The Citizen Corps program is designed to assist citizens in preparing themselves, their families and their communities for potential disasters and emergencies. 

The Southern Strafford Community Health Coalition and the Northern Strafford County Health and Safety Council have partnered to create a county wide Citizen Corps for Strafford County.  While each region maintains its own oversight in the form of a regional Citizen Corps Council, the partnership enables the two regions to more effectively meet the volunteer, training and personal preparedness needs of Strafford County residents.

The Strafford County Citizen Corps focuses on building, training and retaining a strong corps of disaster volunteers through the creation of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) (see below for more information).

Volunteers interested in either of these programs are encouraged to register at www.uwgs.org and click on the Disaster Volunteer link.  Registrants will receive information about upcoming training and volunteer opportunities

The Citizen Corps Mission

The mission of Citizen Corps is to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues and disasters of all kinds.

CERT and MRC


Strafford County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills.  CERT volunteers are able to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.  Over 150 CERT volunteers have received basic training in Strafford County since 2006.  Many of these volunteers are currently assisting with flood recovery efforts after the floods of April, 2007.*

Volunteers interested in becoming a CERT member are encouraged to register at www.uwgs.org.  Registrants will receive information about upcoming training and volunteer opportunities.

Strafford County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)

The mission of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is to improve the health and safety of communities across the country by organizing and utilizing public health, medical and other volunteers.   These volunteers prepare for and respond to emergencies and act as a support to existing public health and emergency resources.*

For more information about the National Medical Reserve Corps program, please visit the Medical Reserve Corps website.

The Strafford County Citizen Corps program is embarking on an initiative that will build, train and sustain a Medical Reserve Corps for Strafford County.  If you are a licensed medical professional or a public health professional interested in the MRC, please register at www.uwgs.org by clicking on the Disaster Response Volunteers link.

Retired professionals, who have maintained their credentials, and would be available during disaster, are especially needed.

*Information taken from citizencorps.com and medicalreservecorps.com.