Conservation Corps Iowa crews deployed for Joplin tornado recovery

PRESS RELEASE
Conservation Corps Iowa
June 2, 2011

For immediate release

Contact: Connie Lanphear, Communications Associate
651.209.9900 x26 (office); 612.384.3405 (cell); connie.lanphear@conservationcorps.org
www.conservationcorps.org

In Missouri: Matt McKenney, Field Specialist, 218.556.6286

Ames, Iowa – Conservation Corps Iowa has deployed 10 corps members and a team leader to Joplin, Mo. for 30 days, to assist with search and rescue, debris clean-up, donations and volunteer management, following the devastating tornado that ripped through the town on May 22. Field Specialist Matt McKenney is leading the team, which is working alongside other AmeriCorps teams, including National Civilian Community Corps, AmeriCorps St. Louis, Washington Conservation Corps and Hoopa Tribal Civilian Community Corp.

Based at Missouri Southern State University, corps members are working 14-hour days, many taking lead roles in overseeing as many as 2,000 volunteers in the field. Work has involved managing volunteer intake, staffing the disaster response call center, helping disaster victims secure Electronic Benefit Transfer support from the city and coordinating volunteers citywide. The crew is scheduled to remain through June 25. Additional crews may be requested.

Iowa Program Manager Chris Severson coordinated, equipped and mobilized the team, which includes McKenney, Assistant Team Leader Mark Wilson, Ethan Thies, Michael Goedert, Jacob Saltzman, Justin High, Scott Woodin, Scott Cressler, Eric Feld , Tony Bieker and Hannah Frederick. To accommodate the disaster response, Severson rescheduled all Conservation Corps Iowa projects slated to begin in the next month.

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