"Whole Community" is a means by which residents, emergency management practitioners, organizational and community leaders, and government officials can collectively understand and assess the needs of their respective communities and determine the best ways to organize and strengthen their assets, capacities, and interests. "Whole Community" involves key partners from each of the community sectors in order to reach and involve every person within the community in mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, where key partners may include emergency response organizations, government officials, businesses, nonprofit organizations, faith-based and community groups, volunteer organizations, schools, media, and access and functional needs groups.

A Whole Community Coalition is the vehicle that enables key partners to collaborate, cooperate, communicate, and coordinate efforts.

Whole Community Preparedness Coalitions (WCPC) are synonymous in purpose and function as COAD and Citizen Corps. This concept involves all the partners from all the various community sectors and provides a forum where they can work together.

WCPC Vision: Communities that are safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to all hazards.

WCPC Purpose: To provide a whole community forum where partners can meet and work together, breaking down siloes and building partnerships so when disaster strikes we can all work together.

WCPC  Mission: To engage the whole community in emergency planning and preparedness, and to empower every individual through education, training, and volunteer service opportunities. WCPC promotes a self-sustaining culture of emergency preparedness for all individuals and communities; and unites the emergency management community to coordinate efforts necessary to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies, disasters, and catastrophic events.

WCPC Activities: Identifying partner needs and capabilities, sharing emergency plans, coordinating events and projects, and sharing information with partner constituents.

General WCPC Program Policy