FEMA Corps FAQs Applicants and Members
- What is FEMA Corps?
- What’s the difference between FEMA Corps and the traditional track of AmeriCorps NCCC?
- Will the traditional NCCC track still respond to natural and other disasters?
- How Do I Apply to FEMA Corps?
- Can I apply for more than one AmeriCorps NCCC track?
- Can I be selected for both AmeriCorps NCCC and FEMA Corps, and then choose which track I want to do?
- Why are CNCS and FEMA offering this FEMA Corps track?
- Who is paying for this new division within the NCCC?
- What will FEMA Corps members do?
- How will FEMA Corps teams be deployed for a FEMA assignment?
- How will FEMA Corps be marketed to the public?
- What are the qualifications for FEMA Corps members?
- How will the FEMA Corps members obtain the skills and expertise to perform FEMA Corps assignments?
- Will this partnership duplicate existing services that the NCCC and FEMA already provide?
- Is a FEMA Corps member’s work assignment considered a job for FEMA?
- How will the FEMA partnership impact the traditional NCCC program?
- Will FEMA Corps impact the funding of State Commissions, CNCS grantees, or other non-profit organizations?
- How can organizations and agencies request the FEMA Corps resource?
- How can a young person apply to be a FEMA Corps Member?
- What is FEMA Corps? The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) joined forces to establish a FEMA-devoted division of 1,600 service corps members within AmeriCorps' National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) solely dedicated to disaster readiness, response, and recovery.
FEMA Corps members serve a 10-month term, with an option to apply for a second 10-month term of service. NCCC- FEMA Corps is a full-time, team-based, residential service program for men and women, between the age of 18 to 24, operated in the same campus structure as AmeriCorps NCCC. FEMA Corps members are assigned to one of five NCCC campuses, located in Denver, Colorado; Sacramento, California; Perry Point, Maryland; Vicksburg, Mississippi; and Vinton, Iowa. FEMA Corps members receive a living allowance of approximately $4,000 for the 10 months of service (about $200 every two weeks before taxes), housing, meals, limited medical benefits, up to $400 a month for childcare, if necessary, member uniforms, and a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program.
FEMA Corps members are national service participants and will provide support in areas ranging from working directly with disaster survivors to supporting disaster recovery centers to sharing valuable disaster readiness and mitigation information with the public.
- What’s the difference between FEMA Corps and the traditional track of AmeriCorps NCCC? The AmeriCorps NCCC program focuses in a wide variety of service and project areas including direct response and recovery to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, energy conservation, and urban and rural development. In partnership with nonprofits, secular and faith based organizations, local municipalities, state governments, federal government, national or state parks, Indian Tribes and schools; NCCC members complete service projects throughout the campus region they are assigned.
FEMA Corps members will solely focus on disaster response and recovery activities with FEMA. Members will be dedicated to FEMA deployments in areas of logistics, community relations, individual and public assistance, and recovery. They will provide support in areas ranging from working directly with disaster survivors to supporting disaster recovery centers to sharing valuable disaster mitigation information with the public.
- Will the traditional NCCC track still respond to natural and other disasters? Yes. As one of our main project focus areas, NCCC has a commitment to work related to disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery. The traditional NCCC track will still work directly with state commissions, nonprofits, and faith based disaster response organizations. Potential activities include setting up and managing shelters and emergency call centers, large scale debris removal, demolition and construction, as well as leading and contributing to overall volunteer efforts. AmeriCorps NCCC members can expect at least one project in this focus area.
- How Do I Apply to FEMA Corps? To apply to FEMA Corps simply search listings for AmeriCorps NCCC or AmeriCorps NCCC Team Leaders. All NCCC opportunities that are currently accepting applications will be listed here. Select AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps and “Apply Now.”
- Can I apply for more than one AmeriCorps NCCC track? Yes. You can use the same application to apply to FEMA Corps and AmeriCorps NCCC as a Team Leader or Corps Member. Simply search listings for AmeriCorps NCCC, and click on each listing to select “Apply Now” for each opportunity that interests you. If you do not submit your application to a specific listing or position, your application will not be considered, so be sure to select “Apply Now” for each listing. You will receive a confirmation email upon successful submission.
- Can I be selected for both AmeriCorps NCCC and FEMA Corps, and then choose which track I want to do? No. Once you are invited to serve for one NCCC service track you will no longer be able to be selected for the other NCCC service track. Be sure to learn as much as possible about the many opportunities available to you, and decide which option is right for you.
- Why are CNCS and FEMA offering this FEMA Corps track? As an easily deployable, highly motivated, and energized corps of young people, AmeriCorps NCCC has been a vital support system for communities across America in times of natural disaster and with FEMA Corps we hope to expand our impact to all communities in these times of need. With the help of FEMA and an increase of 1,600 additional corps members we can greatly increase our level of support and strengthen the nation’s disaster response capacity.
In FEMA Corps, young people are provided with the training, experience, and educational opportunities to prepare them for careers in emergency management and related fields, a commitment that extends beyond their service term
The partnership will strengthen our nation’s culture of service and civic engagement by mobilizing corps members and community volunteers to provide critical disaster services.
