LETS TALK ABOUT VOLUNTEERING!

Volunteers play a vital role at BCEM.  From lending a hand during our emergency preparedness drills, to answering the call during an actual emergency, people just like you help keep our Community Safe.

Volunteers can participate in various drills and classes that may become available, such as:

• Energy Northwest's Columbia Generating Station (CGS) Drill where we practice what to do if CGS has a release of radioactive contaminants.
• Emergency Worker's Assistance Center (EWAC) where we practice processing citizens, vehicles, and pets through decontamination and find shelter.
• Hanford's DOE Exercise where we practice what to do if Hanford has a release of radioactive contaminants.  

As trainings become available, we have them listed here.

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DO YOU WANT TO BE A VOLUNTEER?

To become a volunteer, simply download and complete our Volunteer Application and Background Form and return it to Benton County Emergency Management (BCEM). We will process your application and do a quick background check. Once clear, we will send you a BCEM Volunteer Card. You will need to keep this with you while participating as a volunteer. Curious about what volunteers do? Want to learn how to be more involved? Check out the Training and COAD information.

IS IT TIME TO RENEW? 

Volunteer cards expire every five years. We will send you notifications via email when it's about time for you to renew your card. At that time, simply fill out the application and background check again and resubmit it to us. Easy right? We will update your information (if there are any changes) and send you your new card! Are you asking yourself, "why do I need to fill these out again?" I can answer that for you! We require you to fill out the Application so we can update any information that may have changed. For example, if your contact information's changed, emergency contact's changed, or address has changed then we want to make sure our records are current. We require the background check to be completed at time of renewal to make sure that you are still lawfully eligible to be a volunteer.