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	CITIZEN CORPS: VOLUNTEERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE *Tim D. Mosier, Director, Sedalia-Pettis County EMA, Missouri* In response to the tragic events that occurred on September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush announced the creation of the Citizen Corps program during his 2002 State of the Union Address. Currently, the basic core components of the initiative are Volunteers in Police Services, Community Emergency Response Team or CERT, Neighborhood Watch Programs and Medical Reserve Corps. However, these programs are merely fundamental building blocks, a beginning, if you will.
Saying that, where does Citizen Corps go from here? Frankly, there are no “clear-cut, cookie-cutter” answers. The course and direction Citizen Corps programs will follow are pivotal to the needs of the community, e.g., densely populated metropolitan cities versus sparsely populated rural regions. Consequently, emergency planners must think outside the box, create fresh, innovative schemes and replace passé plans that are inapplicable in a post 9-11 world. Of course, treading uncharted ground pits emergency response disciplines and emergency managers against a puzzling dilemma, where to find guidance? Where do they turn for answers? Compelling questions, especially so when considering the “book,” in a manner of speech, changes from day-to-day. Therefore, it is imperative to share information; thus the spirit of this article. Although each community—large or small—has their own specific needs, they share an unambiguous responsibility: to provide for the health and welfare of its citizens. Yet, too many times little regard is given to senior and special-needs people. Considering the complexities surrounding any emergency or disaster event, protecting this segment of society presents a formidable challenge. However, Citizen Corps volunteers may be the solution and help resolve some of the associated complications.
As previously mentioned, sharing information is critical in today’s fast-paced, ever changing world of emergency planning. As an emergency manager, I recognize how difficult it is to plan for special-needs and senior citizens during times of crisis or in a post-disaster situation. Perhaps, you may find my jurisdiction’s approach to this problem beneficial and incorporate all or portions to fit your own needs. Pettis County Cares is a program executed by Citizen Corps volunteers, requires little expense and is relevant to any size community.
How does the program work? The concept includes locating senior and special-needs people in your jurisdiction. Once identified, simply construct and maintain a database including the following information: Name Address Telephone number (if applicable) Special needs, e.g., requires dialysis Secondly, Citizen Corps volunteers make contact with those identified in your database. During initial visits, volunteers determine if the party desires to participate (see later definition for qualification.) Qualified participants receive a packet containing an instruction sheet and four, 8.5” by 11, color-coded cardstocks for use in a crisis or emergency event. Depending upon the participant’s status, he or she places one of four cards in a conspicuous window easily identifiable from the nearest roadway, if possible. A text message—in large, contrasting letters—is pre-printed on each card: Bright Pink Need immediately assistance White No electrical power Yellow Need help, but not an emergency Green No assistance needed
	The color-coded cards allow anybody who sees them to summon help if needed. Immediately following a natural or manmade emergency event, Citizen Corps volunteers make contact with the Pettis County Cares participants. The first preference is by telephone that is if lines are up and operational. However, as you already know, telephone communications are vulnerable during times of crisis or emergency, which demands a physical response to the participant’s home. The benefit of using Citizen Corps volunteers to perform this task frees community emergency responders to respond to other assignments. The plan is simple, but it is effective. Once more, expenditures were less than 50 dollars. Of course, the cost depends upon the size of your community, nevertheless; it is money well spent.
The color-coded cards allow anybody who sees them to summon help if needed. Immediately following a natural or manmade emergency event, Citizen Corps volunteers make contact with the Pettis County Cares participants. The first preference is by telephone that is if lines are up and operational. However, as you already know, telephone communications are vulnerable during times of crisis or emergency, which demands a physical response to the participant’s home. The benefit of using Citizen Corps volunteers to perform this task frees community emergency responders to respond to other assignments. The plan is simple, but it is effective. Once more, expenditures were less than 50 dollars. Of course, the cost depends upon the size of your community, nevertheless; it is money well spent. The Pettis County Cares has only one qualification for acceptance; the participant must have no other means of assistance. Simply put the senior or special-needs person has nobody else to check on him or her. Those who live in group-homes, in shared homes such as condominiums or who may have relatives close cannot participate in our program. For example, our original database contained in excess of 250 names, too many for our Citizen Corps to manage successfully. After careful consideration, we reduced the list to around 50 participants. The majority of those removed from the program lived in large, facilitated retirement complexes How does one identify your jurisdiction’s special-needs and senior citizens? Our EMA used a variety of methods to locate potential participants: Newspaper media Radio media Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Meals on Wheels programs The local chapter of the American Red Cross Hospice The local Senior Citizen Center A word of caution, how one seeks out those in need is a delicate matter. Seniors and special-needs people are often skeptical of government programs and they must be assured your sole purpose is to assist them. In addition, they need to understand their partaking is at no cost to them. To further increase the effectiveness of our Pettis County Cares program, we included the Postal Service. Local mail carriers know their neighborhoods; they see them each day. Other entities to consider may be local water departments, refuse collectors and of course, law enforcement officials. In closing, Pettis County Cares is an example of how Citizen Corps resources may be applied to ready one’s community for emergencies. Certainly, other unconventional programs exist, but unless they are shared in the aggregate, the full value and potential will remain focalized where they originate. The days of “turf” issues and isolationism among our emergency response agencies and emergency planners are long gone. To continue such practices will only serve to aid our nation’s enemies and encourage further acts of terrorism on American soil.

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