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Sue Mencer Celebrates 1st Anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security in Tulsa; Recognizes the City's Successful Citizen Corps Program

Sue Mencer and Zach Rowland at press conference

Sue Mencer and Zach Rowland at press conference
Release Date: February. 25, 2004

(Tulsa, Okla.) –– C. Suzanne Mencer, Director of the Office of Domestic Preparedness within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, visited Tulsa, Oklahoma on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 24 and 25, as part of a series of events commemorating the first anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security.

During her press conference in Tulsa, Ms. Mencer highlighted:

  • The Department's accomplishments and priorities
  • The important role citizens can and will continue to play in making our communities and nation safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to all hazards

Sue Mencer with CERT volunteers at training

Sue Mencer with VIPS Gray Squad

(top) Sue Mencer with CERT volunteers at training; (bottom) Sue Mencer with VIPS Gray Squad

  • How the Ready campaign, the Department's public education and awareness initiative, and Citizen Corps, the Department's grass roots movement, work together to provide a cohesive strategy to promote and coordinate citizen participation in hometown security
  • How the Tulsa Citizen Corps Council brings together local government officials, business executives, volunteer agencies, faith-based leaders, school leaders, and emergency responders to develop comprehensive awareness and safety programs for the community, such as the McReady partnership with local McDonald's restaurants, the Language/Culture Bank, and Safe & Secure Neighborhoods

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has made it a priority to engage all citizens in getting prepared and involved in hometown security. To demonstrate the Department's ongoing commitment to citizen participation in all-hazards preparedness, Ms. Mencer's visit underscored her appreciation for Tulsa's Citizen Corps and the more than 1,000 Citizen Corps Councils across the nation. Ms. Mencer, "To make our homeland safe, you have to make each city safe and that's just what I've seen in Tulsa."

We all have a role in hometown security and Citizen Corps provides local opportunities for everyone to participate through personal and family preparedness, first aid and emergency response training, and volunteer service opportunities to support emergency service providers and community safety organizations.