Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is one of several components of Citizen Corps, USA Freedom Corps. It is a network of community-based, citizen-volunteer units whose members are trained to provide response support in their communities during any disaster or public-health emergency.

Everyone has a role that he or she can play during a public-health disaster. In addition to active or retired medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, physicians’ assistants, therapists, health educators and allied health professionals, the MRC is seeking legal advisors, amateur radio operators, drivers, chaplains, translators, logistics experts and individuals who have experience organizing large groups of people.

There are approximately 702 MRC units with more than 138,000 volunteers across the nation, strengthening the public-health infrastructure in their communities and responding to public-health, natural and man-made disasters. The Somerset County Health Department MRC works closely with the Office of Emergency Management and other local community-response teams but there are never enough volunteers trained and available during emergencies.

To learn more about becoming an MRC Volunteer, contact Lucille Young-Talbot, Somerset County Health Department, at (908) 231-7155 or visit www.co.somerset.nj.us/health/MRCindex.htm  for an application.