Resources for Members Affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton

AmeriCorps sent this bulletin at 10/16/2024 03:15 PM EDT
AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps VISTA

Oct. 16, 2024

Member Resources in the
Aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton

Dear AmeriCorps members,

First, we hope that this email finds you safe today. We know that many of you have been affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which have brought damage and destruction to many of our communities. We want you to know that the AmeriCorps VISTA program is thinking about you and your national service network is mobilizing to support your communities. Find out more about AmeriCorps' disaster response work.  

I want to acknowledge your service and the support that you've provided in the aftermath of these disasters. Thank you for supporting communities as they recover and assess the damages of the storms and subsequent flooding - even as you, most certainly, are facing your own difficulties as a result of the storms. 

As members serving in the VISTA program, you often serve in communities impacted by disasters prior to those disasters and are therefore some of the very first people to respond in your community. In my experience, members often move from sustainability and capacity building roles to emergency response overnight, and your service, local and connected, is often a critical hinge in the community’s overall response and healing both in the immediate and long term. These transitions need support, so please reach out if you have questions.  

Please know that you have resources available to you that can help support you through these and any future emergencies. We have highlighted a few of these resources below. Your AmeriCorps VISTA team is behind you and ready and available to provide assistance, please reach out to the AmeriCorps VISTA Member Support Unit at VMSU@americorps.gov.

In service,

Maggie Garvey, Acting Director
AmeriCorps VISTA
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Support Available to Members in Emergencies

The AmeriCorps VISTA team is available and ready to assist with your needs during this difficult time. The following information, which is also available in your member handbook, outlines the support and flexibilities that are available to you. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact VMSU@americorps.gov or call the AmeriCorps Hotline at 1-800-942-2677.

As a reminder, when an emergency situation arises that poses a potential or actual threat to life or property, please:

  • Follow the orders or recommendations of the state or local authorities regarding the need to evacuate an area.
  • Seek shelter and contact your supervisor and the AmeriCorps VISTA Member Support Unit to notify them of your location.

If your supervisor or the AmeriCorps VISTA Member Support Unit cannot be reached, contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at 1- 800-942-2677. 

Available Leave

Whether you are unable to return to your service site for personal reasons or damage to your sponsoring organization, AmeriCorps VISTA has some policies in place to support you and give you some flexibility while you recover from this disaster. See the member handbook, page 60, for additional information.

Emergency Leave

  • If your site is closed or you are unable to return to your service site due to impacts from the storm, please notify your site supervisor or sponsor immediately. They will be able to request up to five days of emergency leave on your behalf.
  • Emergency leave does not affect your personal or medical leave, so it should be used before other leave.
  • If you exceed five days of emergency leave, your sponsor should reach out to AmeriCorps and request to place you on paid administrative leave for up to 30 days. If you are unable to return to your service site or unable to find a transfer you will be exited with a prorated service award. You must have completed 15 percent of your service term.

Personal Leave

  • Ten days of personal leave can be used at your discretion in consultation with your site supervisor or sponsor.

Medical Leave

  • Ten days of medical leave can be used at your discretion for medical purposes in consultation with your site supervisor or sponsor.

Emergency Medical Leave

  • If you have exhausted all of your leave, your site supervisor or sponsor can request an additional five days of medical leave on your behalf.

Engaging in Limited Direct Service

We recognize that your priorities for service work may have shifted during this time and our policy allows for some flexibility. Please consult with your site supervisor or sponsor if you would like to engage in direct service work in your official capacity as an AmeriCorps member serving in the VISTA program. See the member handbook, page 5, for additional information.

Teleservice

If you are in a safe location with access to power and internet and are able to complete your work away from your site, please talk to your site supervisor or sponsor and complete the Teleservice Application located on your member profile at the bottom of the tabs on the left side of the screen. See the member handbook, page 94, for additional information.

Reassignment

If you would like to request a transfer to a different service opportunity, please contact VISTACase@americorps.gov to start the process. As mentioned in the emergency leave section, you will have up to 30 days of paid administrative leave to secure a reassignment. If you are unable to find a reassignment, you will be eligible for a prorated end of service award. You must have completed 15 percent of your service term. Note that if you relocate more than 50 miles for service, you may also be eligible for relocation travel assistance. See the member handbook, pages 86 and 92, for additional information.

Emergency Funds

If you are in need of emergency funds (up to $500), you or your sponsor can contact VMSU@americorps.gov to request assistance. Please include your name, NSPID (if you have it), description of the need for the funds, and list of property lost and value of the property, when applicable. See the member handbook, page 24, for additional information.

Emergency Travel

If required to evacuate, the AmeriCorps VISTA Member Support Unit can assist with emergency travel funds via reimbursement or booking of travel, if needed and requested during business hours. Please have your site supervisor or sponsor contact AmeriCorps to start this process. See the member handbook, page 63 under Emergency Leave, for additional information.

Teledoc Service for Mental Health

If you have access to the internet and a private location, you have access to 24/7/365 care over the phone or by video. Doctors can recommend treatment, provide care, and prescribe medicine without an in-person visit, co-pay, or out of pocket costs. Please visit the Teledoc portal to connect with a service provider or review the instruction document for directions on how to create your account.