Citizens Corp

In response to the events of September 11, 2001, government leaders launched Citizen Corps to encourage citizen involvement in homeland security and emergency preparedness. Created in 2002 and coordinated by FEMA, Citizen Corps unites federal, state, local, and tribal partners to strengthen community safety through training, volunteerism, and public engagement. It builds on local programs that reduce crime, and improve resilience against disasters of all types.

Citizen Corps Councils lead these efforts nationwide, promoting a strategy of community-based preparedness. Citizens are encouraged to take personal responsibility by learning emergency skills, staying informed, and volunteering to support disaster response and public safety efforts in their communities.

Citizens Fire Academy

Citizens Fire Academy is a nine-week program offered twice a year to residents, college students, and business owners in our county. Participants will experience the Fire and Emergency Services Department first-hand by learning about the organization, the services we provide, and valuable fire and life safety information that increases knowledge of what to do in emergency situations. Participants will also have the opportunity to go through simulated firefighting and EMS scenarios, and witness life and work at the fire station.

Visit the Citizens Fire Academy webpage.

Medical Reserve Corps

MRC GEM is an all-volunteer nonprofit whose mission is to augment community health operations during large-scale emergencies, aid response to pressing health care needs, and improve community emergency preparedness. They serve Georgia’s Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale Counties, a highly diverse population of well over 1.2 million people.

COVID is a perfect example of when their help was needed: MRC’s volunteers provided over 17,000 hours of support, helping with 375,000 vaccinations and tests. They have assisted with hurricane evacuation shelters, TB testing, distributing Narcan kits, and providing first aid stations at public events, among many other functions. They have over 1,300 volunteers who either have an active healthcare license or a current background check. Their work has received awards and special recognition from GNR Public Health, the Gwinnett County Commission, the Georgia State Legislature, FEMA, and the U.S. Surgeon General.

The Medical Reserve Corps accomplishes all this with NO paid staff – they are ALL volunteers, including the entire management team. They depend on grants, individual donations, and corporate concessions to enable ongoing recruitment and training, so they will have the trained volunteers needed to respond quickly when needed to disasters and other emergencies.

Visit their website: Medical Training Corps

Gwinnett County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)

The Gwinnett County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is a volunteer organization focused on supporting emergency communications and public service throughout the community. Open to all licensed amateur radio operators with an interest in serving, ARES requires no dues or fees—just a willingness to train and participate.

ARES members work in cooperation with local, state, and national emergency and volunteer organizations, including FEMA, the Red Cross, and local hospitals. Those seeking to become "Deployable" must complete basic skills training, FEMA courses (IS-100.c, IS-200.c, IS-700.b, IS-800.c), and actively participate in regular ARES events. Deployable members are eligible to assist with field communications during real emergencies and are issued a recognized photo ID by Gwinnett County Emergency Management. To get started, interested individuals can fill out an online application and begin the required training process.

Visit the Gwinnett ARES website to learn more.