Citizen Corps

The mission of the Columbia County Citizen Corps Council is to provide funding, guidance, and support to member organizations to make Columbia County safer, more resilient, and better prepared for disasters, emergencies, and special events. 

Citizen Corps Council is comprised of representatives from volunteer organizations with a shared goal of providing education, training, and volunteer services.  Volunteers make our community safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to threats and disasters of all kinds. Citizen Corps asks you to embrace personal responsibility, be prepared, get first aid and emergency skills training, and volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety.

Volunteer Organizations interested in joining Columbia County Citizen Corps Council may contact Columbia County Emergency Management at Emergency.Management@columbiacountyor.gov  

Search and Rescue (SAR) is vital to the Sheriff's commitment to preserving the peace in our community. Columbia County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) commanders oversee a predominantly volunteer force of SAR team members, a very professional-minded group. SAR volunteers lead the day-to-day preparations for when, not "if", the team's services are required.

SAR team members search for and aid people in distress or imminent danger. SAR team members must complete minimum yearly training to be certified. Citizens across the county need to be trained and prepared for search and rescue missions when duty may call.  Find out more at Columbia County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue.

Applications for SAR are available online at Volunteer Opportunities at Columbia County. Completed applications can be mailed or delivered to the Sheriff's Office (901 Port Ave., St. Helens, OR 97051).

Search And Rescue Coordinator
(503) 366-4611

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is a volunteer corps of trained, licensed amateur radio operators who register their qualifications and equipment with the local ARES leadership to assist in public service and emergency communications.

ARES volunteers help their communities in good times and bad during community events, disaster response, and various programs. Communication failures have been a defining part of natural and even some human-generated events, such as the September 11 attacks in New York City.

ARES provides a quality backup emergency communications system in response to the needs of the Columbia County Office of Emergency Management and the people of Columbia County.

Columbia County's ARRL Emergency Coordinator
Ed Bodenlos, W7EWB
(503) 397-9102 / eblboregon@yahoo.com

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) of Columbia County is a group of trained citizens that volunteer year-round to educate our neighbors about emergency preparedness and provide them with basic disaster survival skills for events such as earthquakes, floods, storms, fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. CERT members also provide services at special community events such as parades, runs, festivals, and more.

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own, and their actions can make a difference. CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and "doing the most good for the most people", as quickly as possible when responding to a disaster.

CERT programs exist in all 50 states, including many tribal nations and U.S. territories. Over 2,700 local CERT programs exist nationwide, and over 600,000 people have trained since CERT became a national program. Each is unique to its community and essential to building a Culture of Preparedness.

Residents of Columbia County who have a desire to develop their knowledge and skills, yet are unable to volunteer their time and talents, may take free CERT course(s) at University of Utah.  This two-part training course is available to everyone. The first part consists of the online course, the second a local, in-person course.   Once you have completed your online course, CERT of Columbia County will reach out to schedule a date/time for your second in-person course.   

If you are ready to become a volunteer of CERT of Columbia County, please visit Volunteer Opportunities at Columbia County. 

The volunteer applications for CERT are the Emergency Management Field Volunteer and the Emergency Management Office Volunteer.

CERT of Columbia County, Volunteer Coordinator

Jolene Day
(360) 430-6963 / Jolene.Day@columbiacountyor.gov 

Founded in 1867, the Grange is a national organization with a local focus, a family and community organization rooted in agriculture. The Grange is a non-profit, nonpartisan, fraternal organization that advocates for rural America, agriculture, and legislative issues like transportation, farm programs, rural economic development, public power, and rural mail deliveries.

Grange members meet, talk, work, and act together for mutual protection and advancement. Members strive to secure harmony, goodwill, and brotherhood and to make the Order perpetual. Faithful adherence to these principles ensures the mental, moral, social, and material advancement of Grange members. These efforts ensure that members learn and grow to their full potential as citizens and leaders.

Grange County Deputy
Eva Frost
(503) 816-8904 / evafrost1038@comcast.net

The American Red Cross provides free emergency preparedness education to the community, trains volunteers to respond to local and national disasters, and provides victims of disaster with shelter, food, crisis counseling, and recovery planning. The Oregon Trail Chapter of the Oregon Red Cross serves Baker, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Hood River, Gilliam, Morrow, Multnomah, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, and Yamhill counties. 

To learn more Visit American Red Cross or Sign Up Here

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a volunteer unit of pre-identified and pre-credentialed licensed or certified health and medical professionals, paramedical and paraprofessionals to provide surge capacity for health and medical response during disasters and large-scale public health emergencies. MRC members may also support local public health initiatives and non-emergency community events.

Columbia County Public Health
503-397-7247