FEMA Recognizes Innovative Preparedness Initiatives

FEMA announced the recipients of the 2012 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards, which recognize the innovative practices and achievements of individuals, Citizen Corps Councils, and nonprofit, faith-based and private-sector organizations working to make communities safer, stronger and better prepared.

"It has been shown time and time again that after a disaster, the very first responders are our neighbors," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate in a statement. "The award recipients promote preparedness across America's communities — the bedrock of our national resiliency. I commend each and every one of the awardees for their service and innovation. They serve as a model for communities everywhere."

According to FEMA, the applicants demonstrated their ability to engage the whole community through partnerships, achievements and activities that took place from January 2011 to June 2012. For example, the American Red Cross Gateway to the Golden State Region chapter trained more than 16,000 individuals in lifesaving skills, such as disaster preparedness, CPR and basic first aid, and developed a cadre of more than 200 bilingual volunteers. The Texas Citizen Corps Program trained Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers who were integrated into the response to the Bastrop Complex fire last fall and North Texas tornadoes earlier this year.

The awardees are:

Outstanding State Citizen Corps Council Initiatives
•    Texas Citizen Corps

Outstanding Local Citizen Corps Council Initiatives
•    New York City Citizen Corps Council

Outstanding CERT Initiatives
•    CERT Program and Volunteers, Newport Beach, Calif.

Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness
•    Chinatown Community Development Center (California)

Preparing the Whole Community
•    American Red Cross Gateway to the Golden State

Promising Partnerships
•    Partners in Preparedness (New York)

Awareness to Action
•    American Red Cross of the Poconos (Pennsylvania)

Innovative Use of Technology
•    North Dakota State University Agriculture Communication

Volunteer Integration
•    West Pierce County Fire and Rescue CERT Program (Washington)

Community Preparedness Heroes
•    Michael Parker (California)
•    Mohamed Ali (Washington)
•    Scott Ellis (New Jersey)

Second Annual Recipient of the John D. Solomon Preparedness Award
•    Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (Florida)

The award winners were selected by a panel of leaders representing the whole community, including the National Emergency Management Association, the International Association of Emergency Managers, Target, the American Red Cross and FEMA.