Headline
Ohio Citizen Corps Responds to Flooding

Have a Safe and Happy Fall
(Ohio Outside Fire Ban No Burning from 6AM to 6PM)

Ohio Citizen Corps Responds to Flooding

National Citizen Corps Director visits Ohio

Ohio Citizen Corps Participates in National Preparedness Month

Champaign County MRC Called into Action

MRC National Reorganization

Calendar of Events

New Ohio Citizen Corps and MRC Units

CERT Teams Deployed for Parma Flooding

Knox County Citizen Corps Event a Success

Ohio Citizen Corps Fall Media Campaign

Ohio Citizen Corps receives Money

MRC Prepares Harrison County

Animal Rescue Teams Called into Action

Major Flooding - Ohio Citizen Corps Responds

In late August, flood waters ravaged parts of Northern Ohio as upwards of nine inches of rain caused rivers to flood the cities of Findlay and Ottawa. Ohio Citizen Corps volunteers were responding even as the rains fell. CERT teams from Northwest Ohio helped sandbagging efforts. In all, more than 150 CERT volunteers assisted with flood operations. CERT team members from different counties also conducted flood cleanup missions.

CERT Volunteers from Lucas County assist
cleanup efforts in the Village of Ottawa, Putnam County

Volunteer Reception Centers (VRC) were opened in Findlay and Ottawa. The VRC processed thousands of volunteers providing assistance to hundreds of missions including debris removal, home cleanup and construction projects.

Medical Reserve Corps members assisted with wellness checks of residents, Red Cross shelter operations and mental heath support.

The northern Ohio floods once again proved the value of citizen volunteers and the Ohio Citizen Corps programs during times of disaster. Communities were able to bring additional support to their residents in an organized, efficient and timely manner because of planning, training and establishing protocols.

Ohio Citizen Corps salutes the coordinators in the affected counties and thanks all the volunteers for their hard work.

New National Citizen Corps Director Visits Ohio and Thanks Flood Volunteers

Brock Bierman, the new Citizen Corps National Director, visited Ohio on September 25 and 26 to honor volunteers who worked in the floods and to observe Ohio Citizen Corps operations.

Ohio Citizen Corps hosted two volunteer recognition events on September 25 in Findlay and the Village of Ottawa. Volunteers played a vital role in response and recovery to the severe flooding last month. Their hard work and dedication were able to meet the needs of the community even during a time of crisis. Volunteers assisted in many different ways including support of first responders, debris clean up, shelter logistics, and community outreach. Our state benefited because of their efforts. The ceremonies provided a venue for state, local and national officials to say "thank you" for their service. Mr. Bierman provided comments and presented each volunteer with a commemorative medallion.

Findlay Event: (Back Row – L-R)
Jim Opoka, Bill Recker, Maile Doyle, Steve Rackley, Brock Bierman
(Front Row) Dick Baker, Helen Sanders, Lu Draper, Bev Phillips,
Dr. Emily Walton, Mayor Tony Iriti

On September 26, Mr. Bierman traveled to Columbus to participate in the Ohio Citizen Corps Council meeting. Ohio Emergency Management Director Dragani and Ohio VOAD President Mary Woodward also welcomed the Director. He was very impressed with Ohio's plan and structure and referenced using Ohio's practices in a national best practice guide. After the meeting, Director Bierman traveled to Westerville to visit the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program.

Ohio Citizen Corps Council Meeting:
Back Row ( L-R) Susan Rogers, Nancy Dragani,
Brock Bierman, Kitty Burcsu, Mary Woodward,
Jim Opoka, Front Row: Kathryn Cutlip, Jim
Wisembarger, Patricia Wisembarger

• Toledo Blade
• Lima News
• Findlay Courier
  

Ohio Citizen Corps Participates in National Patriots Day and National Preparedness Month

Ohio Citizen Corps, the Ohio Department of Public Safety,
Franklin County Office of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management, and its audience of state and local officials and volunteer agencies paused to remember America’s patriots who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

“There is no greater reminder than that of September 11 that disaster can strike when we least expect it. And the tragedy that can surround it can be devastating,“ said ODPS Director Henry Guzmán. “The recent flooding in Ohio has proven that we can save lives by being prepared. The preparedness efforts, cooperation
and response I have seen in reaction to the flooding in northwest Ohio has been nothing short of heroic. This is the type of response that keeps a disaster from turning into a tragedy.”

