FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, April 24, 2004
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Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Mercy Medical Airlift To Partner With Citizen Corps In Promoting Emergency Preparedness And Volunteerism In Localities Across The Nation |
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(VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.) C. Suzanne Mencer, Director of the Office for Domestic
Preparedness within the Department of Homeland Security, today announced an
official affiliate partnership between Mercy Medical Airlift (MMA) and Citizen
Corps, the Department's nationwide grass roots movement to actively involve
everyone in America in making our communities and our nation safer, stronger,
and better prepared for emergencies.
Mercy Medical Airlift is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing
charitable, long-distance air transportation ensuring patient access to distant
specialized medical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. MMA is totally
supported through charitable giving and the services of volunteer pilots and
office assistants. Volunteer pilots link with other pilots nationally - together
flying multiple thousands of needy patients each year.
In addition, MMA developed the Homeland Security Emergency Air Transportation
System (HSEATS) with funding from the Corporation for National and Community
Service. In times of emergency, volunteer pilots working within the HSEATS
program stand ready to transport small priority cargo and key emergency
management personnel to needed destinations.
Ms. Mencer expressed support for the affiliation saying, "the programs
managed by Mercy Medical Airlift and the volunteer pilots dedicated to this
mission are an excellent example of how citizens can contribute to homeland
security. And while pilots have a very special skill to offer, together we can
spread the message that everyone can do something."
Citizen Corps provides local opportunities for everyone to participate in
hometown security and community/family preparedness through public education and
outreach, training opportunities, and volunteer programs to support local first
responders. Through a nationwide network of over 1,100 local Citizen Corps
Councils, Citizen Corps brings together the homeland security expertise of
emergency responders with the energy and spirit of volunteer programs, the
private sector and other community stakeholders to engage the whole community.
In addition to the four charter Citizen Corps Programs, Community Emergency
Response Teams (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps, Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in
Police Service, and the Department's citizen preparedness Ready campaign,
Citizen Corps has also partnered with 16 other affiliate programs to help
coordinate a range of opportunities in which citizens can participate.
As a vital component of USA Freedom Corps, Citizen Corps encourages citizens
of America to answer the President's "call to service" and take an active role
in building safer, stronger and better-prepared communities. To find out more
about Citizen Corps and to find a local Council nearest you, please visit
www.citizencorps.gov.
To learn more about MMA, visit
www.mercymedical.org.
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