FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
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Federal Emergency Management Agency
Phone: (202) 566-1600 |
FEMA And National Crime Prevention Council Partner In Preparedness Through Citizen Corps |
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Washington, DC -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for
Emergency Preparedness and Response, today announced an official affiliate
partnership between the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and President
Bush's Citizen Corps initiative. Through this affiliation, Citizen Corps and the
NCPC will work together to raise public awareness about crime prevention
programs and actions that can reduce vulnerabilities to crime. Community safety
is a top priority of both Citizen Corps and the NCPC.
"We encourage Citizen Corps Councils around the country to work with local
community-based organizations which promotes citizen action to prevent crime.
Together, we can make President Bush's vision a reality," Brown said. "Our
communities are more secure when neighbors help neighbors."
The agreement adds the NCPC, as an affiliate to the four federal charter
Citizen Corps programs: Neighborhood Watch and Volunteers in Police Service,
administered by the Department of Justice; Community Emergency Response Teams
(CERT), administered by FEMA; and Medical Reserve Corps, administered by the
Department of Health and Human Services.
The NCPC also joins the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Civil Air Patrol, American
Red Cross, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Local Emergency
Planning Committees of the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Safe and
Drug Free Schools of the Department of Education, Amateur Radio Relay League,
National Safety Council, Points of Light Foundation, National Voluntary
Organizations Active in Disaster, National Volunteer Fire Council, National Fire
Protection Association, Save A Life Foundation, and The U.S. Junior Chamber as
Citizen Corps affiliate programs.
Under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
Citizen Corps is a community-based initiative to engage all citizens in homeland
security and community and family preparedness through public education and
outreach, training opportunities, and volunteer programs.
The NCPC is a non-profit association that oversees crime prevention research,
education, and training programs, including the Crime Prevention Coalition of
America (CPCA), a non-partisan group of over 4,000 national, state, federal, and
community-based organizations united to promote citizen action to prevent crime.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the
effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal
response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also
initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages
Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire
Administration.
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