Hurricane Sandy: Donate and Volunteer

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One year ago, Hurricane Sandy left a trail of destruction in its wake across six states, doing the most damage in heavily populated areas of New Jersey and New York. The recovery that followed – and even continues to this day -- required a massive response and thousands of national service members joined their fellow Americans to answer the call for help.

The entire federal family continues to support the states, communities, and tribes in their ongoing response efforts as they work to save lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The Corporation for National and Community Service is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), and other partners in this coordinated multi-agency response effort.

Sandy led to 160 deaths, making it the deadliest hurricane to hit the United States since Katrina in 2005. Beyond those gruesome numbers were the $65 billion in property damage, not to mention the emotional toll the storm took on the survivors left to pick up the pieces of their destroyed homes, scattered memories, and shattered lives. 

National service members, affiliates, and volunteers joined others from around the nation to help residents throughout the recovery process.

“I will tell you from traveling the state that what AmeriCorps volunteers did was not just the work that needed to be done -- and is still being done by AmeriCorps volunteers to get people back in their homes. ... AmeriCorps volunteers lifted the spirits of the people of our state.” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

When cleanup efforts were allowed to begin, crews from across the country came to the East Coast to begin the hard work that needed to be done, helping residents muck and gut more than 3,700 homes damaged by the storm’s wind and flood waters.

AmeriCorps VISTAs continue to serve local groups to build their capacity as they work to help residents get the information they need to rebuild and work through the recovery process. And AmeriCorps crews even worked at iconic landmarks, removing trash and storm debris from Ellis and Liberty islands to ensure that the Statue of Liberty could reopen in time for this summer’s 4th of July celebrations.

All told, more than 3,600 Corporation for National and Community Service participants served in six states during the Hurricane Sandy recovery. Our members worked with national and local relief agencies to leverage the services of more than 30,000 volunteers who contributed millions of dollars in assistance. And the work will continue as we honor our commitment to the recovery in New Jersey and New York as AmeriCorps members continue to serve in the hardest-hit areas.