Citizen Corps Councils

Orlando Citizen Corps: Volunteers Come Forward to Prepare Tourists and Senior Mecca

Overview
In 1992, Floridians absorbed the brunt of Hurricane Andrew, a category 4 superstorm that inflicted more than $16 billion in damages to the southern half of the state. Again, in 1998, an equally damaging storm system spawned seven tornadoes that severely battered the state’s midsection. While most Americans equate Florida with hurricanes, many do not realize that Florida ranked fourth in the nation in the number of tornadoes between 1950 and 1996, and led the country in deaths and injuries from lightning strikes between 1959 and 1994.

While Florida’s natural threats are the most conspicuous, the heavy tourist presence and large senior citizen population suggests a vulnerability to terrorism and man-made emergencies as well. As a result, the need for a well-organized emergency preparedness program was evident, but finding the right group of residents to take up the task of building a Citizen Corps Council took time and patience.

Council Background
After the initial Citizen Corps kickoff in early 2002, Glenda Hood, former president of the National League of Cities and then Mayor of Orlando, helped identify 18 different sectors of the Orlando community that she felt should be represented on a Citizen Corps Council. Mayor Hood then initiated the first citywide dialogue and invited them to participate in the Citizen Corps program.

To build the diverse leadership reflective of this community, Mayor Hood tasked each representative with recommending two to three civic-minded individuals who might be willing to serve on the Citizen Corps Council. From this list of nearly 100 names, the Mayor culled 48 individuals to serve on Orlando’s inaugural Citizen Corps Council, providing the Council with a solid foundation of leadership and diversity. The official Council, inaugurated in June 2002, included members representing organizations ranging from the Hispanic Christian Church Association of Central Florida to the Asian-American Chamber of Commerce.

Together, the newly formed Orlando Citizen Corps Council agreed that the mission statement should read:

“To make communities safer, stronger and better prepared, to respond to threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues and disasters of all kinds by engaging individuals in crime prevention, emergency preparedness and response, through education, training and volunteer service.”

Strategy
From the beginning, the Orlando Citizen Corps Council decided not to draw up bylaws or have a formally designated chairperson. Instead they developed guiding principles and rotated leadership responsibilities. The absence of bylaws has enabled the Council to function with considerable flexibility, providing it with the ability to respond rapidly to changing conditions.

By leveraging each member’s background and expertise and appreciating their diversity, the Orlando Citizen Corps Council has been able to effectively staff task teams. Council members serve on one of the following task teams: community events, marketing, and recruitment. To begin formal outreach and training, the Council formed four categories of programs to ensure preparedness reached neighborhoods, businesses, volunteer organizations, and first responders.

Public Safety Program – Encompasses eight individual programs, including Citizens for Neighborhood Watch (CNWC), Citizen Police Academy (CPA), Citizen Observer Program (COP), VIPS, Crimeline, Citizen Fire Academy (CFA), and Continuing Education
Business Disaster Preparedness Program – An initiative that provides training on disaster preparedness to local businesses, as well as a business-staffed crew of CERT-trained volunteers ready to handle disasters in non-residential areas
Proud and Secure Neighborhoods Program – An initiative which includes the Citizens for Neighborhood Watch, Senior Links, Hometown Security Volunteer programs, as well as the local speakers’ bureau
First Responders Support Program – An umbrella program for CERT, Senior CERT, and Medical Reserve Corps as a means for volunteers to support other agencies and to manage the large number volunteers

Council Results
Since it’s formation, the Orlando Citizen Corps Council has consistently demonstrated tangible results. These include:

