Opportunities From: Hamilton County (IN)

Note - Please respond to only one Application. If you have already responded to the opportunity for EOC Volunteers Application or Comms Group Application, and are interested in responding to this opportunity, too, please contact Monica.Peterson@HamiltonCounty.in.gov. We'd love to have you join us through multiple programs, and welcome you to be involved in any area where you feel motivated to serve.

Hamilton County Emergency Management (HCEM) volunteer programs are designed to be long-term opportunities to help further HCEM's mission to provide support to plan, prepare, mitigate, respond, and recover from natural, human-caused, and accidental hazards.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is an all-volunteer program that trains to be the Help Until Help Arrives in their area. They train in disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and learn basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Upon completion of the Basic Course, CERT members are asked to attend monthly meetings and regular training to further their preparedness knowledge.

We have three Basic Courses scheduled for 2026. You can choose the class that works best for your schedule. Each session meets on Friday 7p-9:30p, Saturday 9a-5p, Sunday 9a-5p, and Monday 7p-9:30p.

All volunteer candidates must be 18 years or older and complete this volunteer application, background check, and training requirements. Once your application is reviewed, a team member will be in contact with you to schedule an interview.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Monica.Peterson@HamiltonCounty.in.gov or Bryan.Kercheval@HamiltonCounty.in.gov.

Note - Please respond to only one Application. If you have already responded to the opportunity for CERT Application or EOC Volunteers Application, and are interested in responding to this opportunity, too, please contact Monica.Peterson@HamiltonCounty.in.gov. We'd love to have you join us through multiple programs, and welcome you to be involved in any area where you feel motivated to serve.

Hamilton County Emergency Management (HCEM) volunteer programs are designed to be long-term opportunities to help further HCEM's mission to provide support to plan, prepare, mitigate, respond, and recover from natural, human-caused, and accidental hazards.

The Communications Group consists of a well-trained group of experienced communicators, technicians, engineers, and specialists in all facets of deployable equipment, enabling rapid response anywhere in the county and wherever needed in the state for mutual aid. In the face of emergencies, swift and reliable communication is paramount. We understand that when disaster strikes, traditional communication methods might falter.

While the Communications Group’s core focus is amateur radio, our expertise extends well beyond that. We have members skilled in FRS, GMRS, telecommunications, satellite systems, IT infrastructure, and more. In today’s interconnected world, emergency communications are no longer limited to amateur radio alone. To ensure resilience and adaptability during crises, we actively encourage our volunteers to explore and develop alternative communication methods. By diversifying our capabilities, we can build a stronger, more reliable network that stands ready to meet the challenges of modern emergency response.

After joining the Comms Group, volunteers are asked to attend monthly meetings and participate in special events and outreach throughout the year.

All volunteer candidates must be 18 years or older and complete this volunteer application, background check, and training requirements. Once your application is reviewed, a team member will be in contact with you to schedule an interview.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Monica.Peterson@HamiltonCounty.in.gov or Joe.March@HamiltonCounty.in.gov.

The days of Mr. Yuck are long gone, but the dangers still persist. Learn how to protect yourself and your family against poisoning.  

This training will be offered online via a Teams Meeting. Please join us from the comfort of your home as Jim Ginder shares important information with us.

Teams meeting link

We've all heard rumors about health issues, but what is true? Let's find out!

This training will be offered online via a Teams Meeting. Please join us from the comfort of your home as Jim Ginder shares important information with us.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:meeting_NDQ1M2M5MzEtYjlkNy00YjdlLTlmZjgtMGQzYmVmMjRlYzNk@thread.v2/0?context={"Tid":"66db0e9b-cfb9-4584-a4cb-dce4f443be45","Oid":"4a7672ce-d744-4fca-a9ab-8f08ffb3d754"}

Staying physically active, eating well, and staying hydrated are important parts of staying healthy. Join us as Jim helps us stay on track for our own well-being.

This training will be offered online via a Teams Meeting. Please join us from the comfort of your home as Jim Ginder shares important information with us.

Teams meeting link

The Hamilton County Emergency Management (HCEM) Communications Group (Comms Group) is seeking individuals interested in volunteering to support emergency communications during incidents, severe weather events, and planned operations.  

Reliable communication is a critical component of emergency response. The HCEM Communications Group provides auxiliary and backup radio communications when traditional systems are unavailable, overloaded, or require additional support.  

Overview

As part of the onboarding process, selected participants will take part in a structured 10-week training program. This program includes preparation for the FCC Technician Class Amateur Radio license, along with instruction on the use of communications within HCEM operations.  

The course follows the ARRL Technician curriculum to ensure participants are prepared for the licensing exam, while also incorporating HCEM-specific context, expectations, and real-world applications.   

This program is intended for individuals who are interested in actively participating in Hamilton County Emergency Management Communications.  

Program Details

Participants in this program are expected to:

Program Structure:

The course will follow the ARRL Technician manual structure, with instruction delivered weekly and reinforced through discussion and practice questions. HCEM applications will be incorporated throughout to connect material to real-world use.

Weekly Schedule:  

Week 1 — September 8

Week 2 — September 15

Week 3 — September 22

Week 4 — September 29

Week 5 — October 6

Week 6 — October 13

Week 7 — October 20

Week 8 — October 27

Week 9 — November 3

Week 10 — November 10

Program Outcome

For more information, please contact Joe.March@HamiltonCounty.in.gov.

Have you ever thought about how much the world has changed since you were in school? The number of things that kids deal with today is unimaginable. Let's learn from Jim some of the things that we can do to help our kids and grandkids stay safe in the Cyber World.

This training will be offered online via a Teams Meeting. Please join us from the comfort of your home as Jim Ginder shares important information with us.

Teams meeting link

If you feel someone is at risk for suicide, knowing what to do can save lives.

This training will be offered online via a Teams Meeting. Please join us from the comfort of your home as Jim Ginder shares important information with us.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:meeting_YjRlZDY0NTktMTgwZS00NDBiLTliZmEtYTMzYzZkY2RkZDcy@thread.v2/0?context={"Tid":"66db0e9b-cfb9-4584-a4cb-dce4f443be45","Oid":"4a7672ce-d744-4fca-a9ab-8f08ffb3d754"}

We've all been at buffets and seen food that looks like it's been there a while. What if we're in an incident and people are bringing in food? Who's keeping track of where it came from and how long it's been there?

This training will be offered online via a Teams Meeting. Please join us from the comfort of your home as Jim Ginder shares important information with us.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:meeting_Njk2MjRmZWEtMmJlZC00ZDViLWFlOWMtM2UyNTBiNzlhODli@thread.v2/0?context={"Tid":"66db0e9b-cfb9-4584-a4cb-dce4f443be45","Oid":"4a7672ce-d744-4fca-a9ab-8f08ffb3d754"}