About Citizen Corps

	"What can = I=20 do?" "How can I help?"

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Frequently Asked Questions

I signed up on the website, but am still not sure what I = should do=20 to participate in Citizen Corps in my community?
On April = 8, 2002,=20 President Bush released Citizen Corps: A Guide for Local Officials = and=20 asked local communities across the country to start Citizen Corps=20 Councils. These Councils will consist of leaders from local = government,=20 including neighborhood groups; emergency management and the first=20 responder community; the volunteer community, including community = service=20 and faith-based organizations; and other relevant sectors in the = community=20 to serve as the local operating structure to bring Citizen Corps = to your=20 community.

So far approximately 70 communities have created Councils. = These=20 communities will be posted on the website at http://www.citizenco= rps.gov/council_st.html.=20 Even if your community has not yet formed a Council there may be = other=20 appropriate ongoing programs in your area. We suggest you contact = your=20 mayor's office, or other local official, to express your interest = in=20 having Citizen Corps in your community and to find out what = activities may=20 already be underway.

You can also contact your local chapter of the American Red = Cross or=20 other volunteer groups, such as Points of Light Volunteer Centers = http://www.pointsoflight.org/ = to=20 ask what training they offer in disaster preparedness and how you = can=20 volunteer your time to help organize public education on disaster = safety=20 and support your local Citizen Corps Council.

There has been a tremendous response to Citizen Corps from = across the=20 country. We are confident that very soon every community will have = programs to have every resident participate in safety and = preparedness=20 programs. We appreciate your patience as this process unfolds. = Again,=20 thank you for your interest and support.

I have suggestions and ideas for Citizen Corps activities in = my=20 community. Who can I contact to have them implemented?
We = are happy=20 to hear your ideas and suggestions. Please feel free to send = suggestions=20 to askcitizencorps@citizenc= orps.gov.=20 We are creating a directory of Citizen Corps Councils and will be = sharing=20 best practices, lessons learned, and suggestions with communities = all=20 across America. Please also contact your local officials with = ideas=20 specific to your community. Depending on your idea, you might also = contact=20 the first responder groups in your community, such as the fire, = police,=20 and emergency services departments, and volunteers groups and=20 organizations.=20

Also, if you have ideas for the website or for the = E-Newsletter, we=20 would love to hear them.

How do I change my e-mail address? What do I do if I have = not=20 received any E-Newsletters?
If your e-mail address has = changed,=20 please let us know by sending us an e-mail at citizencorps@fema.gov. = Please=20 indicate that you registered previously and that you would like to = change=20 your e-mail. IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE. If you signed up on the = Citizen Corps=20 website and did not receive an immediate confirmation of your = registration=20 or if you have not received any of the E-Newsletters, this means = that the=20 e-mail address we have for you is incorrect. Please send an e-mail = to citizencorps@fema.gov = with your=20 name and zip code or re-register at http://www.citizencorps.gov/.

How do I get involved in Citizen Corps?
There are = many ways=20 to get involved in Citizen Corps. There are programs and = activities=20 already underway across America that focus on making communities = safer,=20 stronger, and better prepared. Besides the five national Citizen = Corps=20 programs, you might seek out other volunteer agencies and = organizations=20 that support the mission of Citizen Corps and are a good match = with your=20 skills and abilities. Or you can contact your local police = department,=20 fire department, and emergency medical services department to ask = how you=20 can get involved in citizen's programs they offer.

Who do I contact in my local community to get = involved?
We=20 recommend that you call your mayor, county executive, or other = local=20 official to ask if they have formed a Citizen Corps Council. = Volunteer=20 agencies, faith-based organizations, fire and police departments, = medical=20 facilities, and even some educational institutions will also offer = opportunities to volunteer and get involved.

When are the national programs starting in my = community?
The=20 current five Citizen Corps programs being promoted at the national = level=20 are in various stages of development, but will all be ready for = nationwide=20 implementation by August 2002.

Right now, every community can start Neighborhood Watch = groups.=20 Guidance on how to begin is available from your local sheriff's=20 department.=20
The Community Emergency Response Team program is already = active in=20 many communities and will be significantly expanded in summer = 2002.=20
VIPS has = been=20 launched, and is ready for your participation.=20
The Medical Reserve Corps guidance will be launched = nationwide in=20 summer 2002.=20
Operation=20 TIPS will be launched in late summer or early fall and will = be a=20 national reporting system for volunteer industry workers to = report=20 suspicious and unusual behavior.

Your local officials are currently working to bring these = programs to=20 your community. Again, these are not the only ways to participate = in=20 Citizen Corps. There are many other public education efforts and = safety=20 programs that exist in communities all across the country and many = other=20 ways you can get involved.

Will I receive an I.D., plaque, or proof of volunteer=20 status?
Proof of volunteer status will vary depending on = which=20 program you are involved with. Many offer I.D. cards or training=20 certificates.

I am a U.S. citizen living abroad, what can I do to=20 participate?
Service, responsibility, and citizenship may = be=20 fulfilled in many different ways. Learning about how to be better = prepared=20 for emergencies is at the heart of Citizen Corps. Contact your = embassy for=20 information on volunteer programs where you are living and on how = you can=20 offer your talents and services.

How do I start a Citizen Corps Council?
Your local = officials=20 should be already working on this. Call your mayor, county = executive, or=20 appropriate local official to volunteer your talents. If you have=20 experience leading the community, organizing volunteers, and = working with=20 officials, you may be a valued asset to the council.

The Citizen Corps Councils will leverage existing resources -- = most=20 communities already have a strong team that brings together such = sectors=20 as first responders and volunteer groups. To this team will be = added=20 elected officials, faith-based groups, and those that support the=20 community substructure such as neighborhood commissions, water and = utility=20 providers, major industries, educational institutions, and = transportation=20 authorities.

Leadership from all of these sectors is important to ensure all = decision makers are at the table to manage existing volunteer = resources,=20 leverage mutually supportive endeavors, and direct local = plans.

I am interested in becoming a CERT instructor for my area. = Who do I=20 contact?
The emergency management office in your area, = either city=20 or county, will be able to provide you with opportunities for CERT = training. FEMA has developed a "Train-the-Trainer" course to = prepare=20 instructors to deliver CERT training to citizens within their = community.=20 Topics include hazard awareness, disaster fire suppression, = disaster=20 medical operations, light search & rescue, and team = operations. CERT=20 instructors are needed and highly valued, but a specialized = background is=20 often required. Again, contact your emergency management office to = ask how=20 your skills can best be used.

I have contacted the local officials in my community and = they do not=20 seem to know about Citizen Corps. What can I do?

We commend your efforts in taking this Initiative into your own = hands=20 and we know how frustrating it can be when you can't find the = right outlet=20 for your interest and energy.

Since first announced by the President in January 2002, there = has been=20 a tremendous response to Citizen Corps from across the country. = Very soon,=20 we hope that every community will have Citizen Corps programs and = that=20 every resident will be able participate. We appreciate your = patience as=20 this process unfolds. And keep trying -- refer your mayor's office = to the=20 Citizen Corps website and the Citizen Corps Guide for Local = Officials and=20 offer your assistance to help get the process started.

But there is a lot you can do right now to be better prepared. = Visit=20 FEMA's website to=20 learn more about Community and Family Preparedness. Create a = family=20 emergency preparedness kit and plan. Talk to your employer about=20 evacuation and safety plans at work. Talk to your local schools = about what=20 kinds of information can be provided to children about safety. = Talk to=20 your neighbors about starting Neighborhood Watch and how the = neighborhood=20 can be safer. You can get started right now!

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Last Updated May 30, 2002