Resources for Members Affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton

AmeriCorps sent this bulletin at 10/16/2024 03:00 PM EDT
AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps VISTA

Oct. 16, 2024

Member Resources in the
Aftermath of Hurricane Helene and
Hurricane Milton

Dear AmeriCorps VISTA sponsors,

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. Learn more about AmeriCorps' disaster response work.

Today, members will be receiving a message that outlines the resources from AmeriCorps that are available to them during emergencies. We have included a copy of these resources below, in addition to information on how you can help your members to access these resources.

As you know, members often serve in communities impacted by disasters prior to those disasters and are therefore some of the very first people to respond in the community. In my experience, members often move from sustainability and capacity building roles to emergency response overnight, and their 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.  

Please know that both you and your members have resources available that can help support you through these and any future emergencies. The AmeriCorps VISTA Sponsor Handbook (pages 71 to 72) provides information on natural disasters. Your AmeriCorps VISTA team is behind you and ready and available to help. Please reach out to your point of contact within the Office of Regional Operations.

Thank you for joining with members to support 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. 

In service,

Maggie Garvey, Acting Director
AmeriCorps VISTA

Support Available to Members in Emergencies

We are sending the message in the following section to members in disaster declared counties, but we are aware that electricity and internet issues may result in delayed or undelivered messages. Please review the message to ensure that you know how the AmeriCorps VISTA program can support members during this time and feel free to share this message with your members if they are unable to access it themselves.

Below, we have outlined a few reminders of responsibilities and additional flexibilities specific to you. Please know that your point of contact within the Office of Regional Operations is still your best option, but please contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at 1-800-942-2677, if you have any questions or concerns.

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 the Office of Regional Operations to notify them of your location.

If the Office of Regional Operations cannot be reached, contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at 1- 800-942-2677. 

Leave

You are responsible for tracking all leave taken by members serving in the VISTA program. You must also contact the Office of Regional Operations to request emergency leave or emergency medical leave. Five additional days are available in each category. Emergency leave, in particular, should be used prior to personal or medical leave while emergency medical leave can only be used once all other leave has been exhausted. See the sponsor handbook, pages 69 to 72, for additional information.

Administrative Hold for Disasters

If your member serving in the VISTA program is unable to return to their site after exhausting their emergency leave, please contact the Office of Regional Operations to request they be placed on administrative hold. If the member is unable to return to the site after 30 days on administrative hold and has exhausted their leave, they will be terminated with a prorated end of service award if they have completed at least 15 percent of their service term. See the sponsor handbook, page 72, for additional information.

Reworking of the Awarded Project Application and/or AmeriCorps VISTA Assignment Description

We understand that disasters can change the needs of the communities that you are serving in, and you may want to rework the scope of the awarded AmeriCorps VISTA project application and/or the assignment description to meet that new need. Please contact the Office of Regional Operations to discuss this further, including whether a change is needed to the awarded application and/or the assignment description. See the sponsor handbook, page 31, for additional information.

Members Engaging in Limited Direct Service

On a case-specific basis and with approval from the Office of Regional Operations, members may engage in limited direct service activities that are not part of their original project application, generally for up to 30 days immediately following a disaster. Please contact the Office of Regional Operations, if this situation applies to you and members serving with your project.

Teleservice

If your members are unable to access your site but have internet and power, are safe, and can reasonably work during this time, please encourage them to submit the AmeriCorps VISTA Teleservice Application. You will then need to review and approve the application. See the sponsor handbook, page 69, for additional information.

Emergency Support

Please contact VMSU@americorps.gov to request emergency travel or emergency funds (up to $500). If you are requesting emergency funds, please include the member's 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 sponsor handbook, pages 69 and 70, for additional information.
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Message to Members about Emergency Support

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.