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Volunteer Opportunities

Lake County Emergency Response Team (CERT)

CERT members support emergency response to natural and man-made emergencies and disasters through education, training, response and recovery. Members may be asked to assist with planned events, traffic control, volunteer and donations management, emergency and disaster response, and other activities as requested by the Lake County Emergency Management Director. CERT is one of five federal Citizen Corps programs allowing volunteers to support their local communities during times of crisis. For more information, see the Lake County CERT information and application below:

Lake County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services / Amateur Radio Emergency Services (RACES/ARES)

Amateur radio teams are licensed by the by the FCC and serve as a back-up for public safety communications during emergencies and disasters, when traditional methods of communication are overwhelmed or fail. In addition to regular meetings and drills, they also support long distance or back country community events such as marathons and sled dog races. Our RACES/ARES volunteers have been activated to provide critical communications during wildfires and fiber-optic failures. To learn more, see the links below:

Lake County Emergency Services Chaplaincy

Emergency Services Chaplains provide emotional and spiritual support to all emergency responders and their families, as  well as victims of crime or crisis served by our responders. They can  assist with death notifications, suicide or  mental health calls, critical incidents or community disasters. Chaplains can be requested  by any responder any time their presence would be helpful.

Other Volunteer Teams Used in Emergency Response

Many other volunteer groups are organized and trained to provide community services during emergencies. Together they are called Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADs). To learn more, contact their host agencies. Here are a few that are active in Lake County:

  • Lake County Sheriff’s Rescue Squad (contact Sheriff’s Office)
  • Minnesota Responds – Medical Reserve Corps (contact Lake County Public Health)
  • American Red Cross of Northern Minnesota
  • Salvation Army of Northern Minnesota
  • Your local Volunteer Fire Department