DOCUMENT · GET INVOLVED & VOLUNTEER
Get involved & volunteer.
Marion County, Illinois needs volunteers. Whether you have an hour a month or want to commit to becoming a credentialed responder, there's a role that fits. Volunteers train, exercise, and respond alongside MCEMA staff — supporting EOC operations, severe weather, mass care, communications, and recovery.
PATHS 6
SCOPE Marion Co + Region
CONTACT crose@marionco.illinois.gov
SECTION I · MCEMA-OHS MEMBERSHIP
Department members.
10-grade structure · 3 operational Divisions · EOC Operations group
The MCEMA fields a 10-grade department structure. New volunteers enter as Probationary Members and progress through Emergency Management Member, EM Specialist I, EM Specialist II / FTO, Sr. Specialist (SGT), Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Director, and Director. Field assignments are organized into three operational Divisions (T.I.M., Rescue Operations, Drone Response Team) plus the EOC Operations group and a Finance Team. Personnel IDs use the 90-XX series.
MCEMA · Department member
Probationary Member (Entry)
Entry-level rank. Train under an assigned mentor (typically an EM Specialist II / FTO). Complete department orientation, NIMS / ICS prerequisites, and assigned Division training before promotion to EM Member.
MCEMA · Division assignment
Division 1 — Traffic Incident Management
Scene management, traffic control, and motorist support during traffic incidents on US-50, IL-37, county roads, and the I-57 corridor. Members marked
** hold primary EOC seats and back-fill T.I.M. on a PRN basis.MCEMA · Division assignment
Division 2 — Rescue Operations
Rescue Task Force (RTF), Search and Rescue (SAR), and Water Rescue Team (WRT). Specialized training and gear required.
MCEMA · Division assignment
Division 3 — Drone Response Team
UAV-based aerial situational awareness, thermal imaging, search support, and overwatch during emergencies. FAA Part 107 certification expected for pilots.
MCEMA · Specialty assignment
EOC Operations Group
Manning the Emergency Operations Center during activations — situational awareness, EOC reporting, call logs, social-media updates, and PIO support.
MCEMA · Specialty assignment
Finance Team — Budgets / Grants / Donations
Department-side budget tracking, grant application and reporting, donation receipt and accounting. Strong candidates have accounting, contracts, or federal-grants experience.
Prerequisites · MCEMA Member
What you need to be eligible
- Marion County resident (or live within 30 miles)
- 18 years or older (16+ for Junior Cadet program if available)
- Valid Illinois driver's license
- Pass background check (felonies disqualifying; case-by-case for misdemeanors)
- Complete FEMA IS-100, IS-700 within first 90 days
- Attend monthly drills (typically 1 evening / month)
- Available for emergency callout when possible
SECTION II · CERT
Community response team.
~20-hr FEMA program · IS-317.A prerequisite
FEMA · National program
CERT — Marion County (in development)
FEMA-sponsored ~20-hour course teaching neighbors to help neighbors during disasters: fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, terrorism preparedness. Once trained, deploy as a team after disasters when professional responders are overwhelmed.
Status: Marion County does not currently host a registered CERT program. Standing one up is a natural EMA committee initiative — neighboring Williamson County operates an active model worth adapting. Local interest contact: MCEMA via crose@marionco.illinois.gov.
Online prerequisite: FEMA IS-317.A — Introduction to CERT (free, ~2 hr) is required before in-person Basic CERT.
SECTION III · NWS SKYWARN
Storm spotters.
Free ~2-hr annual training · Zone ILZ070
NWS LSX (St. Louis) · Volunteer spotter
Skywarn Storm Spotter
Trained volunteers report severe weather (hail, tornadoes, damaging wind, flooding) to the National Weather Service. Reports feed directly into NWS warning decisions for Marion County (zone ILZ070). Free ~2-hour training annually.
2026 NWS LSX Spotter Training schedule: see the 2026 schedule StoryMap for in-person and webinar dates across the LSX County Warning Area.
SECTION IV · ARES / RACES
Amateur radio emergency service.
FCC Tech license required · backup comms
ARRL Illinois Section · Licensed amateur radio
Marion County (IL) ARES / RACES — via ARRL IL Section
Licensed amateur radio operators provide backup communications when commercial / public-safety systems fail. Operate from the EOC, provide field comms during exercises and emergencies. Requires FCC Technician class license (basic test, ~$15).
Coordination: Marion County, Illinois does not currently maintain a standalone county ARES website. ARES / RACES coordination flows through the ARRL Illinois Section. (Note: the "Marion County ARES" site you may find online is Marion County, Indiana — a separate group.) Marion County EMA welcomes licensed hams interested in standing up local activity; contact Cody Rose to express interest.
SECTION V · MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS
Public health emergencies.
HHS / IDPH · Marion County Health Department
HHS / IDPH · Marion County Health Department
Marion County MRC — via MCHD
Medical and public health professionals (active and retired) and non-medical community members supporting public health emergencies. Operates POD (Point of Dispensing) sites, mass vaccination clinics, shelters, and surveillance. Marion County's MRC is administered by the Marion County Health Department — register through MCHD's volunteer page below. Skills welcomed include nursing, IT, teaching, veterinary, dental, and general logistics; volunteers are not asked to take hazardous roles.
