Citizen Corps Council                     

The Citizen Corps Council was created to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to emergency situations. It provides opportunities for people to participate in a range of measures to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from the threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters. Educating citizens and networking local communities to assist first responders are key elements to minimizing the threat to individual health, property and overall safety during an emergency situation.

If you are looking for specific volunteer opportunities currently offered by these organizations, search under emergency/disaster preparation in volunteer opportunities in the advanced search area. Link to Advanced Search

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Program – educates people about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. Using their training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event and can take a more active role in preparing their community.  cshawkins@co.pg.md.us

FIRE CORPS – promotes the use of citizen advocates to enhance the capacity of resource-constrained fire and rescue departments at all levels: volunteer, combination, and career. Citizen advocates can assist local fire departments in a range of activities including fire safety outreach, youth programs, and administrative support. Fire Corps provides resources to assist fire and rescue departments in creating opportunities for citizen advocates and promotes citizen participation.    aa@pgcfvra.org

  USA ON WATCH.ORG – An expanded Neighborhood Watch Program (NWP), it incorporates terrorism awareness education into its existing crime prevention mission, while also serving as a way to bring residents together to focus on emergency preparedness and emergency response training.  mjattick@verizon.net

  MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS (MRC) PROGRAM – strengthens communities by helping medical, public health and other volunteers offer their expertise throughout the year as well as during local emergencies and other times of community need. MRC volunteers work in coordination with existing local emergency response programs and also supplement existing community public health initiatives, such as outreach and prevention, immunization programs, blood drives, case management, care planning, and other efforts.  cnbaker@co.pg.md.us

   VOLUNTEERS IN POLICE (VIPS) – works to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers. VIPS serves as a gateway to resources and information for and about law enforcement volunteer programs. Funded by DOJ, VIPS is managed and implemented by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.  ctaggert-ross@prodigy.net  or rawilliams@co.pg.md.us

AMERICAN LEGION – The American Legion is a Veterans Service Organization. In January 2005, the Department of Homeland Security, the Citizen Corps, the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary formed a partnership. The affiliation aims to help raise public awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness, disaster-response training and volunteer services. This affiliation will focus specifically on engaging America's youth in hometown security, elevating Flag Day as a day of citizenship and emergency preparedness, and providing support to Veterans Affairs hospitals in emergency preparedness efforts. wmilligan@olg.com

AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES - The amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateur radio operators who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disasters arise. Every licensed amateur is eligible for membership in the ARES.  Kfg301@aol.com

VOLUNTEER MOBILIZATION LEADERSHIP TEAM– This group of individuals will assist with the operation and management of the Volunteer Mobilization Center which will be activated in an emergency and will register and make assignments for volunteers who come out to help.  TGardnerWilliams@princegeorgesvolunteer.org

PRINCE GEORGE’S VOLUNTEER CENTER, INC. – Connects interested individuals with opportunities for service. The Volunteer Center also provides presentations for individuals to be educated on emergency preparedness. info@princegeorgesvolunteer.org or (301) 699-2803

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES are an integral part of our community and, as such, information on emergency preparedness and opportunities for service should be designed and presented in a matter that recognizes and accommodates individuals with disabilities.  candoinmd@aol.com