Agenda - 09-02-2003-8e - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 2, 2003 Action Agend Item No. ~~ SUBJECT• Acceptance of Grant for Citizen Corps Council Establishment and Recruitment DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Orange County Grant Proposal 7/25/03 Grant Award Notification Letter Grant Guidelines INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Waters, ext 3030 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To formally accept federal pass-through grant funds in the amount of $2,500 awarded through the Office of the Governor to establish a Citizen Corps Council for Orange County and to develop emergency preparedness informations! materials. BACKGROUND: A shortcoming identified during several natural disasters in Orange County in the past few years was the lack of emergency preparedness educational materials, particularly those in the Spanish language. Orange County has received a check in the amount of $2,500 issued through the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service to augment the County's resources in preparing for and dealing with natural or man-made disasters. These grant funds will be utilized in developing emergency preparedness materials in English and other languages and assist in translation services to create those materials. A countywide "All-Hazards Guide" will be another key publication created through this program. Funds will also foster the creation of an Orange County Citizen Corps Council. The overall purpose of that Citizen Corps Council is to provide an umbrella organization to assist in coordination of the volunteer programs involving emergency preparedness. The Emergency Management Department receives a number of requests each year from senior citizens seeking to become involved in this aspect of community services. The Citizen Corps Council would provide a forum through which these volunteers could serve in a manner that would fit their schedules, while providing assistance to the County and saving staff time. Specific functions of the Orange County Citizen Corps Council include assisting in recruiting citizens to attend the forthcoming Community Emergency Response Team training, improving communication between existing family safety committees, and coordinating volunteer opportunities for family safety and neighborhood safety (including furthering the relationship with the Orange County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program). It lis proposed that the Orange County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program will serve as an information clearinghouse and assist in record keeping for the various activities of the Citizens Corps Council.