- Who is paying for this new division within the NCCC? FEMA Corps is fully funded by FEMA to include the living allowance, education award, startup costs, staffing, and all other associated costs.
- What will FEMA Corps members do? In their 10-month term of service, the FEMA Corps members will focus on disaster readiness and recovery activities, providing support in the following areas (this is a sampling of the tasks):
• Assisting in individual applicant case work and providing information to individuals and families on available resources
• Assist in coordinating management report and tracking the delivery of assistance to individuals and families
• Standing up and coordinating Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC’s)
• Supporting FEMA Joint Field Offices
• As requested, assist states with mass evacuations
• Assist in inspecting damages, identifying community needs, and coordinating recovery cost estimates.
These vital services provided by FEMA Corps members help with the recovery time for individuals, families and communities following the initial impact of a disaster which sometimes can span up to three years or more.
The FEMA Corps members will be deployed to FEMA at all times and all assignments will be associated with the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended. These members will not deploy to projects in the same manner as the traditional NCCC program.
- How will FEMA Corps teams be deployed for a FEMA assignment? CNCS will deploy FEMA Corps members in teams directly in response to FEMA requests for deployment and in accordance with NCCC procedures. FEMA Corps members will serve on work assignments from FEMA. FEMA Corps Team Leaders will be responsible for the supervision of FEMA Corps members on FEMA assignments.
- How will FEMA Corps be marketed to the public? FEMA Corps is marketed as a division within AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).
- What are the qualifications for FEMA Corps members? FEMA Corps members will:
• Work collaboratively in a team-based environment, which includes considering team needs and values at all times.
• Interact with others in a professional manner.
• Express one’s needs and be supportive to the needs of others.
• Develop respectful relationships with other people from diverse backgrounds.
• Manage and cope effectively in high-stress environments.
• Engage in effective conflict resolution and problem solving which includes the appropriate management of anger.
- How will the FEMA Corps members obtain the skills and expertise to perform FEMA Corps assignments? NCCC and FEMA will provide the training, experience, and educational opportunities to prepare thousands of FEMA Corps members with the skills needed to do the service with FEMA. This national service experience will also help prepare FEMA Corps members for possible careers in emergency management and related fields well beyond their term of service.
- Will this partnership duplicate existing services that the NCCC and FEMA already provide? No. For FEMA this partnership will augment the existing Reservist program. For CNCS and the NCCC, the level of engagement within the disaster services area will increase. The 1,600-member program will not duplicate the important relief and recovery work already performed by the current NCCC program and AmeriCorps grantees through FEMA mission assignments and requests from community agencies. Members participating in the FEMA-funded FEMA Corps program will focus their efforts on tasks not currently part of the NCCC portfolio of service.
- Is a FEMA Corps member’s work assignment considered a job for FEMA? No. A FEMA Corps member is a national service participant and CNCS will deploy FEMA Corps teams in response to FEMA’s needs. FEMA will reinforce its current disaster workforce through the funding of this national service program. This program and partnership will strengthen and augment FEMA’s existing workforce. FEMA has a cadre of Reservists which FEMA will continue to call upon. The NCCC members will complement them.
- How will the FEMA partnership impact the traditional NCCC program? It will complement and expand the NCCC engagement in communities across the country by partnering through FEMA with community organizations and providing immediate assistance after a disaster strikes. It will also increase by 1,600 members and provide the opportunity for young Americans to serve their fellow citizens.
Any national, community, and faith-based non-profit organization, municipal and state government, federal agency or program, city, state and national park, or school throughout the United States and US territories can still apply to receive AmeriCorps NCCC resources. Traditional NCCC teams will continue to serve communities in the areas of infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, energy conservation, urban and rural development and natural and other disasters. Interested organizations can learn more about becoming an AmeriCorps NCCC project sponsor on the AmeriCorps NCCC page.
- Will FEMA Corps impact the funding of State Commissions, CNCS grantees, or other non-profit organizations? All funding for the FEMA Corps comes directly from FEMA. This partnership does not take any funding away from Commissions, CNCS grantees, or other non-profit organizations. These entities will continue to be involved in disasters through the Mission Assignments and Cooperative Agreements through the CNCS Disaster Services Unit.
- How can organizations and agencies request the FEMA Corps resource? FEMA is the only project sponsor for FEMA Corps and all service projects and work assignments will come directly from FEMA. FEMA Corps members, led by their team leaders, will at all times, work on tasks assigned and overseen by FEMA and will not be deployable in the same manner of the traditional NCCC program. The FEMA Corps members will be engaged in specific technical tasks, and deviations from these tasks will be allowed on a very limited basis only after all traditional resources have been exhausted.
- How can a young person apply to be a FEMA Corps Member? The age requirement for FEMA Corps members is between 18-24 years. Applicants will apply for this summer’s first FEMA Corps term through the standard NCCC Fall 2014 application. Applicants will need to create an application through the My AmeriCorps website and then submit that application to the NCCC Fall 2014 listing. Once an application has been submitted, within 7- 10 business days, an acknowledgement packet will be in the mail with information regarding the next steps.