GET INVOLVED

Individuals can make a difference in their own community, but not everyone has taken-on a preparedness mindset. Research on personal preparedness indicates that individuals who believe they are prepared for disasters often are not as prepared as they think. In addition, some admit they do not plan to prepare at all.

The Challenge: Maximizing awareness and encouraging participation in disaster preparedness activities to affect change at the community level.

There are organizations in your community that host community-planning meetings, provide preparedness information and volunteer opportunities to community members, and when in need, are available to respond to a disaster. Organizations such as Citizen Corps provide this support in communities nationwide.

To find a local Citizen Corps Council near you: Click Here

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Hurricane Katrina and the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 caused many Americans to wonder how they can help prepare their communities.

Through Citizen Corps, individuals can learn about opportunities to get involved and help build capacity for first responders. With proper training and education, civilian volunteers expand the resources available to states and local communities. Many partner organizations offer public education, outreach and training for free.

Citizen Corps partner programs are government sponsored volunteer programs that promote community preparedness, outreach and awareness. The five partner programs of Citizen Corp are:

• Get CERT trained in basic disaster and emergency response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.
• Be trained by the American Red Cross to be part of the Disaster Action Team (DAT), Shelter Volunteer, Disaster Health Services, Blood Donor Ambassador, or Blood Transportation Specialist.
• Get trained and volunteer with Medical Reserve Corps that mobilizes medical and public health professionals and volunteers to respond to health emergencies and support public health initiatives.

• Support community safety and security by providing administrative and technical support to law enforcement agencies Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS).
• Find a volunteer opportunity with a Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
• Volunteer to support local fire and emergency departments with non-operational tasks Fire Corps.
• Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF).
• American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association of Amateur Radio operators. They train volunteers to serve their communities by providing public service and emergency communication. ARRL also support the awareness and growth of Amateur Radio worldwide.
• Meals on Wheels Association of America and the MOWAA volunteers provide meals and essential disaster preparedness information to over one million seniors in the U.S. each day.
• USA on Watch is one of the National Sheriffs’ Association’s most successful and well-known programs is Neighborhood Watch. For decades the program has effectively trained and encouraged Americans to watch out for their families and neighbors by preventing and reporting safety and security issues in their neighborhoods. This program is also called Neighborhood Watch.