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Volunteer OpportunitiesESCA is a small agency with only five full-time employees. During a disaster, ESCA and the member Cities will rely heavily on the trained Volunteers to help carry out key roles and responsibilities. Volunteer With ESCACERT LeadersESCA's CERT Leader program was established in 2001 with a group of CERT graduates who wanted to increase their skills and abilities beyond what was taught in the basic CERT course. They also wanted to be able to take a more active role in response and recovery during an emergency or disaster. Starting with a core group of about 20 members, the CERT Leader program has grown to more than 50. Additional members are added with each new CERT class. CERT graduates from other programs are also welcome to join the CERT Leaders and participate in local activities. CERT Leaders meet on the second Wednesday of each month to continue training. Meeting times are 7:00 - 9:00 pm, and meetings are usually held at the ESCA offices. Refresher courses are offered as well as more advanced training in areas. Some of the advanced courses include:
During an activation, CERT Leaders will help in the Emergency Operations Centers; assist in organizing other CERT volunteers and emergent volunteers; conduct damage assessments and search-and-rescue operations; provide emergency first aid; and participate in sandbagging operations. During regional exercises and training opportunities, CERT Leaders may work alongside first responders in limited capacities. In addition, many of the CERT Leaders have obtained amateur band radio ("ham") licenses. These Leaders will be able to help with communications both from the field and as back-up to the ESCA RACES organization. CERT Leaders have assisted neighboring jurisdictions with sandbagging operations. They have also activated to help the Snohomish County Red Cross chapter with damage assessments after floods and have been recruited by the local Red Cross to respond to the hurricanes in both 2004 and 2005. The CERT Leaders, as a group, put in several thousand hours of volunteer and training time each year. If you are a CERT graduate and are interested in learning more about this program, please email Jamie or call (425) 776-3722. Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)RACES volunteers are employed in emergency/disaster situations where normal governmental communications systems have sustained damage or when additional communications are required or desired. Situations that RACES can be used include: natural disasters, technological disasters, civil disorder, nuclear/chemical incidents, acts of terrorism or enemy attack. ESCA's RACES organization meets at the ESCA offices on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm. For more information,
email Dan or call ESCA at (425) 776-3722. Other Volunteer OpportunitiesRed CrossNational Red Cross Organization King and Kitsap County Chapter Medical Reserve CorpsThe mission of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is to improve the health and safety of communities across the country by organizing and utilizing public health, medical and other volunteers. To learn more about the local Medical Reserve Corps, go to the national website or see the local MRC website. |
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