Keyword: FEMA
FEMA Corps Member Brings Sandy's Lessons to White House
By
Greg Tucker
The chance to get in on the ground floor and build something new attracted recent college grad Ben Barron to the FEMA Corps AmeriCorps NCCC unit. Last fall his class went to work with the Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery effort in New York, where he learned a lot about himself and the strength of the human spirit.
Barron was on the path to law school when he learned about the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and FEMA Corps from another student at California State University, Northridge. This idea led to him to join the first FEMA Corps class in July 2012 to begin training as a Team Leader with the new unit.
Change of Plans
Barron's team was on an assignment in New Orleans when Sandy struck the East Coast and altered their plans. Soon, he would be providing disaster assistance to victims of that storm and “sleeping in a hold with 149 of (his) best friends” on a ship docked off Staten Island in New York.
Barron was impressed immediately with the mobilization of people who assembled to provide assistance. As he continued in the recovery effort, Barron was also surprised by the resilience and selflessness he saw as people worked to regain control of their lives.
“I don't know how many times I heard from people who had just lost their homes -- lost pretty much everything they own --say, ‘Can you go down the street and help them because they got hit worse?'” said Barron. “We heard that every day … that sense of camaraderie was the most touching thing.”
Adapting to the Situation
As part of the roving disaster response center, Barron pursued an initiative to use laptops and iPads to register storm survivors for disaster assistance, as well as keep track of the areas that had received aid from other organizations.
Early on, people were borrowing FEMA Corps members' phones to call in and register for assistance because they had no computers or electricity to do so at home. By embracing mobile technology, they were able to make the process more efficient while maintaining face-to-face interactions.
At first, they set up stations at relief centers by tethering laptops to their Blackberry phones to create mobile internet connections. Later they moved to tablet computers.
“The iPads helped streamline the process,” said Barron. “They helped us get people registered in their neighborhood or even at their door.”
Through the program, FEMA reached and documented thousands who may not have received adequate disaster assistance, avoiding redundancy and wasted resources. Barron's efforts brought him to the White House earlier this week to speak at a FEMA Think Tank on innovation in emergency management.
His experience as a FEMA Corps Team Leader has taught Barron about working with a people who have “different personalities, different dialogues, and different objectives.”
“If you are looking for a future in emergency management, FEMA Corps will help you with that,” said Barron. “Where else are you gonna get that opportunity?”
Barron also learned about time management and prioritization, adding that the amount of resolve and the resilience needed to work in disaster relief is something that inspires confidence.
“Don't be afraid to jump in and do something. Being a bystander is not something that's going to get the job done,” he said. “Be ready to be amazed.”
Keywords:
FEMA Corps   
AmeriCorps NCCC   
Huricane Sandy   
|
Posted on
2/8/2013
|
We continue to track news coverage of the role national service participants have played in the Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery effort for the last few months. This week, our collection of stories includes one about two AmeriCorps members who spent their holiday away from home, helping people in New York and New Jersey recover from the storm.
Keywords:
Hurricane Sandy   
AmeriCorps NCCC   
FEMA Corps   
|
Posted on
1/10/2013
|
We’ve been tracking news coverage of the role our national service participants have played in the Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery effort for the last few months. Here are some of the latest stories, including two personal reflections by AmeriCorps members.
Keywords:
Hurricane Sandy   
FEMA Corps   
AmeriCorps NCCC   
CNCS   
|
Posted on
12/28/2012
|
Growing up, I was fortunate enough to live a different experience than most. My parents were treasure hunters and I spent a majority of my childhood on their boat traveling in the Bahamas. Looking back, I almost feel as if I took those years a bit for granted; I never would have thought that the very boat I grew up on would be lifted and dropped in someone else’s yard. But when Hurricane George came through in 1998, that’s what happened. Little did I know, 14 years later, I would be on the other side of disaster recovery.
Keywords:
Disaster Recovery   
Hurricane Sandy   
FEMA Corps   
CNCS   
AmeriCorps NCCC   
|
Posted on
12/26/2012
|
The Hurricane Sandy recovery continues with more than 1,660 national service participants deployed in response to the storm and 715 currently serving on the ground and working with the storm’s victims. At this time 407 members of FEMA Corps, an AmeriCorps NCCC unit, have deployed or are being re-routed to New York and New Jersey to support FEMA Emergency Response operations in those areas.
Keywords:
Hurricane Sandy   
Disaster   
Habitat for Humanity   
AmeriCorps NCCC   
FEMA Corps   
|
Posted on
12/11/2012
|
Even though there are plenty of distractions around the holiday season, let’s not forget the victims of Hurricane Sandy who are still reassembling their lives in the storm’s aftermath. The Corporation for National and Community Service joins other federal and national agencies in the recovery effort with a commitment that’s used by our Disaster Services Unit: “You can count on us to respond fast and stay last.”
