The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced the induction of its inaugural class of the newly developed FEMA Corps. The ceremony was held in Vicksburg, Mississippi, honoring some 240 enrollees into the emergency management program. The aim is to establish a 1,600 person workforce that will supplement existing institutions and personnel in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities. In this effort, FEMA is partnering with the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) to support these additional service corps members annually within AmeriCorps NCCC, a full-time residential service program for individuals ages 18-24. The FEMA Corps members serve for a 10 month term with an option to extend for a second year. The program will prepare thousands of young people for careers in emergency management and related fields.
Following are the stated benefits and aims of this initiative:
Strengthening the Nation’s Disaster Response Capacity: The partnership provides a trained and reliable resource dedicated to support disaster operations, while enhancing the entire emergency management workforce.
Achieving Significant Cost Savings to the Taxpayer: This partnership is projected to achieve significant cost savings by using a cost-effective approach to providing disaster services.
Creating Pathways to Work for Young People: By providing training, experience, and educational opportunity, the partnership will prepare thousands of young people for careers in emergency management and related fields.
Promoting an Ethic of National Service: The partnership strengthens our nation’s culture of service and civic engagement by mobilizing corps members and community volunteers to provide critical disaster services.
Modernizing Government Operations to Improve Performance: By coordinating between agencies, CNCS and FEMA are advancing the President’s management goals of working across government, managing across sectors, and promoting efficiency
For more information and to view the original article visit: http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/choose/americorpsnccc_femacorps.asp
In addition, any interested Emergency Management personnel should visit the following link to preview information on FEMA’s National Special Security Event (NSSE) grant program providing a highly funded project opportunity:
Great idea!