First Responders (Text Only)

The Office of Homeland Security

America Responds

Freedom Corps

Citizen Corps

Remarks by Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge to Pennsylvania First Responders
	March 27, 2002 President Promotes Funding for Emergency First Responders

	March 27, 2002 President Rallies First Responders in Georgia

	February 4, 2002 President's Plan to Strengthen Homeland Security

	January 30, 2002 President Creates Citizen Corps

	January 24, 2002 President Announces Substantial Increases in Homeland Security Budget

First Responders

Supporting First Responders
Mutual Aid Agreements

Supporting First Responders Strengthening Homeland Security

America's first line of defense in any terrorist attack is the "first responder" community - local police, firefighters, and emergency medical professionals. Properly trained and equipped first responders have the greatest potential to save lives and limit casualties after a terrorist attack. Currently, our capabilities for responding to a terrorist attack vary widely across the country. Many areas have little or no capability to respond to terrorist attack using weapons of mass destruction. Even the best prepared States and localities do not possess adequate resources to respond to the full range of terrorist threats we face.

Facts About First Responders

There are over 1 million firefighters in the United States, of which approximately 750,000 are volunteers.

Local police departments have an estimated 556,000 full-time employees including about 436,000 sworn enforcement personnel.

Sheriffs' offices reported about 291,000 full-time employees, including about 186,000 sworn personnel.

There are over 155,000 nationally registered emergency medical technicians(EMT).

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Issues In Focus