Emergency shelter roles and requirements

Explore this page to learn more about the various roles we need people to fill during a severe weather activation and the required training for each. During a severe weather activation, you will be able to sign up for shifts

On this page:

• General Staff
• Passenger Transportation
• Logistics Staff
• Behavioral Health Specialist Staff

General Staff Volunteers

Read a full General Staff position description here.

General Staff are the center of our Disaster Resource Center response. Your responsibilities can range from welcoming guests and monitoring food and beverages, to attending to restrooms and tracking supplies, and a lot more in between. The more people the County can count on to serve as General Staff, the quicker and smoother our activation becomes. This is the role that most community members fill.

Passenger Transportation Volunteers

The goal of the Passenger Transportation Unit is to make sure everyone who needs a ride to a County warming or cooling resource (or other safe location) is able to get there safely. Community members may volunteer to be Ridealong-Navigators that team with a driver to get people, including those with mobility limitations or pets, into the vehicles and to their destination. They can also volunteer as Dispatchers who communicate travel instructions to vehicles by cellphone. This unit is especially critical in the winter, when disruptions to transportation routes and services can make travel difficult.

If you’re interested in either role, fill out the Passenger Transportation Unit interest form so we can connect you with relevant information about specialized trainings.

Logistics Volunteers

Volunteers who support the Logistics Division help ensure that our shelters have everything they need throughout the entire course of a severe weather event: from setup through ongoing operations and demobilization. Tasks and responsibilities will vary from shift to shift, or even within a shift: You might be asked to build pallets with shelter supplies, lay out flooring, transport resources to shelter sites, make phone calls to provide scheduling updates to colleagues, or even go shopping.

Behavioral Health Specialist Volunteers

Read a full Behavioral Health Specialist Staff position description here.

Behavioral Health Specialist volunteers help provide a safe and supportive environment for guests and staff at Disaster Resource Centers. People in this role should be well versed in trauma-informed care and de-escalation techniques, and be able to perform tasks and provide guidance in these areas. Behavioral Health Specialist volunteers must meet one of the following credentials, certifications, or licenses:

• Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) requirement as Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) or Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP). (Actual registration with MHACBO is not required, staff must meet requirements)
• Be National Certified Peer Specialist OR Certified Community Health Worker
• MHACBO CADC I (Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor)
• Is a member of the Trauma Intervention Program, Northwest (TIPNW)

Please note that this includes anyone with a bachelor's or master’s degree in behavioral health-related studies.