Volunteer Opportunities

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The Baytown OEM provides Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to the general public and residents of the greater Baytown area. The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

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.

Upon completion of the CERT training program, CERT members are encouraged to stay active by participating in activities, exercises, and responses with the BayCERT team. BayCERT is a combined team of multiple cities located along the Galveston Bay in Harris County working together to build a broader network for communication and community awareness.

For more information email Baytown OEM.

Amateur Radio – Baytown Emergency Communications Group 

The Baytown Emergency Communications Group is a Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) organization that provides emergency backup communication in the event that normal communication networks are disrupted.

RACES is a protocol created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The volunteers serve their respective jurisdictions pursuant to guidelines and mandates established by local emergency management officials.

RACES volunteer operators are:

  • Licensed Radio Amateurs
  • Certified by a civil defense agency (Baytown OEM) 
  • Able to communicate on Amateur Radio frequencies during drills, exercises and emergencies
  • Activated by local, county and state jurisdictions
  • The only Amateur Radio operators authorized to transmit during declared emergencies when the President of the United States specifically invokes the War Powers Act.

Membership is not restricted to residents of the City of Baytown, Texas. Applicants must complete an application to become a volunteer of the City of Baytown which includes a background check.  

For more information contact Baytown OEM.