Volunteer Groups
There are many ways that citizens can volunteer to help the Orange County community become more prepared to meet future disasters. Consider giving your time to one of these groups.
Community Emergency Response Team (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 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.
CERT members are taught basic organizational skills that they can use to help themselves, their loved ones, and their neighbors until help arrives.
The Orange County CERT program sponsors training for our community. 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.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross of Orange County trains more than 35,000 people each year in disaster preparedness.
They provide disaster response; health, safety and aquatics classes; HIV/STD education; the Lifeline program for independent seniors; youth service programs as well as educational and informational presentations to thousands of residents and business each year.
From earthquake preparedness to information about preparing your pets for disasters, Red Cross guides can help you and your family "Be Red Cross Ready."
Orange County Medical Reserve Corps
The mission of the Orange County Medical Reserve Corps is to enhance the emergency preparedness and response capabilities of Orange County through advanced registration, organization and training of volunteer health professionals who can be readily mobilized to respond to a major emergency or disaster, whether man-made or natural, when the existing health infrastructure is overwhelmed and unable to provide needed medical care in a timely manner.
The national Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program coordinates the skills of practicing and retired physicians, nurses and other health professionals as well as other citizens interested in health issues, who are eager to volunteer to address their community's ongoing public health needs and to help their community during large-scale emergency situations.
MRC volunteers may deliver necessary public health services during a crisis, assist emergency response teams with patients, and provide care directly to those with less serious injuries and other health-related issues. MRC volunteers may also serve a vital role by assisting their communities with ongoing public health needs (e.g., immunizations, screenings, health and nutrition education, and volunteering in community health centers and local hospitals). Volunteer for the Orange County Medical Reserve Corps here...
