When you offered to volunteer in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, you demonstrated a terrific willingness to help your fellow Americans during a time of great need. That dedication to service is commendable. Since there was such an overwhelming response to my call for assistance, there will not be opportunities for all who signed up on the HHS website to be activated to go to the affected areas at this time. All, however, are needed to help strengthen the public health infrastructure and improve emergency preparedness; the needs are national in scope, but can be addressed by assisting at the local level. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how you can continue to help your nation on an ongoing basis.

One of my highest priorities is public health preparedness. One way I address this priority is through my leadership of the Medical Reserve Corps(MRC) program. This is a national system of community-based MRC units. MRC units are cadres of public health and medical professionals, and others too, who work on public health activities throughout the year, and who can readily be called upon if an emergency strikes the community. By volunteering ahead of time, MRC members are identified, credentialed, trained and prepared in advance so they can help immediately in a disaster.

Some of the first public health and medical volunteers who responded to Hurricane Katrina were MRC members in the local communities along the Gulf Coast. In Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, MRC members were prepared as the storm approached. After it hit and needs were identified, MRC members helped staff medical clinics, supported special needs shelters and provided other assistance as needed. As evacuees poured into communities throughout the nation, MRC volunteers were already prepared to help with their needs as well. And when the need for additional public health and medical assistance was identified, MRC members from around the country were asked to help outside of their local jurisdictions and to deploy to the affected areas.
I urge each of you to learn more about the organization by visiting the MRC website at www.medicalreservecorps.gov. Find the MRC unit near you and join. If there's not a nearby unit, you can assist your community and our nation by helping to establish one. If you would like more information or some help in getting started, please call (301) 443-4951 or email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thank you for your willingness to help. I hope we can count on you in the future as well. Join the Public Health Service team by becoming a part of the Medical Reserve Corps and help our nation to be better prepared!

Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S. VADM, USPHS United States Surgeon General.