Oneida County Citizen Corps

Citizen Corps is the component of the USA Freedom Corps that creates opportunities for individuals to volunteer to help their communities prepare for and respond to emergencies by bringing together local leaders, citizen volunteers and the network of first responder organizations, such as fire departments, police departments and emergency medical personnel. The goal is to have all citizens participate in making their communities safer, stronger, and better prepared for preventing and handling threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds.

We all have a role in hometown security:

Personal responsibility: preparedness plans and disaster supplies kits – home health and safety practices – disaster mitigation measures – crime prevention and reporting

Training: emergency preparedness – response capabilities – first aid – fire suppression – search and rescue procedures – public health and safety

Volunteer service: law enforcement – fire – emergency medical services – community public health – emergency management – disaster relief and community safety organizations.

Citizen Corps asks you to embrace the personal responsibility to be prepared; to get training in first aid and emergency skills; and to volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety.

What You Can Do
• Volunteer
• Help with public education, risk assessment, training and volunteer participation
• Mentor others: individuals, organizations and communities

Mission Statement

“Citizen Corps will work to harness the power of every individual through education, training and volunteer service to make communities in Oneida County safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to threats of all kinds”

Oneida County Citizen Corps Council Members
• The Honorable Anthony Picente,
• County Executive
• Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito
• Oneida County
• Emergency Management Office
• Health Department
• Mental Health Department
• Office for Aging and Continuing Care
• American Red Cross
• Boy Scouts of America
• Catholic Charities
• Foothills Girls Scouts
• Home Ownership Center
• Learning Disabilities Association of the Mohawk Valley
• Retired Senior Volunteer Program
• Resource Center for Independent Living
• Salvation Army
• South Rome Senior Citizen Center

The Citizen Corps Council helps drive local citizen participation by coordinating programs, developing community action plans, assessing possible threats and identifying local resources.

• Herkimer – Oneida Organizations Active in Disaster
• Education – providing training and increasing awareness and preparedness in each organization.
• Leadership Development – giving volunteer leaders training and support so as to build effective organizations.
• Mitigation – supporting the efforts of local, state, federal agencies and governments, and supporting appropriate legislation.
• Convening Mechanisms – conducting seminars, meetings, training programs, and conferences to share information and best practices.