Emergency Services

Volunteer Opportunities
CERT - MRC - Citizen Corps - EMST

 CERT

 Following a disaster, community members may be on their own for a period of time because of the size of the area affected, lost communications, and impassable roads.

The Newaygo County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program supports local response capability by training volunteers to organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers at the disaster site, to provide immediate assistance to victims, and to collect disaster intelligence to support responders’ efforts when they arrive.

In the classroom, participants learn about the hazards they face and ways to prepare for them. CERT members are taught basic organizational skills that they can use to help themselves, their loved ones, and their neighbors until help arrives.

Newaygo County Emergency Services sponsor CERT training in Newaygo County. Training consists of 20 hours of instruction on topics that include disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster psychology. Upon completion of the training, participants are encouraged to continue their involvement by participating in training activities and volunteering for projects that support their community’s disaster preparedness efforts.

Newaygo County CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. The CERT program is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective.

For additional information on Newaygo County CERT Program or to sign up for CERT training contact the Newaygo County CERT Program Coordinator, Hop Hopkins at (231) 689-7354.

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MRC

 The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was founded after President Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address, in which he asked all Americans to volunteer in support of their country.   The overarching goal of the MRC is to improve health literacy, and in support of this, he wants us to work towards increasing disease prevention, eliminating health disparities, and improving public health preparedness.

 The Newaygo County MRC is in its’ beginning stages. Newaygo County MRC units will be comprised of community-based volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year. Newaygo County MRC volunteers supplement existing emergency and public health resources.

 The mission of the Newaygo County Medical Reserve Corps is to establishing teams of local medical, mental health, public health, and support volunteers to contribute their skills and expertise by providing rapid, coordinated, and specific response to threats of terrorism, public health emergencies, and other community needs.

Newaygo County Emergency Services is looking for medical and public health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, and epidemiologists to volunteer to become part of the Newaygo County MRC. Other community members—interpreters, chaplains, office workers, legal advisors, and others—can also fill key support positions.

 For additional information about Newaygo County MRC Program or to volunteer your expertise contact the Newaygo County MRC Program Coordinator, Hop Hopkins at (231) 689. 7354.

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Citizen Corps

The CERT and MRC programs are partner programs with Citizen Corps, a national network of volunteers dedicated to ensuring hometown security. Citizen Corps, along with AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Peace Corps are part of the President's USA Freedom Corps, which promotes volunteerism and service nationwide.

By participating in Citizen Corps programs, you can make your home, your neighborhood and your community a safer place to live. To find out more, please visit the Citizen Corps Web site, www.citizencorps.gov or visit www.fema.gov.

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West Central Michigan Emergency Management Support Team (EMST)

The West Central Michigan Emergency Management Support Team (E.M.S.T.) is composed of the department staff and volunteer personnel from Newaygo and Osceola Counties. EMST is focused on developing volunteer emergency personnel to  support local   emergency / disaster response.  The E.M.S.T. is established as a Type IV N.I.M.S. E.O.C. Support team with members trained and designated for the following critical duties:

• Support Emergency Operations Center and Incident Management responses as EOC Support Staff

• Contribute to the capability of the local emergency plan through planning and project implementation

• Participate in local emergency preparedness exercises, and capability activities

• Support the emergency management department as auxiliary operational personnel

EOC Support Team Task Force (4-6 personnel)

1 Supervisor and 3-5 personnel to act as ‘assistant’ support officers for EOC Management, Direction & Control, Warning, Communications, Damage Assessment, Public Information, or Resource Management)

EOC Support Team Strike Team (4-6 personnel)

1 Supervisor and 3-5 personnel to be dedicated to any ONE emergency plan function (Direction & Control, Warning, Communications, Damage Assessment, Public Information, Resource Management)

Over the last year, the team has supported emergency responses, participated disaster exercises, trained extensively in emergency operations, and have conducted an extensive re-drafting of local emergency plans. 

For their efforts in these activities as well as their success in supporting EOC Damage Assessment Operations during the June 2008 FEMA DR1777 Storm, WCM-EMST was recognized as the Michigan Emergency Management Association (MEMA) Volunteer of the Year.

For additional information about the West Central Michigan Emergency Management Support Team or to volunteer your expertise contact the Newaygo County Emergency Services Director, Abby Marek at (231) 689. 7354.

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