MRC Coordinator: Bill Thouvenin (Emergency Preparedness, MCHD) — bthouvenin@marionco.illinois.gov, after-hours (618) 267-2996.
SECTION VI · PARTNER PROGRAMS
Six additional partner paths.
Red Cross · Salvation Army · Volunteer FFs · Police aux · Animal welfare · Faith-based
American Red Cross · Disaster volunteer
Red Cross — Southern IL Chapter
Sheltering, mass care, casework, disaster mental health, damage assessment. Marion County is covered by the Red Cross Southern Illinois chapter. Training provided.
Salvation Army · Disaster service
Salvation Army — Centralia Corps
Mass feeding, emotional and spiritual care, warming/cooling center support, donations management. Centralia Corps at 216 S Commercial St covers Marion County.
Volunteer fire protection districts
Volunteer Firefighter
Six volunteer fire protection districts in Marion County (Centralia Twp, Sandoval, Patoka, Odin, Kinmundy-Alma, Iuka). Most are recruiting. Training paid for; gear provided.
Salem & Centralia · Auxiliary programs
Police Auxiliary / Reserve Officer
Some Marion County PDs run reserve / auxiliary programs for community members supporting traffic control, parade duty, and special events.
Marion Co Animal Control
Animal Welfare Volunteer
Support Animal Control during emergencies (mass evacuation, sheltering pets/livestock during floods, fires). Coordinated by Whitney Purcell + Ken Ferguson.
Faith-based · Community partner
Faith-Based Disaster Response
Local churches and faith communities open shelters, deliver meals, and provide casework. Coordinated through ESF-6 partners. Many denominations have their own response programs (UMCOR, LDS Charities, etc.).
SECTION VII · HOW TO APPLY
MCEMA membership process.
8 steps · ~3 weeks to probationary appointment
APPLICATION SEQUENCE
- Email both EMA Coordinator Andrew Strong at astrong@marionco.illinois.gov and Board Liaison Cody Rose at crose@marionco.illinois.gov. Include your name, contact info, occupation, what role interests you most, and any prior emergency response experience or training. Open a pre-addressed email →
- Initial conversation with a department officer to discuss expectations, time commitment, and assignment options. Usually 30–45 minutes.
- Application packet — download the Marion County volunteer application (.docx), complete it, and return it to Cody Rose. Includes background check authorization.
- Background check through MCSO. Felonies are disqualifying; misdemeanors are reviewed case-by-case. ~2–3 weeks.
- Probationary appointment as a Probationary Member with assigned ID number (1640-series). Issued initial gear and credentials.
- Onboarding training — FEMA IS-100, IS-700, MCEMA orientation, and Division-specific training. Complete within 90 days.
- Probation review at 6–12 months. On successful completion, promote to EM Member (rank 2).
- Continued progression — EM Specialist I → EM Specialist II / FTO → Sr. Specialist (SGT) → Lieutenant. Advancement based on performance, training completion, and openings.
SECTION VIII · FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common questions.
Pay · time · experience · employer · age · multi-program · medical
Do I get paid?
MCEMA member roles are volunteer — no salary. Some grants reimburse training costs and mileage. Volunteer fire and police auxiliary roles vary by department; some pay per-call stipends.
What's the time commitment?
Typical MCEMA member: ~4–8 hours/month for drills, plus emergency callouts (which are sporadic — multi-day during major incidents, otherwise rare). EOC Operations group can have higher commitment during weather events. Probationary period requires completing the FEMA IS courses within 90 days (about 6 hours of online study).
Do I need prior emergency response experience?
No. Many members come from non-emergency backgrounds (teachers, IT, retirees, students). Training is provided. What we look for: reliability, ability to follow instructions under pressure, willingness to learn, and ability to work as part of a team. Prior experience (military, healthcare, fire, LE, ham radio) is a plus and may shorten training timelines.
Will my employer let me deploy?
Illinois law (50 ILCS 745) provides job protection for emergency management volunteers when they are activated by the County or State during declared emergencies. We provide a letter to your employer explaining your role. Many employers actively support emergency volunteer service.
What if I can't make every drill?
Attendance is expected, not perfect. Excused absences for work, family, or health reasons are handled by your Lieutenant. Members who miss too many drills without explanation may be moved to inactive status or asked to step back.
Can I join more than one program (e.g. MCEMA + CERT + Skywarn)?
Yes. Many MCEMA members are also Skywarn spotters and CERT-trained. ARES/RACES members often serve in both EOC and field roles. Just be honest about your time. Single-program focus is also fine and welcome.
Is there an age minimum?
Adult membership: 18+. Some partner programs (Red Cross, Skywarn) accept volunteers as young as 14 with parent consent for specific tasks. CERT is open to teens with adult sponsorship.
Can my whole family / civic group volunteer?
Yes — this is encouraged. Civic groups often coordinate to staff Skywarn nets, CERT teams, or shelter operations together. Email Cody for group orientation.
What if I'm a registered nurse / EMT / paramedic?
You're highly valued. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Region 4 program lets you support public health emergencies. MCEMA Division 2 (Rescue Operations) also includes RTF (Rescue Task Force) roles. Multiple paths.
Last reviewed: April 2026 · Open to all qualified Marion County residents