On September 13 in Vicksburg, MS, the first 240 members of the new FEMA Corps were sworn into service. The press release from the Department of Homeland Security describes FEMA Corps as “an innovative partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to enhance disaster response and recovery capacity while expanding career opportunities for young people.”

The Corps was “established as a new unit within the existing AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), [and] engages young adults ages 18 to 24 to provide ten months of full-time service on disaster response and recovery projects.” Corps members “will be deployed to assignments ranging from working directly with disaster survivors to supporting disaster recovery centers to sharing disaster response and mitigation information with the public.”

FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino, who was present at the induction ceremony said, “When I visit communities devastated by disasters like Joplin, MO, I always find members of AmeriCorps lending a helping hand to survivors. Today’s inductees are taking part in an exciting new pursuit – combining the exceptional record of citizen service at AmeriCorps NCCC with FEMA’s specialized mission of supporting survivors with their recovery after a disaster. I commend and thank every member of the inaugural class of FEMA Corps for their dedication to helping communities in need.”