Medical Reserve Corps Frequently Asked Questions

Community members, with or without medical training, who are willing to support routine public health activities or serve during public health emergencies are encouraged to join the Snohomish MRC. This includes professionals from all health occupations; however, many positions in the MRC do not require medical skills. The Snohomish MRC has non-medical members who provide education, logistics, communication, coordination, and other support.

Yes. The MRC needs both medical and non-medical members. Some of the volunteer positions for members will require medical licensure, to protect the member as well as to ensure the best care for those in need of medical attention. There will also be a need for unlicensed health professionals and individuals without medical training to fill support roles. The Snohomish MRC offers training in emergency response, public health, and other related fields to all of it members. 

You are a volunteer, so there is no requirement that you be available for every emergency. Certainly, we understand that you may have personal circumstances including work, military duty, or family commitments that may prohibit you from volunteering at any given time. The Snohomish MRC participates in numerous non-emergency public health activities and outreach opportunities. We encourage you to become involved in this way if you have other emergency response commitments.

A comprehensive liability insurance policy covers MRC volunteers who are registered as emergency workers working (and deployed) under a mission number. Volunteers are insured against personal or bodily injury and/or property damage.

While there are protections in place for emergency workers, there are also personal responsibilities that volunteers are expected to follow, as outlined in the Washington Administrative Code WAC 118-04-200 and the Volunteer Protection Act. 

Liability coverage through the Medical Reserve Corps is in effect ONLY when you have been activated or on approved training, when a Washington State mission number has been assigned for that activity. Liability coverage is ONLY in effect when you have completed your emergency worker card, supporting application documents and submitted them for approval as a team member and you have received your DEM number and badge.

MRC members are considered local assets; however, in limited circumstances Snohomish MRC volunteers could be asked to deploy to another state in support of a state-to-state response request via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). The MRC Coordinator will relay all volunteer requests and deployment information to volunteers, however volunteers are not required to accept these requests. 

Deployment preferences (local, State and Federal) should be indicated in the volunteer’s Galaxy profile. Volunteers interested in State and Federal deployments are encouraged to also register for the WA State Emergency Medical Reserve Corps unit in through their WAserv profile.

We will notify you by email, phone, and text message using the contact information you provided in the RAVE system after joining the MRC. Therefore, it is very important that you keep your contact information current in your RAVE profile. 

The Snohomish MRC Coordinator is your primary point of contact. The MRC Coordinator may be reached by phone at 425-339-8644 (office) or by email at shd.mrc@snoco.org.