VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Welcome to the NEW Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Volunteer program page! 

Are you an agency looking for volunteers for your emergency preparedness event?  Contact Susan Henry, Volunteer Coordinator at (614) 794-0213 or sehenry@franklincountyohio.gov as far in advance as possible.  

Are you a representative of a volunteer agency interested in supporting the FCEM&HS mission?  Contact Susan Henry, Volunteer Coordinator at (614) 794-0213 or sehenry@franklincountyohio.gov to learn about working with the Franklin County Emergency Operations Center to support emergency response.

Are you an individual interested in volunteering with Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security?  Browse our opportunities below or email sehenry@franklincountyohio.gov.

Siren Watch-monitor the Franklin County Outdoor Warning System

Posted 8/31/09

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity that only takes five minutes a week AND that you can do from work or home?  Siren Watchers monitor and report on one assigned outdoor warning siren every Wednesday after the noon test (weather permitting).  Reports are just a short form completed online.  FCEM&HS staff monitors reports and investigates any potential system errors.

Click the position titles to learn more about volunteer opportunities. 

To apply, contact Susan Henry, Volunteer Coordinator at sehenry@franklincountyohio.gov, or where provided, register online.

Telephone Communication Quality Controller

Posted 8/19/09 - open until filled

Two volunteers will work together to test phones in three building areas:  Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Joint Information Center (JIC) and Assessment Center. 

Regular tests of phones only used during emergencies ensure that FCEM&HS will have full communications capabilities during an incident.  Our partner agencies rely on FCEM&HS to provide functional phones to be used during response.

Somali Translator

Posted 8/11/09 - open continuously

Translates agency publications from English into Somali.  Reviews translations for accuracy.  Possibly provide voice recordings or translate at meetings if interested.

Receptionist

Posted 7/22/09 - open until filled

Several volunteers are needed to perform receptionist duties: answer multi-line phone system; transfer calls to staff or voicemail; greet visitors and allow routine building access.  Volunteer receptionists ensure customers receive prompt service when staff is otherwise engaged.

Exercise Actor

Posted 7/20/09 - open indefinitely

Exercise Actors help responders train for real events, improving protection of the community.  Volunteers add a human component that can’t be simulated any other way, and add realism to exercises.  Exercise participation is a fun way to meet people and see firsthand how police, fire, EMS, emergency management agencies and public health agencies, among others, plan to protect the community during an emergency. 

Volunteer Administrative Support Team (VAST) Class

September 16, 2009 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) processes requests for resources during an emergency.  Representatives from various government and not for profit agencies report to the EOC to liaise between the incident scene, agencies, the EOC and the general public. This calls will prepare you to work in the EOC.  Volunteer duties include, but are not limited to:  answering phones, making phone calls to gather information, collecting and distributing forms, updating information boards and databases, verifying identity of those entering the EOC and keeping time logs and setting up tables, phones and other equipment. Age 18 and up.

POINT OF CONTACT

Susan Henry, Volunteer Coordinator, Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security at (614) 794-0213 or sehenry@franklincountyohio.gov.

REGISTRATION

Register online or contact Susan Henry.  You will receive an email confirmation after August 17th.  Click here for online registration form.

ONLINE CLASSES

The FEMA Emergency Management Institute offers online courses in emergency preparedness.  A full list of classes is available at http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp.

The IS-22 "Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness" course helps citizens learn how to protect themselves and their families against all hazards. Click here to view description or take this course.

The IS-394.a "Protecting Your Home or Small Business From Disaster" course explains how protective measures can reduce or eliminate long-term risks to your home and personal property from all hazards.  Click here to view description or take this course.

The IS-244 "Developing and Managing Volunteers" course is for emergency managers and related professionals working with all types of volunteers and coordinating with voluntary agencies.  Click here to view description or take this course.

Central Ohio Amateur Radio Emergency Services (COARES) www.coares.org

Central Ohio Mounted Search Unit (COMSU) www.comsusearch.org

Central Ohio Radio Club (CORC) www.corc.us

Columbus Gives Back www.columbusgivesback.org

FIRSTLINK www.firstlink.org

Franklin County Community Emergency Response Team (FC CERT) www.fccert.org

Medical Reserve Corps www.volunteermrc.org

Ohio Citizen Corps www.serveohio.org

Salvation Army www.salvationarmycolumbus.org/volunteer/index.html

Somali Community Access Network (SomaliCAN) www.somalican.org

Want to add a link to your agency?  Email sehenry@franklincountyohio.gov.

Updated 10/26/09



Emergency Action Steps

Families and Individuals [PDF]
Schools [PDF]
Businesses [PDF]

Grant Fund Application Instructions [PDF]