Volunteer Response Divisions

An integral part of Will County EMA's mission is to provide for adequate emergency response capabilities within the local community. One of the most direct ways in which Will County EMA accomplishes this is through the coordination of specialized emergency response teams. Within the Agency, there are three key divisions which are comprised of a volunteer force that carry out specialized emergency response duties.

Search and rescue team members in high-visibility gear training outdoors, lined up along a wooded edge while conducting a coordinated search.

Field services team members training at night, practicing with handheld flares while standing together outdoors.

Public Preparedness Group volunteers at a community event, standing by an outreach table with preparedness materials, a prize wheel, and a van in the background.

Field Services Division

Division Chief - Michael McGowan
Assistant Chief - Tim Mills

Volunteers provide field support to our emergency operations. Functions include:

Deployment and operations of our mobile incident command vehicle
Deployment and operations of our Illinois Transportable Emergency Communications System for IEMA Region 3
Auxiliary communications and support
Traffic control
Mobile lighting and power
Support to local agencies
Special events
Disaster Assistance

Public Preparedness Group

Division Chief - Dawn Boyle

Volunteers of this group support emergency preparedness efforts in Will County by:

Attending Safety fairs and expos.
Speaking with visitors about the importance of being prepared in the event of an emergency/disaster before it strikes.
Informing the public about hazards and emergencies that may affect them or their family and encourage the development of an emergency plan.
Encourage the collection and assembly of a disaster supply kit.
Inform where to seek shelter from all types of hazards.
Inform the public of community warning systems and assist them in signing up for emergency alerts.
Present or assist in presenting programs about specific hazards and preparedness.

Search and Rescue Team

Division Chief - Allen Matza
Assistant Chief - Jon Nelson

The WCEMA Search and Rescue (SAR) Team consists of professionally trained and certified volunteers that:

Provide specialized urban and wilderness ground search and rescue.
SAR Team members are from all walks of life.
Share a common purpose - to serve our communities by locating individuals or groups who have gone missing or are in imminent danger and returning them to a place of safety.
The SAR Team is on call 24/7/365 and deploys at the request of law enforcement, fire departments, and other public saftey agencies throughout Will County and the State of Illinois.