Keywords:
Hurricane Sandy   
CNCS   
FEMA Corps   
AmeriCorps   
American Red Cross   
Disaster Services   
|
Posted on
12/4/2012
|
Did you know that some of the programs under the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) banner have been in existence for nearly 50 years? We’ve created a new national service timeline to show how we got to where we are today.
Keywords:
UWS National Service   
CNCS   
AmeriCorps   
NCCC   
VISTA   
RSVP   
SIF   
FEMA Corps   
|
Posted on
12/3/2012
|
As the Hurricane Sandy recovery continues, more stories are starting to come in about our national service members' experiences in the field. Whether they traveled across the country to affected areas or collected much-needed items far from the storm's path, their work continues to inspire.
Keywords:
Disaster Response   
Hurricane Sandy   
AmeriCorps   
FEMA Corps   
|
Posted on
11/21/2012
|
Last week, I led a delegation to New York and New Jersey to visit sites providing disaster assistance to people affected by Hurricane Sandy. Throughout the day, we were joined by local elected officials who are working hard to meet the needs of their communities. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, New Jersey Lt. Gov. and Secretary of State Kim Guadagno, U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), and New York City Councilman Brad Lander each joined us for a portion of the day.
Keywords:
Disaster Repsonse   
Hurricane Sandy   
CNCS   
Wendy Spencer   
FEMA Corps   
AmeriCorps   
Red Cross   
New York   
New Jersey   
|
Posted on
11/16/2012
|
President Obama visited with members of FEMA Corps, a unit of AmeriCorps NCCC, during his November 15 trip to survey the Hurricane Sandy damage in Staten Island, NY. A small contingent of the 428 FEMA Corps members currently serving in New York and New Jersey met the President at a Staten Island Disaster Recovery Center as the scene was broadcast across the nation.
Keywords:
Disaster Repsonse   
Hurricane Sandy   
FEMA Corps   
AmeriCorps NCCC   
President Obama   
New York   
|
Posted on
11/16/2012
|
The work continues on the Hurricane Sandy recovery front in New York, New Jersey, and across the Northeast as approximately 1,200 national service members have been deployed in response to the storm. Read on to see some of the stories about service and volunteerism in the superstorm’s wake.
Keywords:
Disaster   
Hurricane Sandy   
AmeriCorps   
RSVP   
NCCC   
FEMA Corps   
|
Posted on
11/15/2012
|
Today's Wordless Wednesday focuses on national service in action as members and volunteers from the Corporation for National and Community Service programs join others working on the Hurricane Sandy recovery.
Keywords:
Disaster   
Hurricane Sandy   
Wordless Wednesday   
CNCS   
Wendy Spencer   
FEMA Corps   
AmeriCorps   
|
Posted on
11/14/2012
|
On Veterans Day, thousands of veterans around the country will spend their time doing what they know how to do best: serve others selflessly.
Keywords:
Veterans and Military Families   
Veterans Day   
CNCS   
AmeriCorps   
FEMA Corps   
|
Posted on
11/9/2012
|
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) today announced that approximately 936 national service members have been deployed to seven states affected by Hurricane Sandy, with 855 additional individuals on standby for assignments in the hardest-hit areas.
Keywords:
Disaster   
UWS   
CNCS   
FEMA   
Huricane Sandy   
American Red Cross   
|
Posted on
11/5/2012
|
As the recovery efforts for Hurricane Sandy continue, the Corporation for National and Community Service will publish a digest of news items that underscore the response of national service participants across the nation. Visit this page regularly to see the latest updates.
Keywords:
Disaster   
Hurricane   
Sandy   
News   
AmeriCorps   
FEMA Corps   
|
Posted on
11/2/2012
|
When it comes to massive storms like Hurricane Sandy, many dangers remain long after the weather event has dissipated. Some areas far from the front lines of the devastation won’t make headlines but will continue to feel the storm’s effects for some time to come.
Keywords:
Disaster recovery   
FEMA   
American Red Cross   
|
Posted on
11/1/2012
|
The devastation left behind by Hurricane Sandy is still being assessed, but there are several ways you can help those affected by storm. The information below is compiled from FEMA. We will update this post with the most up-to-date and location-specific information as it becomes available. Be sure to check back regularly.
Keywords:
Disaster   
Hurricane Sandy   
Volunteer   
FEMA Corps   
|
Posted on
10/30/2012
|
Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. While the worst of the weather is beyond some areas on the East Coast, Sandy remains a very large storm system that continues to pose life-threatening hazards for coastal and inland areas including high winds, heavy rains, dangerous storm surge and flash flooding, and snow and cold weather hazards in some areas.
