or other department fundraising programs ~ Help the department with its financial matters if you have a business background or special skills in this area · Help with correspondence, public outreach, and records management ~ Assist the fire department and fire prevention experts with fire prevention education in your neigh- borhood, place of business, schools, and community organizations · Assist the department with its canteen service so they will have water and food for major fires on pages 26-30 Response Team President Bush's new Citizen Corps ini- tiative offers the means for citizens to help make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared from the threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds. Citizen Corps brings together leaders from law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and other emergency manage- ment, volunteer organizations, local elected officials, and the private sector to form Citizen Corps Councils. These Councils provide local oversight for engaging citizens in homeland security and for promoting community and fam- ily safety in three principle ways: through public education and outreach, through training opportunities, and through volunteer programs that draw on special skills and interests. Citizen Corps is composed of existing and new federally sponsored programs and other activities that share the com- mon goal of helping communities pre- vent, prepare for and respond to crime, disasters, pressing public health needs and emergencies of all kinds. It encour- ages all Americans to take an active role in building safer, stronger, and better- prepared communities one neighbor- hood at a time! Community Emergency Response Team training is a Federal Emergency Management Agency program that educates citizens about the hazards they face in their community and trains them in lifesaving skills. If needed following a disaster, these citizen-responders use their training as part of a neighbor- hood or workplace team to help others when professional responders are overwhelmed or not immediately available. CERT members provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous voltmteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with priontization and allocation of resources when they arrive. PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM CERT promotes a partnering between emergency management and response agencies and the people in the community that they serve. The goal is to train members of neighborhoods and workplaces in basic response skills. Then CERT teams are formed and maintained as part of the emergency response capability for their area. If there is a natural or man-made event that overwhelms or delays the community's professional responders, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they learned during their CERT training. These skills can help save and sustain lives until help arrives. CERT members also can volunteer for special projects that improve a community's preparedness. HOW IT WORICS The basic CERT training program is a 20-hour course, typically delivered one evening per week over a 7-week period. Training sessions cover disaster pre- paredness, fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, team organization, and a new module on terrorism to educate CERT members about BNICE agents: Biological, Nuclear, Incendiary, Chemical, and Explosive. This module will help CERT members identify situations where these agents may have been used and protective actions that they should take. The training concludes with a disaster simulation in which participants practice skills that they learned throughout thc course. CERT infbrmation including a CERT Instructor Guide and Student Guide is located on the web at http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/cert/index.htm. citizen corps For more information, please visit our website at www. citizencorps.gov ;eighborhood Watch Program President Bush's new Citizen Corps ini- tiative offers the means for citizens to help make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared fi'om the threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds. Citizen Corps brings together leaders fi'om law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and other emergency manage- ment, volunteer organizations, local elected officials, and the private sector to form Citizen Corps Councils. These Councils provide local oversight for engaging citizens in homeland security and for promoting community and fam- ily safety in three principle ways: through public education and outreach, through training opportunities, and through volunteer programs that draw on special skills and interests. Citizen Corps is composed of existing and new federally sponsored programs and other activities that share the com- mon goal of helping communities pre- vent, prepare for and respond to crime, disasters, pressing public health needs and emergencies of all kinds. It encour- ages all Americans to take an active role in building safer, stronger, and better- prepared communities one neighbor- hood at a time! The Neighborhood Watch Program is already a strong force in community pro- tection in America's neighborhoods. President Bush and Attorney General Ashcroft have announced that the National Sheriffs' Association will expand the Neighborhood Watch Program so that it serves more community groups, and offers community members new information about how to recognize and report signs of potential terrorist activity in their neighborhoods. These residents are critical in the detection, prevention, and disruption of terrorism. Many neighbor- hoods already have Neighborhood YVatch programs. For those that do not, this new initiative may provide the incentive fbr them to start one as part of Citizen Corps. Over the next 2 years, the National Sheriffs' Association will help to double the number of Neighborhood Watch Programs operating throughout the country from approximately 7,500 to more than 15,000. Neighborhood Watch materials and training will also be revised to teach individuals how they can assist in the war against terrorism by incorporating preparedness in their daily lives. Neighborhood Watch wiil continue to work to reduce crime in neighborhoods nationwide by encouraging businesses, thc faith community, schools, and citizens to cooperate