September 20, 2010

The Fresno Citizen Corps Council has been honored by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) for its efforts to prepare the local community for unforeseen emergencies.

"I am proud of the hard work and achievements of the members of the Fresno Citizen Corps Council," Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin said. "This recognition demonstrates their tremendous dedication and commitment to ensuring our community is engaged and prepared. They exemplify excellence in local emergency planning and successful public-private partnerships which have set a standard for other communities across the country," she said.

Citizen Corps is a nationwide, grassroots movement to engage civic leaders and the public in community safety and disaster preparedness. The Fresno Citizen Corps Council was honored for its exemplary efforts in serving a population over 750,000.

Citizen Corps volunteers have served the Fresno community by filling sandbags during severe storms, installing hundreds of free smoke alarms, staffing cooling centers, collecting durable medical equipment for people with disabilities, distributing informational materials during heat waves, painting out graffiti, distributing crime prevention and disaster preparedness information, organizing neighborhood events, and speaking at service clubs, professional associations, special needs organizations and volunteer fairs. Fresno Citizen Corp volunteers also regularly provide rehab for firefighters, participate in numerous tabletop and full'scale exercises and assist first responders, as requested.