Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders
HILLSBOROUGH – Community members are invited to attend a recruitment and orientation training program for volunteers for the Somerset County Civilian Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) on Wednesday, April 13, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy. The Academy is located at 402 Roycefield Road. The program is being hosted by the Somerset County Department of Health, in partnership with the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management.
To register by April 8 and for more information, contact MRC Coordinator Lucille Young-Talbot of the Somerset County Health Department at 908-231-7155. Information about the MRC also is available on the MRC Web page at www.co.somerset.nj.us/health/MRCindex.htm.
“The county civilian MRC plays an integral part in planning response efforts that protect our communities,” said Freeholder Peter S. Palmer, public health and safety department liaison. “This is a good time for residents to evaluate their many talents and see where they may want to assist others during an emergency.”
The MRC is looking for medical and non-medical volunteers to assist in protecting Somerset County’s more than 320,000 residents. During a disaster, volunteers can play numerous roles, including greeting; calming and directing people to registration and triage stations; helping package and distribute medications and instructions; managing traffic flow and parking volume; managing inventory; answering phones; and making sure people are comfortable and safe.
Training to become a volunteer is free. Attendance at an orientation is mandatory, but participation in additional programs is not. Volunteers are asked to become informed community members and share information with co-workers and families. They may participate in as many drills and emergency exercises as they wish.
Volunteers, as first responders, and their families are offered recommended vaccinations in emergency and non-emergent response efforts.
In an emergency, medical persons would be utilized under the auspices of their licenses or in another capacity, should the need arise. People who speak other languages or know sign language could be utilized to act as interpreters.
In November 2010, over 50 MRC volunteers provided assistance at county and municipal flu clinics using their skills in various areas. Volunteers registered clients, answered questions, administered vaccines, directed traffic at the drive-thru clinics and worked as an integral part of the team.
The MRC continually plans ahead and updates plans to insure they are prepared with a cadre of civilian MRC volunteers to assist during any public health emergency that may arise. In past years, MRC volunteers have assisted in flood-response efforts in the county.
The Somerset County MRC, which began in 2001, joins over 940 units nationwide with over 235,000 volunteers. It is part of the Office of Civilian Medical Reserve Corps, under the auspices of the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States.
Recently MRC volunteers attended a reception and recognition dinner for their continued efforts to assist with county-sponsored events, drills and trainings. They received individual pins from the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps along with a letter from the U.S. Surgeon General recognizing their efforts during the flu season at county clinics.
“The county’s MRC currently has over 250 dedicated and professional members,” said Freeholder Palmer. “However, we are looking to increase the number of volunteers because far more people would be needed to sustain any large-scale unpredictable act of man or nature, disease outbreak such as a pandemic flu, terrorist activity or other public health emergency.”
The Somerset County MRC works closely with the county Office of Emergency Management, Somerset County Health Department, local health officers and other emergency response programs, including Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and public and private agencies throughout the county.

