FEMA Awards Nearly $250,000 To Nevada For Local Homeland Security Efforts, Including Citizen Corps And CERT Training
Release Date: December 6, 2002
Release Number: R9-02-20
» 2002 Region IX News Releases
Oakland, CA -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IX recently notified the governor's office that Nevada will receive a grant of nearly $250,000 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.
"The Nevada Division of Emergency Management is working to establish State Citizen Corps Councils and inviting local jurisdictions to apply for Citizen Corps/CERT funding," said FEMA Regional Director Jeff Griffin. "This grant will give California 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."
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.
FEMA is the federal agency that coordinates response efforts to federally declared disasters. The agency's 10 regional offices work directly with states to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disasters. The agency's number one goal is to reduce loss of life and property. FEMA Region IX serves the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada, as well as the territories of American Samoa and Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Last Modified: Thursday, 28-Aug-2003 11:10:52