In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack, there has been an increased focus on the importance of preparing citizens and organizations to respond appropriately to potential disasters. The Citizen Corps, an initiative of the US Department of Homeland Security, is one response to this need.

Locally, several agencies and private citizens have joined together over the past year to form a Citizens Corp Council and their intention is to network and share resources, thus ensuring that both citizens and agencies are better prepared to handle all sorts of disasters.

The photo below includes several of these members: (Standing: Tessi Spearing, Meals on Wheels; Annette Sarnicola, American Red Cross; Susan Marteney, American Red Cross; Barbara Bowen, Human Service Coalition; Rosemarie Gauthier, Schwartz Towers; Cassie Catto, RSVP; Patricia Vail Dellonte, Congressman Boehlert Assistant. Sitting: Beau Alexander, Citizen Corp; Pat DiNonno, Emergency Management; Nelsa Selover, Office for the Aging; Joyce Hackett Smith. Front: Victoria Chamberlain, Emergency Management)

The Citizen Corps share a common goal of community and family safety but they also recognize the need for getting more people in the community working together and supporting each other when those difficult times occur. And because we're now facing another kind of disaster - the possibility of a terrorist attack - we must look back to the steps we took during World War II that need to be taken again! In other words, there are things that we can all do.

We need to be more aware of what is going on around us! When traveling, learn to spot suspicious packages, luggage or mail abandoned in a crowded place - like at the airport, a shopping center or an office building. Anything you spot out of place or any suspicious activity - no matter how trivial it may seem - needs to be reported to the New York State Police at: