(Washington D.C.) -- In the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel, 90 AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) members are responding to people in need in Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Team members were also on hand offering assistance before the hurricane struck.

Through the American Red Cross, 72 members from the Perry Point, Md., campus are providing family assistance and mass care to families affected by the hurricane. During the hurricane, they served in shelters for people who were evacuated from the coastal areas of Maryland and Delaware. Members set up the shelters and provided food and clothing to the evacuees.

In the days leading up to the hurricane, 18 members from the Washington, D.C., campus assisted with sandbagging and weatherization activities in at-risk areas of Fairfax, Va., and Washington, before reporting to disaster shelters after the storm to serve meals to dislocated families.

"AmeriCorps*NCCC members are frequently called upon to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies," said Wendy Zenker, director of AmeriCorps*NCCC. "We work closely with the American Red Cross and other emergency agencies to make sure that people who have suffered hardships during these times receive the assistance they need."

The deployment for Hurricane Isabel was unusual in that typically AmeriCorps*NCCC members respond following a disaster. But because the hurricane was so close to the Perry Point and Washington campuses, members were on hand to help out even before Isabel hit, according to Zenker.

AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a 10-month, team-based, full-time residential program for men and women between the ages of 18 and 24. AmeriCorps*NCCC combines the best practices of civilian service with the best aspects of military service, including leadership and team building. Members serve in diverse teams of 10 to 14 individuals. Priority is given to projects in homeland security and disaster relief. Teams are based at five campuses located across the country but often are assigned to projects in neighboring states.

AmeriCorps*NCCC is part of AmeriCorps, a national service program which engages Americans of all ages each year in intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas. AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. It is part of USA Freedom Corps, a White House initiative to foster a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility, and help all Americans answer the President's Call to Service. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.org.