Volunteer and Get Involved
NCEM welcomes committed volunteers and student interns. Volunteers are the heart of our organization and we are excited that you are interested in becoming a part of our team! Your time and skills will enhance our community's preparedness, communication, response, and recovery capabilities.
If you have questions about opportunities or the application process, please call our NCEM Volunteer Coordinator at 904-548-0953.
Volunteer and Intern Application Requirements: ​
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Must be at least 16 years of age and able to work independently
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Must pass a background check and drug screening
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Must attend "New Volunteer Orientation"
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Specific training may be required, depending on the volunteer role and work location
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Must submit the completed, notarized NCSO Volunteer Application to:
Emergency Operations Center
77150 Citizens Cir, Yulee FL 32097
Free Online Training Recommended for Nassau EM Volunteers
If you are interested in one of our in-person classes or a presentation for your group - Click Training & Outreach.
The Nassau County FL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (NCARES) is a group of more than 100 licensed amateur radio operators who reside and/or work in the area. Members share their technical expertise to maintain regional equipment and often offer Ham Radio training and FCC license testing.
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Many NCARES "hams" have volunteered to serve as real-time weather spotters and report severe weather impacts to our County Watch Office. Others have taken additional training to become certified Auxiliary Communications officers (AUXCOMMs) and work shifts in the EOC Watch Office, support community events, and provide uninterrupted communications between the EOC and the field (e.g., emergency shelters and distribution sites) during disaster response and recovery.
Local Opportunities
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is a nationally supported, locally implemented initiative that teaches people how to better prepare themselves for hazards that may affect their communities. CERT trains the public in basic disaster response skills such as team organization, disaster medical operations, fire safety, and light search and rescue.
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CERT-trained volunteers are often the first to respond to disasters in their neighborhoods and provide the help needed until professional help arrives. With their understanding of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), CERT-trained volunteers can also be integrated into local emergency management missions, manning call centers, providing mass care support at shelters, distributing emergency supplies, and conducting damage assessments.
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The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of volunteers, organized locally to strengthen community health, emergency response, and disaster resiliency. MRC units engage public health specialists, doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, veterinarians, and non-medical community members willing to donate their time and expertise, then utilize them to respond to emergencies, staff alternate care facilities, provide first-responder rehab, and support ongoing emergency preparedness and public health initiatives.
Nassau Co. MRC volunteers often provide first aid support at local events, augment DOH staff at back-to-school or vaccination clinics, and work closely with NCEM and Hands4Hearts to provide free Hands-Only CPR/AED, Stop-the-Bleed, Narcan Use, and other life-saving skills classes.
The Nassau County Youth Emergency Team is a unique cooperative project between the UF-IFAS Nassau County Extension 4-H Program and Emergency Management. This eight-week educational program is designed to promote youth leadership and provide the skills necessary to respond to emergency situations. The curriculum expands on the CERT personal preparedness, fire suppression, damage assessment, search and rescue, and medical first aid modules, adding topics such as poison control, active assailant and terrorism awareness, suicide prevention, and animal handling, assessments, and sheltering operations, as well as group projects. Participating youth from age 11 to 17 can also earn community service credits.
NCEM is the home of a nationally recognized Medical Reserve Corps unit, the Nassau Co. MRC, unit #2678.
When not involved in public health emergencies, Nassau Co. MRC volunteers teach Hands-Only CPR/AED skills and other classes free of charge as part of their Life Savers Initiative and Hands4Hearts.org