West Virginia Disaster Corps Deploys to Mingo County

From Sunday, January 11 to Wednesday January 14 six AmeriCorps members deployed as part of a new disaster response initiative. The national service team deployed from Elkins, WV to Mingo County, WV at the request of the West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (WV VOAD). WV VOAD is helping to coordinate recovery operation for homes in Mingo County impacted by severe storms that caused flooding and wind damage to homes in the area.

 

Disaster Corps team members worked with a United Methodist Disaster Team from Pennsylvania to replace a porch and roof area of one home which was still leaking as a result of initial damage sustained during the 2012 Derecho. The Mingo Area Long Term Recovery group is working through a list of homes still in need of repair work. More than 20 homes are still in need of other recovery support. Long Term Recovery is supported primarily through volunteer labor and donations. Recovery committees like this one connect donors, grants, and resources with the homes and families that are still in need after government support programs leave the area.

Members deployed included first and second year members with a variety of expertise in Community Development, Historic Preservation, Carpentry, Architecture and Archaeology. Members are all part of an Elkins-based Appalachian Forest Heritage Area AmeriCorps Program.

AmeriCorps and West Virginia Disaster Corps are programs sponsored by Volunteer West Virginia, the state’s commission for national and community service. In 2014 Volunteer West Virginia invested more than 73,000 in disaster support services. That investment yields a web of disaster support statewide including support for individual and community preparedness campaigns, Community Emergency Response Teams,  disaster volunteer training and program management tools. Opportunities are also provided for the disaster community to cross-training with local nonprofit leaders.

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