 
National Service Ready to Help After the Storm
As Hurricane Florence makes landfall along the East Coast, and tropical storms threaten Hawaii and the Caribbean, our thoughts are with the people and places in the path of the storms. It is encouraging to see evacuees taking the warnings seriously and making preparations to ensure their safety until they can return home. We wish all of them well.
Based on the devastation we have seen from past hurricanes, these storm systems could have a tremendous impact on coastal and inland areas. In response, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has staged specially trained teams of AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers to help storm-affected areas begin their recovery after the rains subside.
Our efforts are led by the CNCS Disaster Services Unit, which coordinates with federal agencies, and state and local emergency officials, nonprofits, faith-based and philanthropic organizations, and other partners to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters.
We are reminded about the importance of readiness as the month of September hosts two important events: National Preparedness Month, and the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance.
September 11th is a solemn reminder of not only those who lost their lives during and responding to the terrorist attack on our nation, but the unity of our citizens and the appropriate response to times of trouble. The families of those who died on 9/11 asked Americans to respond to evil with acts of service, one of which could be helping your family and community prepare for unforeseen events.
An easy way to do that is to participate in National Preparedness Month, an effort led by our friends at FEMA. This campaign provides information and guidance to help you plan for all types of disasters, emphasizing that "you are the help until help arrives."
These storms (and events) are reminders that we need to make sure we understand the threats that are possible in our communities, and that the best time to prepare for disaster is well before one happens.
In service,
Michael Cys,
Director,
Office of External Affairs
P.S. Visit the National Service in the News section below for an update on the staging of AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams in response to Hurricane Florence.
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