Frank H. Murkowski, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY &
P.O. BOX 5750
VETERANS AFFAIRS
FORT RICHARDSON, AK 99505-5750
DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY
PHONE: (907) 428-7000
AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
FAX: (907) 428-7009
WWW.AK-PREPARED.COM
For Immediate Release: May 25, 2004
State
of Alaska to Receive $245,600 in
Federal Citizen Corps Grant Money
(Anchorage, AK) – The State of Alaska will receive $245,600 in Citizen Corps funding under the FY 2004 Homeland Security Grant Program. There are five communities that applied for this money. The Municipality of Anchorage will receive $59,420, Kenai Peninsula Borough will receive $113,564.31, Matanuska-Susitna Borough will receive $47,000, the Village/City of Kobuk will receive $13,615.69, and the Village/City of Shungnak will receive $12,000.
Citizen Corps was established by the President of the United States after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 as a way to coordinate volunteer activities that make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. Some Citizen Corps Councils feature national programs such as Neighborhood Watch, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Volunteers in Police Service, and the Medical Reserve Corps. Some will include local programs involving partnerships with law enforcement agencies, hospitals, first responders, and schools.
The All-Hazards State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) serves as the Alaska State Citizen Corps Council. On September 25, 2003 the SERC established the Citizen Corps Subcommittee whose job it is to assist in the establishment and operation of local Citizen Corps Councils. Anchorage’s Citizen Corp Council has developed a plan to engage citizens in community preparedness and family safety through the nationally recognized programs of AWARE (Anchorage Watchful Alert Ready for Emergencies) Academy, AWARE Schools, Think AHEAD (Able to Handle Emergencies And Disasters), and AWARE with Care. The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Citizen Corps Council established a CERT program in 2003. Prior to implementation, the Borough encouraged self-sufficiency of its residents through public education and outreach projects. The Mat-Su Citizen Corps Council has run both the Neighborhood Watch program and a CERT for the last two years. They also have a strong partnership with the Palmer Job Corps Center to extend the reach of their programs.
The Village/City of Kobuk became a Citizen Corps Council in March 2004 after signing a Memorandum of Understanding and Resolution with the Village/City of Shungnak to work together. Both communities are looking to further develop their established Volunteer Search and Rescue teams.
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