Corps members continue disaster response deployment

On December 18, a dozen young adult AmeriCorps members from Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa departed by van for the East Coast to continue the Corps’ extensive and sustained response to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. This group is the third team deployed by our Corps since October, bringing the total number of Minnesota and Iowa corps members deployed to 70. Check out our slideshow and these Facebook sites for a regularly updated look at what is happening on the ground:

FOB Hope
Ocean County AmeriCorps Response
Atlantic County AmeriCorps Disaster Response
Operation Breezy Gut and Pump

Third team deployed to the East Coast. From left, Tyler Myers, Tiffany Vincent, Keith Brown, Logan McOllough, Andrew Loth, Tom Wagner, Ryan Meehan, Darin Newman (back), Karl Peterson, Rachel Sicheneder, Mark Child and Erik Lindsay.

In early January, a fourth team will deploy, bringing the total to more than 100 of our corps members – over half our field crew members – who will have spent at least 30 days each serving on disaster relief.

Crew members have been working long days, not only mucking out houses full of debris, mud and mold, but also managing the seemingly infinite and ever-changing logistics of thousands of volunteers from across the country. Many will remain, away from friends and family, throughout the holidays. Though the work is hard and the conditions challenging, they are enthusiastic and committed to their service. 

With so much of our field staff deployed, we have had to shuffle projects closer to home, reconfiguring crews and schedules. Crew members remaining at home have been flexible and upbeat during this time, and we appreciate how they have taken up the slack with grace and a great attitude.