and assist local law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity. RESOURCES AVAILABLE The National Crime Prevention Council, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, has developed a Citizen Preparedness Guide for use in this and other Citizen Corps programs. The guide provides specific actions that citi- zens can take in their communities to reduce crime. The guide outlines five spe- cific themes: protecting one's self and family; protecting and comforting children; knowing and caring for neighbors; reporting crimes and suspicious activity; and emergency preparedness. Get a free copy of the guide at www. citizencorps.gov/guidebook, or by calling 1-800-WE-PREVENT. NATIONAL SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION The Neighborhood Watch Program is a highly successful crime prevention effort that has been in ehstence for more than thirty years in cities across America. Neighborhood Watch brings together local officials, law enforcement, and citi- zens for the protection of communities. Developed in response to a multitude of requests from sheriffs and police chiefs nationwide looking for a crime prevention program that would incorporate citizen involvement, Neighborhood Watch became a national program under the auspices of the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA). NSA has been instrumental in launching the expanded Neighborhood Watch Program. More information about the Neighborhood Watch Program and how to start one in your neighborhood is available at www. usaonwatch.org. citizen corps For more information, please visit our website at www. citizencorps.gov (0 and ;m President Bush's new Citizen Corps ini- tiative offers the means for citizens to help make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared from the threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds. Citizen Corps brings together leaders from law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and other emergency manage- ment, volunteer organizations, local elected officials, and the private sector to form Citizen Corps Councils. These Councils provide local oversight for engaging citizens in homeland security and for promoting community and fam- ily safety in three principle ways: through public education and outreach, through training opportunities, and through volunteer programs that draw on special skills and interests. Citizen Corps is composed of existing and new federally sponsored programs and other activities that share the com- mon goal of helping communities pre- vent, prepare for and respond to crime, disasters, pressing public health needs and emergencies of all kinds. It encour- ages all Americans to take an active role in building safer, stronger, and better- prepared communities one neighbor- hood at a time! Operation TIPS, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice and devel- oped in partnership with several other federal agencies, is one of the five com- ponent programs of the Citizen Corps. PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM Operation TIPS will be a national system for reporting suspicious, and poten- tially terrorist-related activity. The program will involve the American workers who, in the daily course of their work, are in a unique position to see unusual or suspicious activity in public places. The Department of lustice is discussing participation with members of the trucking, shipping, maritime, railway, and port industries whose workers are ideally suited to help in the anti-terrorism effort because their routines allow them to recognize unusual events. This program offers a way for these workers to report what they see in public areas and along transportation routes. Information can be reported on the toll-free hotline or online. Information received will be referred electronically to points of contact in each state as appropriate. This is not a national 911 center, and callers are expected to dial 911 for emergency local response. HOW IT WILL WORK Industries that are interested in participating in this program will be given printed guidance material (e.g., flyers and brochures) about the program and how to contact the Operation TIPS reporting center. Industries will deter- mine how this information will be disseminated to workers. The information provided to the volunteers will include: how to access the hofline; warnings that the hot_line is intended only for reporting suspicious activities, not individuals whose appearance or dress is of concern to the caller; a reminder that, in case of a true emergency, the caller should use the 911 sys- tem; and prohibitions against invasion of privacy, conducting investigations, or performing any law enforcement function. Operation TIPS will be phased in across the country to allow each state to determine which law enforcement agencies should receive the infbrmation that the call center disseminates. As states identify their point(s) of contact, which can be a single point or multiple points of contact, they will be added to the system and start receiving referrals. citizen corp$ For more information, please visit our website at www. citizencorps.gov ledical President Bush's new Citizen Corps ira- dative offers the means for citizens to help make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared from the threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds. Citizen Corps brings together leaders f~om law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and other emergency manage- ment, volunteer organizations, local elected officials, and the private sector to form Citizen Corps Councils. These Councils provide local oversight for engaging citizens in homeland security and for promoting community and fam- ily safety in three principle ways: through public education and outreach through training opportunities, and through volunteer programs that dra~v on special skills and interests. Citizen Corps is composed of existing and new t~derally sponsored programs and other activities that share the com- mon goal of helping communities pre- vent, prepare for and respond to crime, disasters, pressing public health needs and emergencies of all kinds. It encour- ages all Americans to take an active role in building safer, stronger, and better- prepared communities one neighbor- hood at a time! The Medical Reserve Corps will provide local communities with volunteer health professionals who can assist health professionals during a large-scale local emergency (e.g., pandemic influenza or a hazardous materials spill). Practicing and retired health care professionals will be on a medical reserve list, ready to be called up to duty in the event of an emergency. In addition to playing an important role during a large-scale local emergency, Medical Reserve Corps volunteers would also be active in promoting public health in their communities throughout the year. PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM Medical Reserve Corps will usually be affiliated with a local Citizen Corps Council. