FEMA Awards $185,178 To Alaska For Local Homeland Security Efforts Including Citizen Corps And CERT Training
Release Date: December 5, 2002
Release Number: R10-03-09
Washington, DC -- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Director Michael D. Brown, announced today FEMA will grant $185,178 to Alaska to support the growth of Citizen Corps activities, including the formation of Citizen Corps Councils and the expansion of FEMA's Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) program, which trains individuals in emergency response skills. The funds are being provided through the fiscal year 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act For Further Recovery From and Response to Terrorist Attacks.
"This grant will give Alaska and its local communities a down payment on plans to have all citizens better prepared to respond to disasters of all kinds and to build a nation prepared," Brown said.
Brown made the announcement during the first meeting of the National Citizen Corps Council, which he chairs. Joined by Governor Tom Ridge, Brown welcomed the members of the Council, leaders from first responder groups, emergency management agencies, volunteer service organizations, state and local governments, and the private sector and charged them with engaging citizens in homeland security and community and family preparedness across the country. The leadership of the Council member organizations and their colleagues at the state and local levels will collaborate to create local Citizen Corps Councils and to advance the mission of Citizen Corps. A list of the 43-member Council is attached to this release.
In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush issued a call to all Americans to engage in volunteer service, and announced the creation of USA Freedom Corps to help individuals answer that call to service. President Bush established the Citizen Corps initiative (www.citizencorps.gov), a component of the USA Freedom Corps, to provide individuals with opportunities to volunteer in a range of homeland security measures within their communities.
Citizen Corps' mission is to make communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds by engaging individuals in emergency preparedness and response through education, training, and volunteer service. The Citizen Corps initiative includes programs administered by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, as well as FEMA, which is also responsible for coordinating Citizen Corps nationwide.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 27-Aug-2003 15:00:01