Keywords:
Hurricane Sandy   
FEMA   
Disaster   
Recovery   
FEMA Corps   
|
Posted on
10/30/2012
|
As of Friday, November 2, 877 national service members are in affected states, with an additional 900 more on standby for assignments. These members include AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and 41 of 42 FEMA Corps teams.
Keywords:
Disaster   
Sandy   
Hurricane   
FEMA Corps   
|
Posted on
10/29/2012
|
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to meet the second group of the inaugural class of FEMA Corps during their induction ceremony in Vinton, Iowa. Soon, this group will join their fellow FEMA Corps inductees in regional offices and joint field offices around the country. Similar to the induction ceremony in Vicksburg, I couldn’t help but come away from this ceremony energized, knowing this group of young people is sharply focused on making a difference in their world – particularly in the lives of disaster survivors.
Keywords:
FEMA Corps   
CNCS   
FEMA   
Iowa   
AmeriCorps NCCC   
|
Posted on
10/11/2012
|
On May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado struck my hometown of Joplin, Missouri. Nearly every resident was affected. The tornado destroyed approximately 18,000 vehicles, 7,000 homes, 5,000 businesses, and took the lives of 162 people, including two of my high school classmates.
Keywords:
FEMA Corps   
AmeriCorps   
NCCC   
Disaster   
Joplin   
|
Posted on
9/19/2012
|
Today marks a historic chapter in the field of disaster services at the Corporation for National and Community Service as the nation's first 240 FEMA Corps members were sworn into service at an induction ceremony in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Keywords:
FEMA Corps   
AmeriCorps   
Vicksburg   
NCCC   
|
Posted on
9/13/2012
|
Hurricane Katrina taught us a difficult lesson about the damage, death, and destruction a massive storm can cause. If there’s one thing we should take from that experience it is that these weather systems are not something to underestimate; you have to be prepared for the worst – especially if you live in storm-prone areas.
Keywords:
Disaster   
Preparedness   
Hurricanes   
National Weather Service   
FEMA   
NOAA   
American Red Cross   
|
Posted on
9/11/2012
|
There’s a saying that goes, “be ready, so you don’t have to get ready.” Every family and workplace needs to have a plan of action to keep everyone safe when the unexpected happens. Sounds like the perfect excuse to discuss National Preparedness Month.
Keywords:
Disaster   
FEMA   
Ready.gov   
Listo.gov   
Citizen Corps   
National Preparedness Month    
|
Posted on
9/4/2012
|
AmeriCorps and Senior Corps teams are responding in four Gulf Coast states as Hurricane Isaac moves toward the region.
Keywords:
Disaster   
Hurricane   
AmeriCorps   
Senior Corps   
FEMA   
UWS   
|
Posted on
8/29/2012
|
On a daily basis, the employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency look into the eyes of disaster survivors and convey a calm strength and compassion to assist them on the road to recovery from disasters. Similarly conveying strength and resolve to make our nation stronger are the thousands of Americans who are part of AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Keywords:
AmeriCorps   
FEMA Corps   
Disaster   
AmeriCorps NCCC   
   
|
Posted on
3/15/2012
|
A new chapter in the history of national service began today with the announcement of a partnership with FEMA to strengthen the nation's ability to respond to and recover from disasters and expand career opportunities for young people. The five-year agreement provides for an additional 1,600 AmeriCorps NCCC members annually to supplement our current NCCC force.
Keywords:
Disaster   
FEMA Corps   
AmeriCorps   
AmeriCorps NCCC   
|
Posted on
3/13/2012
|
In Bastrop, TX, AmeriCorps members are helping to match volunteer and nonprofit agency workers with wildfire survivors who need help with recovery tasks.
Keywords:
FEMA   
AmeriCorps   
DIsaster   
Texas   
Wildfire   
VRC   
   
|
Posted on
10/18/2011
|
This year has shown us that disasters can strike anywhere, and can often come unexpectedly. This year alone, we've seen historic flooding along many rivers, deadly tornadoes in several states, a hurricane hit the East Coast (including New England), and recently, even an earthquake in Virginia.
Keywords:
Disater   
FEMA   
Preparedness   
|
Posted on
9/2/2011
|
For many, knowing the relationship between natural disasters and volunteers is limited to response and recovery. It conjures up images of volunteers pulling survivors from rubble, sorting through debris, delivering supplies, consoling victims, and rebuilding communities. But service and volunteerism has a place in disasters long before one actually hits; much can be done in terms of preparation and readiness.
Keywords:
Disaster   
Hurricane   
North Carolina   
FEMA   
   
|
Posted on
8/25/2011
|