Question: Who belongs to the Brown County Citizens Corps Council?

Answer: Members of the Citizens Corps Council include nonprofit and community services agencies, governmental entities, emergency services and local service organizations that address public safety, public health, disaster preparedness and response.

Question: What work is done by the Brown County Citizens Corps Council?

Answer: The Citizens Corps Council supports collaboration among public and private organizations to make our communities safer and better prepared to respond to any kind of disaster or catastrophe.

Question: Where did Citizens Corps originate?

Answer: Citizen Corps, a vital component of USA Freedom Corps, was created to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. 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 of all kinds.

Question: Can I participate in the Brown County Citizen Corps?
Answer: Any interested citizen can participate.

Question: Do I have to have special qualifications to participate?
Answer: Not Necessarily, some of the volunteer opportunities in public safety will require relevant skills and experience, as well as background checks, but there are many volunteer opportunities that require no special skills. To find out how you can participate, contact the Council and we'll try to find the right match for your skills and interests.

Question: Are there immediate opportunities available for volunteers?
Answer: Yes. Our principal near-term needs are for people with some background in the public safety and medical arenas but anyone wishing to support their community would be welcomed.

Question: Will the Brown County Citizen Corps be responsible for emergency response?
Answer: No. That responsibility rests with the designated authorities, such as the local Police Department, the local Fire Department, the County Sheriff and the Office of Emergency Management. The Brown County Citizen Corps is responsible for recruiting and developing a corps of volunteers to support the efforts of these agencies and to help coordinate volunteer response in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Question: If I volunteer for disaster response, will I have to wait a long time between opportunities to render my services?

Answer: We hope so! The fewer our disasters the better off our communities will be. Our intention is to provide volunteer opportunities to assist our communities in responding to and recovering from disasters. However, just as important is the need to work with individuals, families, neighborhoods, businesses and communities to insure that all are prepared for the effects of the next disaster in our area.

Question: Does Brown County have an Emergency Response Plan?
Answer: Yes. The Emergency Management Coordinator in cooperation with numerous other agencies has developed the plan that works with both local and the state plans.

Question: Does Brown County have a high risk of natural disasters?
Answer: The county is more fortunate than many others, but not immune to natural disasters. Tornadoes could occur in any given year.  We also have a potential for flooding, blizzards, train wrecks, and a variety of other natural or man made catastrophes. Volunteers may be of assistance if these events occur.

Question: Will the Brown County Citizen Corps offer volunteer training?
Answer: Yes. We will offer training for specific areas and recommend Certified Emergency Response Training to all members. A number of the programs within the scope of the Council, such as Neighborhood watch, already have existing training programs.

Question: What are the goals of the Citizens Corps Council?

• Promoting emergency preparedness on the part of each individual, household, and business or organization.

• Promoting volunteer activities that support first responders, disaster relief groups, and community safety organizations.

• Promoting training opportunities in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.

Everyone can do something to help make our families and our communities safer through:

Personal responsibility: Developing a household preparedness plan and disaster supplies kits, observing home health and safety practices, implementing disaster mitigation measures, and participating in crime prevention and reporting.

Training: Taking classes in emergency preparedness, response capabilities, first aid, CPR, fire suppression, and search and rescue procedures.

Volunteer service: Engaging individuals in volunteer activities that support first responders, disaster relief groups, and community safety organizations. Everyone can do something to support local law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, community public health efforts, and the four stages of emergency management: prevention, mitigation, response and recovery efforts.