Each county and state is a bit different about its volunteers. In order to be covered by county insurance, liability insurance and in some cases worker compensation, you need to be a registered volunteer in that county or state. The Emergency Manager (or a system designated by the Emergency Manager) processes the volunteer applications of that county or state. The following web sites will take you to some volunteer forms that you need to fill out and submit.
By submitting the suggested forms, you are not agreeing to volunteer for the organization (in most cases); you are simply registering as a possible volunteer in that state or area. Be honest about your experience level and training so that you can be covered in the event of an accident.
FOR ALL TRI-STATE CART MEMBERS:
This is done through the Ohio Citizen Corps which often form CERT groups (Community Emergency Response Teams) When you fill out this form, be sure to add in the text box at the end: “Interested in joining the County Animal Response Team” or "Member of Tri-State CART." The application is done on-line and can be found at:
http://www.serveohio.org/CitizenCorps
FOR ALL TRI-STATE CART MEMBERS:
Another application you need to fill out is the Ohio Veterinary Emergency Responders (O.V.E.R.) You do not need to be a vet or vet tech to fill out their form. OVER is the agency that Emergency Managers in Ohio will contact for assistance with animals. If OVER cannot handle the response, they will call upon Tri-State CART for help. In order to comply with the Ohio Homeland Security mandate, ALL CART MEMBERS MUST also be members of OVER. You do need to send in the volunteer application before you can go to any of their training sessions too. You'll need their orientation session to get an official disaster identification photo ID card.
Click on the link for the application to be printed: OVER membership Application
(This is a word document- the mailing address will be visible on the form once it is printed)
All you need to do to get registered as a volunteer emergency responder in Indiana is fill out the “Application for General Volunteers” found at: http://www.in.gov/boah/disaster/manMade.html If you think there is any chance that you would respond to help in the event of a disaster in Indiana, please fill out this form as soon as possible!
For ANYONE responding to an Indiana disaster:
(Optional): Ohio Medical Reserve Corps membership also offers liability protection and good training and you do not need to be a medical professional to register. You do need to take their orientation course for liability coverage, full registration and a photo ID card.
For more information on your liability coverage in Ohio, read over section Sec. 121.404. (A) of the Ohio law regarding volunteers on the website linked here: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_SB_9
For links to additional info and training, view these webpages/videos: http://www.homelandresponder.org/Pages/HR-2-features.html
