American Red Cross Urges "Shelter in Place"

Working with Local Jurisdictions as Partners in Preparedness

Fairfax, VA, 10 Feb 2010 – The American Red Cross in the National Capital Region continues to provide disaster (volunteer) workers to support emergency operations throughout the area. Following the issuance of a blizzard warning by the National Weather Service, the Red Cross is working with local government agencies to urge residents to minimize travel and take safety precautions.

The Red Cross is following instructions to remain off the roads; disaster (volunteer) workers continue to staff shelters..." throughout the region.

(Source: http://www.redcrossnca.org/index.php/all-chapter-events/361-american-red-cross-urges-shelter-in-place.html)

Partnerships and Awareness with Business and Government

Two of the other organizations we need to partner with are businesses and government agencies.

Last week, readers of the Neighbors Helping Neighbors blog participated in the

Emergency Preparedness Fair in Alexandria, Virginia.

The preparedness fair should be seen as a role model for other government agencies and businesses.

During the morning, participants were given a bag with some supplies to start their kit.

Representatives from the Alexandria Citizen Corps Council, Alexandria Police, Fairfax County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Fairfax County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Volunteer Fairfax, Animal Services, National Weather Service, USDA Food Safety, and other agencies were there to speak about their programs and answer any questions.

Blog Readers Around The World

Since the last readership update in January 2008, the number of countries that view http://citizencorps.blogspot.com/ has doubled.

We now have readers from approximately 50 countries, over 650 cities around the world, and all 50 states.

Sharing best practices locally and around the world helps us all be better prepared.

Fairfax County Citizen Corps Chairman Posts Editorial to Washington Post Article

The comments can be found at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/16/AR2008051603735_Comments.html

levy_andrew wrote:
Many of the programs and ideas that you mention as needed have been put in place in Fairfax County, Virginia. Preparedness goes well beyond CERT. What your article does not appear to mention is a key program - Citizen Corps. The Citizen Corps Council includes the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs), Fire Corps, Neighborhood Watch, and affiliates such as Red Cross, Volunteer Fairfax, Amateur Radio, Chamber of Commerce/Business Organizations, Religious Organizations, Government Appointees, and many others. Our Citizen Corps Council also includes student programs where we have a student representative and work directly with the local public schools, Boy Scouts, etc.Your article mentions many things that are needed. While I agree steps need to be taken, there are programs and best practices available. Please take a look at our website at http://www.fairfaxcountycitizencorps.org/ and blog at http://citizencorps.blogspot.com/ Then, feel free to contact me at andrew.levy@fairfaxcounty.gov on ways to implement these programs in towns. Our program, along with others across the county, address the majority of the items you bring up in the article.


goupmarket wrote:
Mr. Levy raises a good point. There are agencies available to help us help ourselves and get better prepared to respond, if and when an emergency happens. The issue seems to be that few, if anyone, actually knows or cares that such resources exist.