Senior Corps and AmeriCorps Disaster Teams Respond to Hurricane Irma
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has activated 23 AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams, including FEMA Corps, to support recovery operations in areas affected by Hurricane Irma, including Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico. These AmeriCorps members are supporting recovery and shelter operations with the American Red Cross, Save the Children, and FEMA.
In addition, Florida-based Senior Corps programs have been identified to support Save the Children to create child friendly spaces in shelters. Locally serving AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members are on standby as the agency coordinates with Volunteer Florida, the governor-appointed state service commission, and other partners to assess additional resources needed.
The agency has also worked with Volunteer Florida to ensure AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members have received disaster training so they can be tapped for shelter operation and other critical needs. In addition, CNCS is coordinating with the United Way Association of South Carolina and Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism, the Governor-appointed state service commissions in South Carolina and Georgia.
CNCS encourages Florida residents to preregister to volunteer with Volunteer Florida to fill the huge need for volunteers in the coming weeks and months. Those wanting to learn how they help and to sign up to receive updates should visit www.nationalservice.gov/irma.
Following a disaster, national service acts as a force multiplier, providing key resources and significantly expanding the capacity of existing organizations on the ground. Through all its programs, CNCS helps communities to prepare for, mitigate, respond, and recover from disasters. Most recently, teams of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members were called to and remain in Texas to support critical recovery efforts following Hurricane Harvey.
In times of disaster, AmeriCorps teams have provided critical support after countless disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, last year’s Louisiana flooding, Hurricane Sandy, tornadoes in Joplin, Mo., Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Moore, Okla., the explosion in West, Texas, and the Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill.