Volunteer

The New Hanover County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) is a volunteer radio communications service available to federal, state, and local governments, as well as non-profit organizations. ARES can provide many types of communication including voice, Morse code, radio teletype, TV, and connections to the internet. During a disaster, ARES volunteers can be deployed to assist with communications needs.

Did you know? Amateur radio can be used to send emails when the internet is out of service.

Using a system called Winlink 2000, a computer can be connected to amateur radio which can provide an email server for the local network. This allows important messages about emergency situations to be sent to organizations and people outside of the disaster area where internet is available. For more information about ARES, visit New Hanover County Amateur Radio Emergency Services.

Become a member of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and help make a difference when an emergency situation arises.

CERT is an entirely civilian, volunteer-based group of residents and local businesses with skills to become self-reliant and assist others during disasters. CERT members receive disaster response training by professional firefighters, EMS personnel, and other emergency responders, and learn about disaster preparedness for local hazards. Local CERT training is conducted by New Hanover County's Emergency Management Department in partnership with Cape Fear Community College.

Learn more and view a training schedule on the New Hanover County CERT webpage.

REMO consists of citizens from working professionals to retirees who are in good physical and emotional health. REMO volunteers assist New Hanover County Emergency Management with search and rescue, emergency medical care, communications, and logistics during emergency situations. For more information about becoming a REMO volunteer, please email Zak Whicker or call 910-798-6907.

New Hanover County offers a unique variety of internship opportunities across a number of fields of study. Internships offer students an opportunity to enhance their academic learning by coupling it with real-world application of their skills. New Hanover County prides itself on providing exceptional customer service and seeks interns who share this same passion.

How It Works

• Interns must be currently enrolled in a college, university, educational institution or vocational school or program
• Applications must be submitted online
• Internships are typically unpaid
• The duration of an internship is usually one semester
• Flexible schedules can be arranged to accommodate school schedules

Apply for an Internship

New Hanover County and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Master of Public Administration program created an innovative partnership to help attract the best and brightest to New Hanover County.

NHC and UNCW work together to select students to work part-time as MPA Fellows with New Hanover County government while they complete their degrees. In addition to providing paid employment, New Hanover County will provide a learning experience designed to provide exposure to various parts of local government that correlate with the curriculum of UNCW's MPA program. The learning experience will seek to educate fellows on the organization's overall operations, strategic planning, and service delivery to citizens.

Fellows will be responsible for performing the duties of the position, as outlined by their supervisor, at a satisfactory level throughout the course of the fellowship. Fellows will also be responsible for attending monthly events and performing tasks outlined in the county's Fellowship Program outline.

How It Works

• Students work as MPA Fellows with the county for one year- renewable for two years
• Fellows must be actively enrolled in UNCW's MPA program
• Fellows will have job responsibilities assigned and projects to complete throughout the fellowship

Each fellow will be responsible for making a presentation on the fellowship experience, describe what was learned and accomplishments made, and describe how the fellowship has touched the community or made a difference to our citizens.

Apply for a Fellowship

There are many opportunities to volunteer in Emergency Management ranging from helping in the administrative office, supporting emergency plan reviews, maintaining equipment and resources for use in a crisis, being a role player for an exercise, and helping with community outreach opportunities. For more information on current opportunities, please email Teresa Smith or call her at 910-798-6900.