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NAEMT President-Elect Jerry Johnston was one of more than 600 fire, police, medical, and state and local leaders from around the country who met in Washington, DC, in November for the inaugural meeting of the ReadyAmerica Initiative, sponsored by the National Council on Readiness and Preparedness (NCORP).
The goal of the half-day conference was to create an Advisory Council to the National Task Force on Community Preparedness and Response and foster a larger role for both the public and private sector in emergency preparedness and response.
“I don’t need to tell you how to do your jobs, you are the best of the best at what you do,” NCORP Chairman and former Virginia Governor James Gilmore told the emergency services professionals assembled at the meeting. “The goal here is to learn how we can help each other respond and protect this country when something catastrophic happens.”
“All first response is local,” Gilmore added, “which means communities must look to themselves and neighbors to identify resources and capabilities to be ready to respond to an event of mass casualty or destruction.”
NCORP’s next steps include conducting regional hearings to obtain input from community leaders and residents prior to reconvening the ReadyAmerica leaders for a summary meeting in May 2006. Also on the task list is the creation of a Web site and a public service announcement.
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