Volunteer Programs

Clark County Citizen Corps

The mission of Citizen Corps is to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds through:

• Preparing the public for local risks with targeted outreach
• Engaging voluntary organizations to help augment resources for public safety, preparedness and response capabilities
• Integrating the whole community and integrating nontraditional resources to ensure disaster preparedness

The programs included in the Clark County Citizen Corps are as follows:

• Medical Reserve Corp (MRC)
• Vancouver Fire Corps
• Vancouver Neighbors on Watch (NOW)
• Clark County Sheriff's Office Auxiliary
• Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) (National Site)
  To find out more about CERT in Clark County, please visit our website or email:
  • Email CRESA Volunteers to be added to the waiting list.
  • CRESA currently does not directly deploy Community Emergency Response Teams. CERT members typically self-activate in a disaster and report directly to their local CERT coordinators.

Emergency Worker Forms:

NEW Emergency Worker Requirements: CRESA has recently switched Databases which houses and produces Emergency Worker number and cards. 

Applications must be filled out using the application below:

Volunteer Emergency Worker Application Form

Other Volunteer Connection Options

• Volunteer Connections
• American Red Cross (ARC)

Search & Rescue

When a search and rescue call comes into the 911 center, the Sheriff's Office may request activation of search and rescue (SAR) resources. The CRESA Duty Officer notifies the appropriate teams depending on the type of call. There are ground searchers, air-scenting and tracking/trailing dog teams, dive teams and Civil Air Patrol. SAR team members are trained to locate missing persons and to search for evidence in criminal investigations. Dive teams are also called out on possible drowning or other underwater emergency calls.

SAR volunteers must belong to a recognized SAR team. Each team is responsible for the training and qualifications of its members and is under the direction of the Clark County Sheriff's Office. SAR teams gather monthly in the Search and Rescue Council to review any incidents and to share information on training exercises.

SAR Team active throughout Washington State may be found at State of Washington Search and Rescue Council.

Amateur Radio

During a disaster, normal communications may be interrupted or overloaded. The ARES/RACES amateur radio volunteers step up to bridge the communication gap whenever their services are requested. They may be stationed at critical locations, such as a hospital, fire station, or mass care shelter. They relay important information between disaster response agencies or the Emergency Operations Center.

Volunteers are required to pass an FCC test in order to obtain an amateur radio license. Active members meet monthly to share technical tips and discuss drills and exercises. Our local amateur radio group can be found on the CCARES website.

Trauma Intervention Program (TIP)

TIP is a national voluntary nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that those who are emotionally traumatized in emergency situations receive the assistance they need. To accomplish that goal, well-trained citizen volunteers are called to emergency scenes to assist family members, witnesses, and other bystanders who the emergency system often must leave behind. To learn more about the TIP program, please visit the TIP Northwest website for more information.