Sgt. Randy Snyder of the Whitehall Police
Department sings the National Anthem, kicking
off Franklin County’s observance of National
Patriots’ Day and National Preparedness Month.
The color guard is represented by the City of
Columbus Divisions of Police and Fire.

Director Guzmán and Gary Holland, Director of Franklin County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management hosted the National Patriots' Day event at the Vern Riffe Center, downtown Columbus. They were joined by Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Franklin County Commission President Mary Jo Kilroy and more than 35 partner organizations, including Ohio Citizen Corps. City and state organizations hosted exhibits that highlighted their disaster preparedness planning.

Ohio Statehouse, Columbus - The Ohio Citizen
Corps placed 2,999 flags on the Statehouse lawn.

To honor all who died during the September 11, 2001 attacks,
the Ohio Citizen Corps organized volunteers to place
2,999 flags on the Statehouse lawn. The flags were
arranged to represent the two World Trade Center towers;
an open, five-sided space represented the Pentagon; the
space between the buildings represented the open field in
Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

9 Year Old Megan King,
working next to Columbus Firefighters,
places flags on Statehouse Lawn

Ohio Citizen Corps also participated in National Preparedness Month events across the state.

• Parma CERT volunteers helped students at the Safety for our Schools event in Cuyahoga County
  
• The Franklin County Citizen Corps Council participated in the Business Safety Roundtable in Columbus
  
• Citizen Corps and Medical Reserve Corps volunteers participated in events highlighting Cultural Diversity in Lucas County

More information about preparedness in the state can be found at: www.ready.ohio.gov. It includes information on emergency preparedness for schools, businesses, older citizens, people with disabilities, severe weather preparedness information, and multicultural needs.

Champaign County Medical Reserve Corps Called Into Action

On September 6, Mechanicsburg Schools were put on alert status for a bomb threat. The Mad River Chapter of the Red Cross was called to provide 400 meals to students and other mass care needs. The Red Cross summoned the support of the Champaign County MRC that was quickly able to provide assistance. Lisa Kievit, Emergency Services Director for the Chapter, said without the additional volunteers from Champaign County MRC, the mission would not have been possible. Congratulations to the Champaign County MRC volunteers for a job well done.

MRC National Reorganization

The United States Department of Health and Human Services and The Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (ASAM) has approved a reorganization plan for Medical Reserve Corps.

The reorganization includes a new office, the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), that reports directly to the Surgeon General.

1. MRC's new focus directive indicates the following primary functions: Director serves as the principal advisor to the Surgeon General on activities related to civilian volunteers
2. Provides day-to-day management of the MRC and related grants programs
3. Maintains close relationships regarding MRC policy, budget and operations
4. Supports local efforts to establish, implement, and sustain MRC units nationwide
5. Provides national leadership and coordination of the MRC program
6. Promotes awareness and understanding of MRC units critical role in communities across the nation
7. enhances the capacity of MRC units to achieve their local missions
8. Supports efforts to utilize willing, able and approved MRC members in a Federal response.

The program reorganization was proposed in order for MRC to better undertake efforts to expand the capacity of MRC units throughout the nation and establish a deployable cadre of MRC volunteers. This reorganization also acknowledges the growth of the program and recognizes its “dual use” for both ongoing public health activities and emergency preparedness/response.

New Citizen Corps and Medical Reserve Corps Units

We would like to welcome our new Citizen Corps Councils in Sandusky and Williams County. There are now 82 Citizen Corps Councils throughout the Buckeye State.

Ohio Medical Reserve Corps also welcomes five new units: Perry, Ottawa, Fairfield, Geauga and Delaware Counties as Medical Reserve Corps Units. There are now 76 MRC units in the state.

