Emergency Preparedness Volunteer Teams

The Emergency Management Office consists of one staff person. Volunteers are essential to emergency management projects and programs. In fact, many are entirely volunteer based! Within each of the committees listed below, residents willing to volunteer their time and expertise in the event of a disaster. The City also offers a number of trainings and classes to help coach volunteers.

You can help!

We are always looking for more volunteers.  Fill out this application.

Questions?

Contact 206-275-7905 or emergencymanagement@mercerisland.gov

Administration Team

The Administration Team is responsible for registering and tracking volunteers during exercises and activations as well as prepare the Volunteer Command Center and Emergency Operations Center for registration and volunteer use during a disaster.

Animal Shelter Team

The Animal Shelter Team is responsible for setting up and managing an emergency area for care of animals during disasters. They also provide medical care for injured animals utilizing veterinary clinics on Mercer Island. The team lead will identify Veterinarians and volunteers that are willing to assist in the care of the animals at shelters in case of a disaster. While animal medical training is welcome it is not required to serve on this team. 

CERT Training Team

The members of the CERT Training Team are responsible for helping with a variety of aspects regarding the City's Community Emergency Reponse Team (CERT) training. Tasks include: teaching CERT curriculum units, preparing course materials (ex. building binders, filling backpacks, collecting registrations, preparing props); and helping during the class (ex. set-up/tear-down, assisting during demonstrations and the final exercise, etc.).

Prerequisite: CERT Training Team members must be CERT graduates. (They may have graduated the program through a different jurisdiction).

Communications Team

During an emergency, traditional communications systems may fail. As a back-up, the Mercer Island Radio Operators (MIRO) will provide communications capabilities for the City. MIRO members participate in monthly net exercises and more. To learn more and to join this team visit https://miro.cmivolunteers.org

Community Mental Health Team

The City is pleased to have a strong Community Mental Health Team available to us in times of need. The Team is comprised of City staff and citizens trained in stress reduction techniques and more.  

Damage Assessment Team

The Damage Assessment Team assists Community Planning and Development (CPD) staff with windshield surveys and assessing damage. Communication and Transportation Team members will be attached to Damage Assessment Teams, relaying information back to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Disaster Medical Team

The City is pleased to have a Disaster Health and Medical Response Program comprised of volunteer medical professionals who are available during an emergency. 

Emergency Water and Community Points of Distribution Team

The Emergency Water and Community Points of Distribution Team (CPOD) is responsible for distributing goods and resources to the Mercer Island community as they are available including water from the City's emergency water well. 

Resource Team

The Resource Team will assist in obtaining Memorandums of Understanding (MOU's) with local businesses and citizens for the use of resources in the event of a disaster. They document these resources and assist the shelters and EOC in their distribution.

Senior Care Team

The Senior Care Team assists with senior care shelters. They assist senior facilities in developing a disaster plan.

Shelter Team

The City of Mercer Island has two shelter sites: the Mercer Island Community & Event Center (MICEC) and Islander Middle School. Due to the 300-person limit for sheltering at MICEC, it is imperative that Island residents be prepared to shelter in place for up to 7 days. Taking care of yourselves and neighbors is paramount, as city resources and staff are limited and more likely than not will be unavailable in a catastrophic event. The Sheltering Committee's primary responsibilities are to assist in caring for citizens at the shelter sites.

Transportation Team

The Transportation Team procures and creates agreements with other entities for resources needed to facilitate transportation after a disaster. These modes of transport will include water, air, and land. It also creates a current list of volunteers that can operate the various transportation equipment. Post-disaster, the team will assist all City teams in maneuvering around Mercer Island, assist city staff in transporting necessary personnel to the island, and assist with evacuation measures if necessary.