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The role of our office is to effectively coordinate emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery efforts for the citizens of Adams County. To accomplish this there are many volunteer organizations that we partner with. We encourage all members of our community to get involved!
Adams County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
The Adams County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who volunteer their talents to back up communications capabilities to emergency responders and local governments when disaster strikes. Some qualifications are needed; mainly possession of an Amateur Radio license, but contacting ARES for additional information.
American Red Cross Mile High Chapter (ARC)
The American Red Cross (ARC) is a non-government agency that helps individuals and communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; teaching lifesaving skills to tens of thousands of individuals; providing transportation for the critically ill and elderly and; offering support to U.S. service members and their families in Colorado. The ARC has numerous volunteer opportunities and they are one of our first go-to organizations for providing assistance in communities affected by disaster.
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)
AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women age 18–24. Members are assigned to one of five campuses, located in Denver, Colorado; Sacramento, California; Perry Point, Maryland; Vicksburg, Mississippi; and Vinton, Iowa. The mission of AmeriCorps NCCC is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. In partnership with non-profits—secular and faith based, local municipalities, state governments, federal government, national or state parks, Indian Tribes and schools, members complete service projects throughout the region they are assigned.
Colorado Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (COVOAD)
COVOAD works to support its membership by facilitating planning and coordination efforts among response and recovery volunteer agencies during disasters. By working together before disasters strike, COVOAD member agencies are better positioned to provide more effective services and minimize duplication.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their community and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and team organization. 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 also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. Adams County OEM doesn’t currently have its own CERT Program but we do support the local Brighton and Commerce City CERT Teams who are a well organized and dedicated group of volunteers. To learn more about Brighton CERT please visit www.brightoncert.org or call 303.655.6078. To learn more about Commerce City CERT please contact Kirk Dominic at or call 303.289.3792.
Citizen Corps
Citizen Corps creates opportunities for individuals to volunteer to help their communities prepare for and respond to emergencies by bringing together local leaders, citizen volunteers and the network of first responder organizations, such as fire departments, police departments and emergency medical personnel. 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. To connect with the Denver Metro Regional Citizen Corps Council please contact our office at 720.523.6600.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Corps
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Corps program is a coordinated partnership between FEMA and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to establish a unit of 1,600 service corps members within AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) solely devoted to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities, providing support in areas ranging from working directly with disaster survivors to supporting disaster recovering centers to sharing valuable disaster preparedness and mitigation information with the public. The FEMA Corps members serve for a 10 month term with an option to extend for a second year. The program will prepare thousands of young people for careers in emergency management and related fields.
Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
The mission of the Adams County LEPC is to enhance and create plans addressing the response to hazardous materials incidents, increase compliance with hazardous materials reporting requirements and continue to offer access to information on hazardous materials for the benefit of county residents, businesses, and industries. We welcome any residents, community groups, businesses and industry representatives interested in getting involved with LEPC please contact Richard Atkins, LEPC Coordinator at or call 720.523.6602.
Mile High United Way
The Mile High United Way works with hundreds of local nonprofit partners, government agencies, policy-makers and businesses to assist communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.
National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Spotters and
the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS)
The NWS trains Weather Spotters to report hail size, rainfall rates, the extent of flooding, funnel clouds and tornadoes, snowfall, peak wind gusts and wind damage, etc. Spotters provide credible on the ground observations that help the NWS put out accurate warnings and forecasts to news media and the public. A trained spotter can help their business and their community by providing the early notification of dangerous weather situations. CoCoRaHS is a national nonprofit, community based network of volunteers working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail, and snow). Your measurements get passed on to the NWS and are used for natural resource, education and research applications. To learn more about NWS Weather Spotting please contact our office at 720.523.6600. To join CoCoRaHS please click on the website link above.
RAMPART Search & Rescue
Rampart Search and Rescue is a volunteer organization that works under the supervision of the Adams County Sheriff’s Department. Their mission is to provide search and rescue assistance, free of charge, to local, county, state and federal agencies for; missing persons, rescue stranded motorists during adverse weather, and any assistance for a natural or man-made disaster related emergencies.
Rocky Mountain Medical Reserve Corps of Colorado (RMMRCCO)
The goal of the RMMRCCO is to have a strong and willing volunteer force capable of supplementing the public health and emergency preparedness needs of the community. RMMRCCO primarily serves Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties (although they will assist whomever, wherever). The RMMRCCO is constantly looking for both medical and non-medical volunteers alike. Medical volunteers help in clinical situations and non-medical volunteers carry out the bulk of other activities.
Future Emergency Managers
Emergency Management is a career-field with a wide variety of opportunities in public service at all levels of government, in nonprofits, education, healthcare, natural sciences, and private business. Unlike other emergency professions that have formal academies and licensing requirements, there is no defined pathway for becoming an emergency manager. But to be competitive, you’ll need a combination of education, specific training and experience. Here are some great articles that provide advice and guidance as to where you should start if you are interested in emergency management as a career. If you have any questions or would like to talk to someone personally, please feel free to contact our office at 720.523.6600.
