Press Release

Date:   April 19, 2004

Mark Brostoff 855-2501

Monroe County Citizen Corps Council Partners with

Local Canine Search and Rescue Group

         The Monroe County Citizen Corps Council has partnered with the local Argus Canine Search and Rescue Team in support of the group’s efforts to prepare and train two local search and rescue dogs, Tucker and Tanner.  

         In keeping with national, state and local guidelines to increase civic awareness in safety and emergency preparedness, Mark Brostoff, Chair, Monroe County Citizen Corps Council, presented to Tucker and his handler John P. and Tanner and his handler Judi S., several rescue vests, harnesses, and safety gear to prepare the search and rescue dogs for land and/or water rescues.  Present for the presentation were members of the Argus Canine Search and Rescue Team, the American Red Cross, and the Monroe County Citizen Corps Council.

         The Monroe County Citizen Corps Council has allocated more than $5,600 towards the purchase of fire prevention material, smoke detectors, family disaster and emergency preparedness literature, and specialty training for county residents.   The Citizen Corps received a $6,000 grant from the Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies to provide education and support to Monroe County.

         The Monroe County Citizen Corps Council partners with community resources in developing programs in response to disasters, such as the tornados and floods of recent years.  Georgia Schaich of RSVP of Monroe County is part of Citizen Corps because “…we are committed to finding creative ways we can help prepare our community for all sorts of disaster related challenges big and small.”  Schaich continued, “…this partnership is an excellent example of volunteers working in our community to support each others efforts.”