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will sup- port coordination and training for volunteer health professionals so that they are ready to assist their community in the event of a local emergency. Medical Reserve Corps volunteers can assist with emergency response teams, provide care to victims with non- serious injuries, and provide additional manpower/stafting to increase the effkctiveness of physicians, nurses and other health professionals in a major crisis. Medical Reserve Corps seeks to: · Draw Americans into volunteer service; · Create a framework to match volunteers' skills with their communities' needs; · Train a cadre of health professionals to respond better to the needs of their communities; enhancing their skills and teaching them their roles in support of local emergency response efforts; and · Provide reserve capacity at the community level to respond to health needs for emergencies and/or for locally identified public health needs and priorities. HOW IT WILL WORK Local leaders will develop their own reserve of medical professionals based on their community's needs. Once established, local leaders will decide if and when to activate their Medical Reserve Corps during an emergency. Medical reserve volunteers will receive assignments based on their skills and quali- fications. After each local community develops its own Medical Reserve Corps unit, these volunteers will be able to respond to local emergencies within a few hours of being called into action. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the lead federal agency for the Medical Reserve Corps. HHS has worked with health professions' organi- zations, non-profkssional organizations, and local and state agencies to develop the program guidelines and a resource manual, and to provide technical assistance to local communities who choose to develop their own Medical Reserve Corps. (~itiz~,~'~~,O~.pS For more information, please visit our website at www. citizencorps.gov Volunteers in Police Service President Bush's new Citizen Corps ini- tiative offers the means for citizens to help make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared from the threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds. Citizen Corps brings together leaders from law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and other emergency manage- ment, volunteer organizations, local elected officials, and the private sector to form Citizen Corps Councils. These Councils provide local oversight for engaging citizens in homeland security and for promoting community and fam- ily safety in three principle ways: through public education and outreach, through training opportunities, and through volunteer programs that draw on special skills and interests. Citizen Corps is composed of existing and new federally sponsored programs and other activities that share the com- mon goal of helping communities pre- vent, prepare for and respond to crime, disasters, pressing public health needs and emergencies of all kinds. It encour- ages all Americans to take an active role in building safer, stronger, and better- prePared communities one neighbor- hood at a time! The Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program is being developed by, the U.S. Department of Justice in partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police. VIPS is one of three Citizen Corps programs administered by the Department of ~[ustice. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM The VIPS program is designed to address the increasing demands on state and local law enforcement agencies. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, already limited law enforcement resources are being stretched further at a time when this country needs every available officer out on the beat. Some police departments are turning to civilian volunteers to enable police officers to be on the front lines, worldng to make communities safkr. These volunteer outreach effbrts will receive new support through VIPS. Examples of volunteer support activities include: Assisting with traffic control; · Impounding and storing marked abandoned vehicles; · Searching ~br missing persons; · Booking property; · Transporting department vehicles; · Enforcing handicapped parking; and · Processing paperwork. RESOURCES ex: CURRENT PRACTICES The VIPS program was launched in May 2002. The program will provide resources to assist local law enforcement in incorporating community volun- teers into the activities of law enforcement agencies. A tool kit for state and local law enforcement agencies will outline a series of promising practices to help them design strategies to recruit, train, and deploy citizen volunteers in their departments. There are already many police departments across the country utilizing the talents and commitment of volunteers in their communities to support the work of their officers. Examples of some of these programs are available on the Citizens Corps website. Go to www. policevolunteers.org or contact your local law enforcement agency to find out if they have a VIPS program you can join today. citizen corps For more information, please visit our website at www. cifizencorps.gov City of Elk River Date AWAIR, RIGHT TO KNOW, BLOOD BORNE EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN DEPT NAME Sign Here ADMIN Chris Leeseberg Lori Johnson Lori Ziemer Cathy Mehelich Heidi Hall Chris Johnson Bob Pearson Building Inspect Steve Rohlf Teresa Tousignant PUBLIC WORKS Jerry Mackendaz Donald Karstens Paul Koehler ICE ARENA Rich Czech Case Hayward Jeff Peterson Rick Reemts WASTE WATER Austin Whitford Sr Citizen Program Sue Kostanshek