In the ongoing efforts to improve the nation's ability to respond to the impact of disasters, a new collaboration was announced by Secretary Napolitano. The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) have launched a new partnership "designed to continue to strengthen the nation's ability to respond and recover from disasters while expanding career opportunities for young people." The partnership will create a new unit of AmeriCorps' National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) devoted solely to FEMA disaster response and recovery efforts. Over the course of the five-year agreement the new FEMA corps will provide a "full service corps of 1,600 members annually who will be an additional workforce in support of FEMA's current disaster reserve workforce."

In her comments on the launch of the partnership, Secretary Napolitano pointed to the partnership as one that is designed to "underscore our commitment to shared responsibility and strong partnership to help communities across the United States more effectively prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters of all kinds." Further, "This partnership will help us respond to disasters in a way that is cost-effective, and draws on the strengthens of our communities and our people."