Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

Intern working at desk

Internship Program

An internship with Johnson County Emergency Management provides hands-on, real-world experience in emergency operations, planning, training, public information, and community outreach. Interns work alongside experienced professionals, contribute to active projects, and gain insight into how local emergency management supports preparedness, response, and recovery efforts across the county. We are committed to developing future leaders in public service by offering mentorship, structured learning opportunities, and meaningful work that strengthens community resilience and public safety.

Johnson County Emergency Management offers internship opportunities for students interested in emergency/disaster management, public safety, and community preparedness.

View the Internship Guide Apply for the Internship

Paid Summer Internship

We offer a paid summer internship each year from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

This internship provides hands-on experience supporting emergency management operations, planning, training, and community outreach initiatives.

To apply for the Paid Internship:

  • Submit an online job application through the Johnson County employment website.
  • Upload required materials (essay and unofficial transcript) within the job application system.
  • Review the Johnson County Emergency Management Internship Guide for full details on qualifications, expectations, and deadlines.

Unpaid Academic Internships (Beginning Fall 2026)

Starting in Fall 2026, we will offer:

  • Fall Term Unpaid Internship.
  • Spring Term Unpaid Internship.

These internships:

  • Must be completed for college credit.
  • Require coordination with your academic institution.
  • Provide structured learning aligned with emergency management practices.

To apply for the Unpaid Internship:

  • Complete the online Microsoft Forms application.
  • Email your required essay and unofficial transcript to emc-em-staff@jocogov.org.
  • Review the Johnson County Emergency Management Internship Guide for eligibility requirements, deadlines and academic coordination steps.

Storm Spotting

Emergency Communication Services (ECS) is the appointed R.A.C.E.S. (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) organization for Johnson County Emergency Management. ECS is a volunteer organization that provides a service to local government. ECS is the official storm spotting organization for Johnson County Emergency Management.  For more information, visit the ECS website for spotting opportunities.

ECS Training Requirements

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Hold at least a Technician Class Amateur Radio License
  • Pass an online NWS Storm Spotter and County Protocols test every two years
  • Attend National Weather Service Training every two years
  • Attend County Protocols Training every two years
  • Have certificates in FEMA Courses 100, 200, 700 and 800
  • Pass a Criminal Background check
  • Have a radio that has a minimum output of 25 watts to an externally mounted quarter wave antenna

Volunteer and Job Shadow Opportunities

Johnson County Emergency Management also offers volunteer and job shadow opportunities for individuals interested in learning more about the field. The volunteer program is designed to be a long term opportunity to help further JCEM's mission of building a better prepared, more resilient community. Opportunities would include assisting Emergency Management staff at community outreach events and assisting the Emergency Operations Center during a disaster. 

To express interest in Volunteering or Job Shadowing:

Opportunities are based on current operational needs and staff capacity.

If you have ever found yourself wanting to help in the aftermath of a disaster but were not sure how to get involved, please take a moment to explore these opportunities to become a trained volunteer before disaster strikes.

The best way to volunteer after a disaster is to affiliate with a reputable organization before a disaster; this will help ensure you are appropriately trained and supported to respond in the most effective way. There are several organizations who offer training in a variety of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities.

The following offers a few examples and is not an exhaustive list of the opportunities available at each organization.

  • American Red Cross Disaster Volunteer Opportunities
    • Disaster Services: Provide food, shelter, comfort and care for families affected by major disasters such as fires, hurricanes, floods and tornadoes.
    • Disaster Action Team: Respond to single-family fires with a disaster action team supervisor.
    • Community Disaster Education: Educate individuals and groups on how to be prepared before a disaster occurs.
  • Kansas KC Metro Animal Response Team
    • Mission: We are dedicated to building a strong, functional team of volunteers who can respond to the needs of pets at a time of disaster, and providing education within our community about the importance of disaster preparedness for pets.
  • Kansas Agriculture Emergency Response Corps
    • The Kansas Agriculture Emergency Response Corps (KAERC) will be comprised of volunteers who will be trained and prepared to respond rapidly and efficiently to an agricultural emergency. KAERC volunteers will work alongside the Kansas Department of Agriculture in response and recovery situations.
  • Community Emergency Response Teams
    • The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
  • The Salvation Army Disaster Relief Services
    • The Salvation Army offers training courses on their core disaster relief services such as canteen operations, donations management, emotional and spiritual care, and disaster social services.
  • Kansas City Regional Community Organizations Active in Disaster (KC Regional COAD)
    • The purpose of the KC Regional COAD is to bring together community organizations at all levels who are, or desire to be, active in disaster, including relevant businesses and government agencies, to foster more efficient and effective services to people affected by disaster in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area through cooperation, coordination, communication and collaboration.

Volunteer and Intership FAQ

Currently we offer a paid summer internship that is targeted at college students and professionals transitioning into the emergency management field. The position is expected to open in in February or March of each year to accept applications.

On top of a paid summer internship, we will also begin offering an academic internship each Fall and Spring semester that is unpaid. 

No. While certain projects may require the volunteer to be present in the office, many may not. Preference will be given to interns/volunteers that can have a regular presence in the office.

All volunteers and interns will have to complete a screening process through Johnson County.