Recruited 48 members and engaged more than 700 volunteers in less than one year who received training in preparedness programs including, CERT, CFA, CPA, COP, and CNWC
Developed a Citizens Police Academy, Hispanic Citizen Police Academy, and Senior Police Academy that has trained more than 1,000 citizens and 200 senior citizens
Partnered with Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) to create a Senior CERT program that trained seniors with self-survival skills, first aid techniques, and fire suppression activities
Trained 20 CERT teams and more than 1,000 citizens
Developed specialized Hispanic CERT and Police Academy programs to reach out to the Hispanic communities
Implemented a Senior Links program, providing support to homebound seniors, involving more than 70 citizens in 11 neighborhoods
Organized 560 Citizens for Neighborhood Watch programs, including 127 new programs in 2003
Launched the Orlando Citizen Corps Council Web site, developed a Council marketing plan and promotional materials, created the annual Council Member Leadership Award, and distributed more than 25,000 training and volunteer opportunity brochures

Next Steps
Moving forward over the next few years, the Orlando Citizen Corps Council has dedicated itself to achieve the following:

Continue to develop community partnerships to create a sustainable program
Position the Council as an inclusive volunteer and training program for all citizens
Create ways to compliment existing volunteer and preparedness programs
Develop a database of volunteers to use as a community resource
Identify diverse opportunities to keep citizens engaged in Citizen Corps activities
Secure additional funding for future events, projects and training
Engage more local businesses to participate in Citizen Corps by offering promotional items and incentives

Additional Information and Resources

Download

The guiding principles of the Orlando Citizen Corps with the Mayor of Orlando's signature
Orlando guiding principles with Mayors signature (PDF Version -- 67 KB)
Orlando guiding principles with Mayors signature (Text Version -- 3 KB)

A strategic plan for increasing volunteer involvement in the Orlando Citizen Corps
Orlando Strategic Plan for Volunteer Involvement(PDF Version -- 259 KB)
Orlando Strategic Plan for Volunteer Involvement (Text Version -- 11 KB)

A listing of the significant accomplishments of the Orlando Citizen Corps between October 2002 and November 2003
Orlando 02-03 significant accomplishments (PDF Version -- 73 KB)
Orlando 02-03 significant accomplishments (Text Version -- 3 KB)

A proclamation by the Mayor declaring July 2003 Orlando Citizen Corps Month in the City of Orlando
Orlando Proclamation (PDF Version -- 30 KB)
Orlando Proclamation (Text Version -- 2 KB)

A pamphlet to encourage residents of Orlando to become Citizen Corps volunteers
Orlando Citizen Corps Volunteer Pamphlet (PDF Version -- 2.8 MB)
Orlando Citizen Corps Volunteer Pamphlet (Text Version -- 7 KB)

A pamphlet to encourage Orlando residents to become Hometown Security volunteers
Orlando Hometown Security Volunteer Pamphlet (PDF Version -- 3.0 MB)
Orlando Hometown Security Volunteer Pamphlet (Text Version -- 3 KB)

A pamphlet that encourages Orlando residents to be prepared for terrorism by making a plan
Orlando Prep for Terrorism Pamphlet (PDF Version -- 16 MB)
Orlando Prep for Terrorism Pamphlet (Text Version -- 5 KB)

A pamphlet to encourage Orlando residents to become involved in Senior Links, a program that seeks to create a network of community members that establish regular contact with isolated senior citizens
Orlando Senior Links Pamphlet (PDF Version -- 9.4 MB)
Orlando Senior Links Pamphlet (Text Version -- 4 KB)

An ad to promote hometown security through involvement in various Citizen Corps training programs
Orlando Hometown Security Ad (6-03) (PDF Version -- 490 KB)
Orlando Hometown Security Ad (6-03 (Text Version -- 2 KB)

A narrow ad to promote hometown security through involvement in various Citizen Corps training programs
Orlando Citizen Corps Ad (6-03) (PDF Version -- 410 KB)
Orlando Citizen Corps Ad (6-03) (Text Version -- 1 KB)

A postcard sized ad to promote hometown security by volunteering for Citizen Corps
Orlando Citizen Corps Postcard Ad 6-03(PDF Version -- 382 KB)
Orlando Citizen Corps Postcard Ad 6-03 (Text Version -- 1 KB)