Citizen Corps
Uniting Communities - Preparing the Nation
Contact | Locate Your Council | Council Login
| 
| 
The White House Honors Winners of the 2011 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards
On Thursday, January 19th, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the White House honored the 2011 Individual and Community Preparedness Award winners in Washington, D.C. as Champions of Change. These local leaders were recognized for their outstanding achievements in better preparing their communities for disaster events and for helping to build a more resilient nation.
More than 150 White House attendees, including Secretary Janet Napolitano, Special Assistant to the President of Homeland Security, Richard Reed and numerous online viewers gathered to listen to the honorees share their innovative and successful approaches to community preparedness. From the invaluable resources John Solomon published on public preparedness to Venus Majeski's passionate commitment to integrating individuals with functional and access needs into disaster readiness activities, each honoree represented the extraordinary impact they and their organizations have had in building a Culture of Preparedness.
Over the past year, our nation has experienced more billion dollar disasters than ever before and millions of Americans in nearly every state and territory have been affected. Being prepared for these and other events and knowing what to do if a disaster strikes your home, business or the school your children attend, is critical to saving lives. It is this kind of work at a local level our award recipients are leading to ensure our communities are safer, stronger and more resilient.
For instance:
- The San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians developed a "Send Word Now" system which provides SMS text, email and voice alerts to tribal members during emergencies.
- The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago trained more than 55,000 youth and their families in over 20 different low income neighborhoods.
- The Earthquake Country Alliance increased individual and community awareness about earthquake preparedness through its Great California ShakeOut, an annual statewide earthquake drill involving millions of participants.
- The New York City Citizen Corps program collaborated with more than 60 community organizations, government agencies, private sector organizations, and volunteer programs to build a stronger, more durable city.
Leadership from the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), and FEMA selected winners from among applicants in 36 States, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Applications reflected the full breadth of the Whole Community, with submissions from faith-based, tribal, non-profit, private sector, and community-based organizations, as well as individuals.
Learn more about these remarkable individuals and organizations working on the front lines of their states, cities and communities to build a stronger, more durable nation. As Secretary Napolitano stated, "We commend the innovative practices and achievements these individuals bring to the field of emergency management in order to make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared."