FEMA Corps Arrives to Work with Local Communities on Disaster Preparedness

FEMA Corps arrived in Lynnwood, Washington on March 28th, 2013 to work with the FEMA Region 10 External Affairs office. FEMA Corps, which is part of  AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), will be planning and implementing at least three events focused on community involvement in disaster preparedness. This is the team’s first assignment since completing 6 weeks of in depth training.

The FEMA Corps team known as Gold 4 is from the NCCC Pacific Region campus in Sacramento, California. Gold 4 was the only team out of 20 teams from the Pacific Region campus to be sent to Washington. The team has been tasked to organize community events focused on increasing disaster preparedness within Region X which serves the population of Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and Idaho. The team will document the planning process to ensure projects can be easily replicated in other communities.

Team member Carrie Fowler is “excited to learn about how communities get involved when preparing for disasters.” The team of 10 is from all over the country, representing the states of California, Virginia, Michigan, Nevada, Missouri, Oregon and Washington.

Gold 4 is looking forward to working with Region 10 and community members in increasing awareness and knowledge of local natural hazards and empowering individuals and families to take charge of their own disaster preparedness.

To stay updated on Gold 4 and their work with communities and FEMA, you can ‘like’ their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/G4FEMACorps

AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, residential, national service program in which 1,200 young adults serve nationwide each year.  During their 10-month term, Corps Members – all 18 to 24 years old – work on teams of 8  to 12 on projects that address critical needs related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, energy conservation, and urban and rural development. Members work on a series of different projects, typically lasting six to eight weeks each, to mentor students, construct and rehabilitate low-income housing, respond to natural disasters, clean up streams, help communities develop emergency plans, and address countless other local needs. The Pacific Region campus in Sacramento is one of five regional hubs in the United States and serves ten states in the western part of the country.  The other campuses are located in Denver, Colorado; Perry Point, Maryland; Vinton, Iowa; and Vicksburg, Mississippi. 

In exchange for their service, Corps Members receive $5,550 to help pay for college, or to pay back existing student loans.  Other benefits include a small living stipend, room and board, leadership development, increased self-confidence, and the knowledge that, through active citizenship, people can indeed make a difference.  AmeriCorps NCCC is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.  The Corporation improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. For more information about AmeriCorps NCCC, visit the website at www.americorps.gov/nccc.

 

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FEMA Corps Arrives to Work with Local Communities on Disaster Preparedness

Statement by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013

WASHINGTON – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate released the below statement following the President’s signing of the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013, which includes a provision to amend the Stafford Act allowing Tribes direct access to federal disaster relief.  

“FEMA has strong, long-standing relationships with Tribal governments, and they are essential members of the emergency management team. We commend the efforts of Members of Congress, Tribal leadership and their organizations, the Department of Homeland Security, and the President who have made this change a reality. This legislative change to the Stafford Act will provide federally recognized Tribal governments the option to choose whether to make a request directly to the President for an emergency or major disaster declaration, or to receive assistance, as they do presently, through a declaration for a State. This amendment to the Stafford Act follows on the President’s commitments to Indian Country, strengthens the government to government relationship between FEMA and federally recognized Tribes, and will enhance the way FEMA supports Tribal communities before, during, and after disasters.”

Fully implementing this historic provision will require consultation with Tribes and other stakeholders, particularly as FEMA develops the administrative and programmatic requirements and procedures necessary to execute the law.  FEMA will provide interim guidance in the coming weeks explaining how and when Tribal governments may seek declarations, while more comprehensive consultations and administrative procedures are undertaken. 

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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Statement by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013

Nation’s First FEMA Corps Members Sworn In to Begin Disaster Response Service

VICKSBURG, Miss.– A historic new collaboration between two federal agencies to strengthen the nation’s disaster response capabilities was launched today as the nation’s first 240 FEMA Corps members were sworn into service at an induction ceremony in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

FEMA Corps is an innovative partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to enhance disaster response and recovery capacity while expanding career opportunities for young people.

Established as a new unit within the existing AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), FEMA Corps engages young adults ages 18 to 24 to provide ten months of full-time service on disaster response and recovery projects.  Members will be deployed to assignments ranging from working directly with disaster survivors to supporting disaster recovery centers to sharing disaster response and mitigation information with the public.

At today’s induction ceremony, members of the inaugural FEMA Corps class took the AmeriCorps pledge to “get things done for America” and heard from agency leaders about the important work that lies ahead.  FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino and CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer were on hand to welcome the members and thank them for their commitment to service.

“When I visit communities devastated by disasters like Joplin, Mo., I always find members of AmeriCorps lending a helping hand to survivors,” said Serino. “Today’s inductees are taking part in an exciting new pursuit — combining the exceptional record of citizen service at AmeriCorps NCCC with FEMA’s specialized mission of supporting survivors with their recovery after a disaster. I commend and thank every member of the inaugural class of FEMA Corps for their dedication to helping communities in need.”

“I commend you for answering the call to serve and making a difference for people and communities in need,” said Spencer.  “As the nation’s very first FEMA Corps members, you are helping write a new chapter in the history of national service.  With your training, backed by your team, and inspired by your passion, you will bring much-needed hope and assistance to disasters survivors. As you help others, this year will help you – giving you skills, expanding your opportunities, and setting you on a lifelong path of service to others.”

Today’s induction ceremony marked the end of one month of AmeriCorps NCCC training and the start of FEMA position-specific training. After completing training this month, members will be deployed to their first assignments. FEMA Corps will supplement FEMA’s existing Reservist workforce in assisting citizens and communities who have been impacted by disasters.

After completing 1,700 hour of service, FEMA Corps members will receive a $5,550 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to pay for tuition or pay student loans.  Members will gain significant training and experience in disaster services that can serve as a pathway to employment in the emergency management profession.

FEMA Corps members will be based out of five AmeriCorps NCCC campuses across the country: Sacramento, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; Vinton, Iowa; Perry Point, Md.; and, Vicksburg, Miss.  The program will engage 1,600 members annually when fully operational next year.

To learn more about FEMA Corps or to apply (individuals aged 18-24), visit AmeriCorps website www.americorps.gov/about/programs/nccc.asp or FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov.

To view photos from the ceremony, visit the following links:

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, Social Innovation Fund, and other programs, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

 

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Nation’s First FEMA Corps Members Sworn In to Begin Disaster Response Service