Penny Burke FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division April 15, 2010 Community Preparedness Citizen Corps working with HandsOn Network Presented by KPMG Foundation

2 Vision: Resilience  Culture of Preparedness –Personal responsibility for self-reliance and to assist others –Integrated in daily lives for individuals, organizations, communities –Community participation in strategic development of community assets and practices for resilience –Collaboration and accountability among all sectors and at all levels –Ongoing, evolving process  Resilient Community: Measurable capacity to maintain or re-stabilize critical community-level infrastructure and functions in the event of a disaster Culture of Preparedness Resilient Communities Resilient Nation

3 Why it’s critical to involve the Community? Journal of Emergency Medical Services (2004); National Fire Protection Association (2003); National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (2003) Less than 1 percent of the U.S. population is an emergency responder 95% of situations, victim/ bystander first to respond 85% of critical infrastructure is privately owned

4 Citizen & Community Preparedness Research  National Household Surveys – 2003, 2007, 2009  Citizen Preparedness Surveys Database  Citizen Preparedness Reviews (CPR)  Personal Behavior Change Model

5 Key Findings from 2009 Household Survey  Stress that preparedness is a shared responsibility –Most commonly cited reason people have not prepared (nearly 30%): they think emergency responders will help them –Over 60% expect to rely on emergency responders in the first 72 hours  Provide more specificity on preparedness actions –35% who perceived themselves to be prepared did not have a household plan –80% had not conducted a home evacuation drill –Nearly 60% are not familiar with their community’s evacuation routes  Highlight additional preparedness needs for people with disabilities –15% of respondents report disability affecting ability to respond –Less than one third have made preparations specific to their disability

6 Key Findings from 2009 Household Survey  Emphasize the importance of drills and exercises –42% practiced a workplace evacuation drill –14% participated in a home-based drill –23% of those in school or with children participated in a school drill  Offer specialized information on the survivability of manmade disasters –6% felt nothing they did would help handle a natural disaster –35% felt nothing they did would help in an act of terrorism  Couple a national voice with local specificity –National leaders must be strong advocates –Local leadership is critical –Preparedness requires local information: hazards, alerts, community response protocols –Importance of social networks: neighborhoods, workplace, schools, faith-based

7 Community Preparedness Principals  Collaboration: Government must collaborate with community leaders from all sectors for effective planning and capacity building.  Integration: Non-governmental assets and resources must be fully integrated in government plans, preparations, and disaster response.  Personal and Organizational Preparedness: Everyone in America must be fully aware, trained, and practiced on how to prevent, protect, mitigate, prepare for, and respond to all threats and hazards.  Volunteer Service: Citizen activism and volunteer service provides ongoing support for community safety and critical surge capacity in response and recovery.

8 Citizen Corps Mission We all have a role in homeland security Citizen Corps brings community and government leaders together to involve community members and organizations in all-hazards emergency preparedness, planning, mitigation, response, and recovery

9 Citizen Corps Councils Collaboration, Planning, Building Capacity & Resiliency Outreach & Education Training & Exercises Volunteer Programs & Surge Support

10 Citizen Corps Councils Emergency Responders Disabilities Advocates Children/ Schools Frail Elderly Government Leaders Neighborhood Groups/ Associations Faith- Based Non-profit Organizations Business/ Workplace Language/ Culture LOCAL STRATEGY Planning and Capacity Building Outreach and Education Training and Exercises Volunteer Programs & Surge Support

11 Charge to Councils  Collaborative emergency operations planning to integrate perspectives and resources from the civic sector  Build on community strengths to develop action plans to involve the whole community, including special needs groups  Support public education, training, and volunteer opportunities for community and family safety  Tap special skills and interests organizations and volunteers  Organize strategic projects and community events  Capture smart practices and report accomplishments

12 First responder/emergency management ~ law enforcement, fire service, EMS/EMT, and public works Elected officials Volunteer community and non-profit organizations Cooperative Extension Business leaders, especially critical infrastructure Faith-based leaders School system representatives Transportation sector Medical facilities Large venue facilities Media executives Minority and special needs representation Community/Neighborhood networks Potential Citizen Corps Council Membership

13 Citizen Corps Programs The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates and trains citizens in basic disaster response skills Fire Corps promotes the use of citizen advocates to provide support to fire and rescue departments The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program helps medical, public health, and other volunteers offer their expertise Neighborhood Watch/USAonWatch incorporates terrorism awareness education into its existing crime prevention mission Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) works to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers

14 Jan April 2010  Councils: 0 2, 445 3, 476  CERT 170 3, 476  Fire Corps 0 1,  MRC ,129  NWP 7,500 20,129  VIPS 76 2,037

15 Citizen Corps National Partners

16 Citizen Corps Affiliate Profile  Support the mission of citizen participation in making America safer and better prepared  Non-profit or government sponsored and nationwide in scope  Non-partisan  Sign a Statement of Affiliation

17 Partners and Citizen Corps  Participation on Citizen Corps Councils  Public Education and Outreach  Training and Exercises  Volunteer Service Opportunities

18 How Can HandsOn Network Get Involved? *Prepare Volunteer Centers and Employees for Disasters*  Prepare Volunteer Center Employees and their families for disasters  Encourage employees to: –Identify local hazards and resources to prepare for those hazards –Identify local alerts and warning systems and evacuation routes –Develop a individual/family plan for disasters and participate in drills and exercises to practice the plan –Take preparedness measures including building a disaster preparedness kit with items which are specific for home, work, car, and mass transit –For those interested, promote training related to emergency preparedness and response (e.g. CERT, American Red Cross)  Build Volunteer Center Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP)  Encourage to build business plans which include operations during disasters -For FEMA Resources on COOP Plans, go to / /

19 How Can HandsOn Network Get Involved? *Contact your Local Citizen Corps POC and/or Emergency Manager*  Contact Your State or Local Citizen Corps Council Point of Contact –Enter zip code to locate Citizen Corps Councils at  Contact the local Citizen Corps Council Program Manager and discuss how volunteer centers can become involved. Remember- all Citizen Corps Councils are different – so the opportunities may vary from council membership to program activities –If no Citizen Corps Council exists, contact local emergency management to see how volunteer centers can become involved in setting up a council or inquire about a disaster collaboration group already in place  If no Citizen Corps Council exists, work with government, community leadership, and emergency management to establish a council which is representative of the community. Discuss how volunteer centers can contribute to emergency operations planning, preparedness, response, and recovery  Inquire about another collaborative body and see if volunteer centers can get in involved (e.g. Local Emergency Planning Council (LEPC)

20 How Can HandsOn Network Get Involved? *Get Involved with Citizen Corps* –Work with state or local Citizen Corps Council on participating on the Citizen Corps Council  Work with Citizen Corps and emergency management to integrate volunteer center resources into Emergency Operations Planning (EOP) –Work with Citizen Corps to get volunteers involved with-  Training  Exercises and Drills  Volunteer Programs  Community Preparedness Outreach and Education

Questions?