Gov. Jim Doyle is setting up a new statewide panel to help local citizens' groups aid police, firefighters and other emergency workers during disasters
Citizens' corps will help in crises
Gov creates panel to help police, firefighters
By David Callender
September 10, 2004
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Gov. Jim Doyle is setting up a new statewide panel to help local citizens' groups aid police, firefighters and other emergency workers during disasters.
Doyle announced the creation of a new Wisconsin State Citizens Corps Council, which will oversee efforts to set up a network of local citizens' councils, during an event at a Madison firehouse Thursday afternoon.
The local councils will help train citizens "on how to effectively supplement the state's professional police, fire, emergency management, public health and public safety capabilities" to make communities safer and prepare and respond to emergencies, Doyle said in a statement in advance of the event.
"Many Wisconsin residents drove to New York after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because they wanted to help," Doyle said. "The citizen corps represents our effort in state government to help capture the renewed spirit of volunteerism and civic duty that has grown in the wake of that terrible tragedy."
The new local councils are to help coordinate existing community-based emergency programs, including Community Emergency Response Teams and Volunteers in Public Service. The emergency response teams train volunteers in basic disaster response skills, while the Volunteers in Public Service Program helps train citizens to assist in law enforcement emergencies.
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The councils will also create a new Medical Reserve Corps for doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to provide aid during emergencies.
The statewide council is being funded with a $650,000 federal grant and is part of a nationwide effort to improve local emergency response programs.
As part of a similar effort, a report from Doyle's homeland security adviser, Major General Al Wilkening, said that since January 2002, the state has:
• Directly provided nearly 1,300 emergency management training seminars around the state for more than 23,000 emergency first responders.
• Funded the replacement of the aging National Weather Service transmission system for broadcasting emergency information to the public.
• Spent nearly $3 million to improve security at state-owned facilities, including University of Wisconsin labs that store hazardous substances, as well as public facilities such as Camp Randall, the Kohl Center, State Fair Park, the Marquette Interchange and the Hoan Bridge.
• Set up a statewide health professionals registry that can be used to assist local physicians and nurses in the event of a large-scale emergency.
E-mail: dcallender@madison.com
Published: 10:17 AM 9/10/04
