About BRACE

BRACE was established by the member organizations of the Escambia Long-Term Recovery Committee in 2006 to address lessons observed from Hurricane Ivan.  Since its founding 17 years ago, BRACE has provided many programing and services with an anti-poverty focus, recognizing that low income and vulnerable residents are disproportionately impacted by disasters of all kinds.  As a result of the organization's efforts, BRACE has been entrusted with serving as the Citizen Corps Council and CERT Coordinator by Escambia County, the City of Pensacola, and Town of Century.  BRACE has performed those roles successfully with the help of its valuable volunteers.

BRACE has been designated the "Lead Organization" for Emergency Support Function 15 (Volunteers & Donations) for Escambia County through a Memorandum of Understanding with Emergency Management. BRACE also serves as the local Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD), and in turn Member of the Florida VOAD.

Furthermore, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recognized BRACE and its partners, more frequently than any other locally-based coalition of organizations in the country through its "Individual and Community Preparedness Awards" program. Those awards include the "John D. Solomon Preparedness Award", the highest award presented by FEMA through the program. 

As the Citizen Corps and Community Emergency Response Team Coordinator for three governmental jurisdictions, BRACE works with over 250 partner organizations and many volunteers to make its community the most disaster resilient in America. Those collaborative efforts and nearly 80,000 hours of volunteer service have restored over 100 homes to a safe, sanitary and functional condition after Hurricane Sally.

In addition, for the last two years, the City of Pensacola has entrusted the coordination of its new Fire Corps program to BRACE.  Volunteer Florida announced the awarding of $10,000 to the Escambia County CERT program, and $10,000 to the City of Pensacola Fire Corps programs which are both managed by BRACE in September 2023.  

Since its founding in 2006, BRACE has become the single most recognized organization in the United States by FEMA through the Individual and Community Preparedness Awards program. The efforts of BRACE have been recognized with FEMA’s John D. Solomon Preparedness Award, the organizations highest recognition for work to prepare the nation. Other categories of recognition have included:

- Awareness to Action
- Promising Partnerships
- Outstanding Achievements in Youth Preparedness
- Preparing the Public
- Outstanding Citizen Corps
- Preparing the Whole Community

What does BRACE do?