ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The people of the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency are already thinking about hurricanes and all the other calamities that can befall the area.

And they could use some help. Your help.

“We are trying to establish a volunteer database,” said Reneé Cook, shelter coordinator for the BCEMA.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs,” Cook added. “We want to make sure we do not have a manpower shortage and we don’t want volunteers to burn out.”

Volunteers aren’t needed just during a disaster.

“During the off-season, we need manpower,” said Cook, mentioning a database that needs a couple of volunteers to type in data, among the jobs that need doing. the jobs include warehouse work, helping with all the emergency supplies that are stored in sites throughout the county.

“If they can type, we can use them,” said Rennie Raines, a logistics planner for the county. He added that volunteer help is needed during a disaster.

“We have to know what skills and assets we can use,” said Cook. “We need people trained to help.”

Age, sex and physical limitations are not a barrier to volunteering, both Cook and Raines said.

“We can find something for anyone to do,” said Cook.

Volunteers during a storm or other emergency are needed to help staff shelters, doing everything from answering phones to registration to working in the shelter kitchens. After a disaster, help with damage assessments and distribution sites will be needed.

While hurricanes are the first disaster most of us think of, storms and tornados may force the opening of shelters,” Cook added

“I might open a shelter if there was a bad fire,” said Cook.

If you don’t have a needed skill, Raines says the Emergency Management Agency will train volunteers.

Volunteers, Raines said, will have a a chance to make a national impact.

“Baldwin County has been selected as a national pilot program ,” said Raines, adding that funding for the program comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“We are looking at how to set up a distribution system and run it correctly,” said Raines. “Any time you can do planning and training, it beats doing things in a haphazard manner.”

One need Cook has is interpreters.

“We will hire them, “ said Cook, “You never know what you will run up against.”

Russian interpreters, Cook says, are in particular need.

It’s important that people step forward now and not wait until after a disaster strikes, added Cook.

“After a disaster, everybody and their brother calls to help, said Cook.

that’s nice, but both Raines and Cook stressed that all volunteers need training and to undergo background checks.

“Their hearts are in the right place,” said Raines.

The training volunteers get will depend on their eventual job, and the needs of the county. Both Raines and Cook said that times for training sessions have not been set.

And even if they are CERT volunteers, unless their job requires them to stay during a storm, they can evacuate with their families.

“We tell them to do what their local officials tell them to do,’ said Cook

Trained volunteers, however, will be among the first to reenter evacuated areas to help take a look and assess needs.

“They will have ID, and the authorities will know who they are,” said Raines.

While unpaid, volunteers receive intangible rewards.

“Everybody wants to be part of something,’ said Cook

People wishing to volunteer can go to the EMA Web site, ema.co.baldwin.al.us, e-mail Cook at drcook@co.baldwin.al.us or Raines at rraines@co.baldwin.al.us or call 972-6807.