After Irma: On the Ground in Florida with National Service Members
By Chester Spellman, Director of AmeriCorps
Recently, I traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with AmeriCorps members supporting Hurricane Irma recovery efforts. This was my first trip as Director of AmeriCorps.
I was joined by fellow Floridian and Director of Senior Corps, Debbie Cox Roush and Acting NCCC Director (and AmeriCorps alum!) Gina Cross. We visited AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team members from the Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa and the Washington Conservation Corps. We also visited AmeriCorps NCCC and FEMA Corps members. To date, more than 900 AmeriCorps members have responded across the state of Florida.
Here are five observations from the field:
1. I was immediately struck by the dedication and passion of our AmeriCorps members. They have boundless energy and are committed to helping Florida recover. In spite of working twelve hour days, they are still full of spirit and enthusiasm at the end of the day.
2. AmeriCorps service is not only an investment in communities, but in the life of the member. They learn valuable skills and develop an ethos of service that will follow them for their entire lives. AmeriCorps service also gives members confidence that will allow them to do great things for America. As one member told my colleague, Debbie, "After my service year, I can go on and do anything."
3. The service provided by these members is very valuable to communities and it is not easy work. AmeriCorps members in Southwest Florida are clearing debris, mucking and gutting homes, placing tarps on damaged roofs, and more. This is important work that is essential to the recovery process after a disaster like Hurricane Irma.
4. I observed how thankful individual homeowners and the community at-large are to have AmeriCorps members serving in their community. During last week’s trip I observed AmeriCorps members helping a homeowner remove a large tree that fell on his fence. I had the chance to meet this homeowner. He was extremely thankful and credited AmeriCorps members for doing a task that as he said, "I would never be able to do on my own."
5. Finally, national service plays a key role in helping communities respond to and recover from disasters. AmeriCorps members have helped hundreds of homeowners through damage assessments, roof repairs, hazardous tree removal, and wellness checks and have cleared more than 6,400 cubic yards of debris. (That’s 355 dump trucks!)
AmeriCorps members are making a difference in communities across America each and every day, but there is rarely a time when the impact of national service is more visible than during times of disaster. I am proud of the work that these national service members are doing in Florida in response to Hurricane Irma. It was an honor to have the opportunity to meet them and see firsthand the impact of their service.
FEMA tents on the horizon. Since I know only a small amount of Spanish, It has been difficult to get information. 95% percent of the folks here are spanish only. People have been standing in line for 6 plus hours. No water, No breaks, No relief, Have no lessons been learned from Katrina? Over a decade of post Hurricane management and there has been no improvements. Government is very efficient at collecting taxes and holding you to the letter of the law, but when you ask for some assistance, they shrug shoulders and say sorry your on your own. The only improvement is they have substantially more spanish workers to help these folks out. I really do need to learn more conversational spanish. Wish I could get some answers. #fema #stateofflorida #governorscott #hurricaneirma #irmarelief #hurricaneirmarelief (at South Dade Justice Center)
This pole represents that State of Affairs in Miami Dade County. Older and infirmed persons standing in line, in the rain have started to leave. Family's with children are still showing up and being turned away. They then beg people in line for there spot. This is beyond sad its pathetic. We can do better then this! #fema #governorscott #irma #hurricaneirma #irmarelief
http://www.tbf.org/puertorico With everything going on I know a lot of money is being spread thin, but this and a few other causes like this will be some of the main focuses I want people to be aware of. #puertorico #puertorican #helppuertorico #irma #irmarelief #hurricaneirma
Hope to see you at @shopbuckheadatl on Saturday! Details on fashionado.net #theory #support #irmarelief #harrynormanrealtors #buckheadatlstyle #shoppingevent #stylish #influencer #gqinsider #rtw #menswear #womenswear #thepageofalex #fashionado (at Theory)