Parma CERT Deployed for Flooding

Parma CERT was called into action on August 7, 2007 after heavy rains flooded parts of the city. The CERT Team assisted the American Red Cross in staffing a shelter at Valley Forge High School. The Team's responsibilities included: assisting residents with check in, comforting residents, directing residents' questions, providing entertainment, distributing cleanup kits, and assisting with local information.

Parma CERT also worked with the Red Cross to set up beds, medical and family services areas, feeding operations and cleanup.

During the operation, there became a need for additional support and CERT teams from neighboring communities responded.

By the numbers:
Parma CERT Team Members deployed on site: 34
Total CERT Members deployed: 49
Total Parma CERT Volunteer Hours: 274
Total CERT Volunteer Hours: 327
Length of Deployment: 73 hrs
CERT Teams Deployed:
Parma
North Royalton
Lakewood
Quad Cities
Garfield Hts.

Knox County Citizen Corps Event a Success

The first Knox County First Responders Appreciation Day was a success. Even in the rain, the day was filled with conversation, friendship, fun and good food. Knox County Citizen Corps has planted a "community seed" that will continue to grow.

In addition to the fun, there was work. The event, used as a exercise for CERT members, included communications with the MARCS radios, traffic control and incident command.

Below are the final numbers on the groups that attended/assisted the Knox County First Responders Appreciation Day event.

Fire-10 First Responders and 13 Family members
Sheriff-1 First Responder, 4 Family members
Law Enforcement-1 First Responder and 1 Family member
CERT-24 members
Community Volunteers-34
Color Guard-5 Members
Boy Scouts-5 Members
Exhibitors-4
Government Officials-7 and 4 Family members.

Total-113

Ohio Citizen Corps Call to Service Media Campaign

Ohio Citizen Corps will kick off its fall marketing and recruitment campaign on November 1.

The ads were distributed to every television and radio station in the state through a partnership with the Ohio Association of Broadcasters. The spots will air through the end of January.

Watch the Commercial

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Ohio Gets Millions to improve Emergency Response

Citizen Corps program will receive $441,938

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded Ohio more than $75.6 million to improve emergency communication and disaster response.

Ohio will receive $46,320,809 this year for planning, training and equipment for urban rescue personnel.

Nearly $17 million will go toward statewide systems. Law enforcers will get $12 million for terrorism prevention programs. And medical teams in urban areas will get $1,548,871 to prepare for epidemics, natural disasters and large hazardous-materials incidents.

Ohio Citizen Corps programs share is $441,938 to enhance citizen involvement in emergency preparedness and response. A portion of the money will be used at the state level for planning and operations. A majority of the money will be distributed to the counties for local programs.

The money represents a 12 percent increase over last year's award of $41 million.

Harrison County better prepared because of MRC

Harrison County prepares itself for pandemic
From The Herald

CADIZ — Those throughout Harrison County are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst, as state and local officials came together to conduct a pandemic flu exercise, should an outbreak ever occur.

Eric Wilson, bioterrorism response and training coordinator for the Harrison County Health Department, along with Bud Touvell, disaster preparedness representative for the health department, are the ones who designed the exercise.

Read the rest of the Article

DART - Animal Rescue Team Responds

From the Toledo Blade

Coordinating response to animal health emergencies, ranging from natural disasters to diseases, is sort of like eating an elephant one bite at a time, a state official said.

However, the recent rescue of 100 cats, dogs, and other animals from flooded homes in Putnam County shows that progress is being made.

The rescue during the flooding of Putnam County marked the first time the Ohio Region One Disaster Animal Response Team, led by veterinarian Jen Tate of Sylvania, was deployed to assist with an animal-health emergency.

Read the Entire Article

Calendar of Events

Many trainings are posted on our Citizen Corps Web site

Click here to see what is happening in your area.

Winter Severe Weather Awareness Week
(November 11-17, 2007) - Click Here for Information