Region II Welcomes FEMA Corps Wave 2

Ready to work and learn, the FEMA Corps team “Wave 2” arrived in Region II on July 19, 2020. The team of seven will plan and implement initiatives with the FEMA Region II National Preparedness Division. They bring a diverse set of education and skills, ranging from associate degrees in art and veterinary studies to master’s degrees in education and business administration. Members hail from across the United States, representing Puerto Rico, California, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Maine.

Originally scheduled to begin their service year in March, Wave 2 faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and began their training in June. They participated in a one-month training program on the AmeriCorps NCCC campus in Vicksburg, Mississippi. They learned about their roles and responsibilities as both AmeriCorps NCCC and FEMA Corps members, including how to work, cook and live together. Upon completing training, Wave 2 was excited to receive their first deployment assignment to Region II. After a two-day, 11-hour drive from Mississippi to New Jersey, Wave 2 arrived and began their 14-day quarantine. The team is currently working virtually with FEMA staff and learning about their assigned projects.

• Charli Blackmon, Team Leader, is from Jackson, Mississippi. In addition to managing the team, Charli is developing partnerships with institutes of higher education and promoting preparedness among FEMA staff.
• Rita Bonet is from San Juan, Puerto Rico and is assisting with webinar management. She will lead a webinar about FEMA Corps (coming soon!) and is writing feature articles for the Preparedness and Resilience Bulletin, focusing on National Preparedness Month.
• Carlie Morishita is from San Diego California. Carlie is working on situational monitoring for public health preparedness and outreach to Access and Functional Needs groups. She will also assist the Grants Management Division.
• Josimar Rivera Oquendo is from Carolina, Puerto Rico. She is working with the Regional Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) to create a learning and professional development curriculum for members. Josie is also assisting with childcare facility preparedness.
• Pernell Perkins is from New Orleans, Louisiana. He will be focusing on outreach to LGBTQIA groups and Faith Based Organizations. For both projects, he will be building contact lists and developing outreach opportunities.
• Nathan Frederick, Assistant Team Leader, is from Orono, Maine. Nathan is responsible for analyzing data from webinars and other events in order to improve future outreach initiatives. He is also building a database of community organizations and other partners impacted by COVID-19.
• Noah Trotta is from Tampa, Florida. His will be assisting with outreach to organizations that serve senior citizens and Continuous Improvement projects for the region.While Wave 2 is looking forward to their projects in FEMA Region II, they may be deployed to another location at the drop of a hat. Being flexible and adaptable is crucial when working with FEMA and the team is excited to see where this service year takes them.

AmeriCorps NCCC-FEMA Corps is a full-time, team-based residential service program for 18 to 26-year-old adults who serve their country for 12 consecutive months. Teams support short and long-term emergency management activities to help communities across the country prepare and respond to disasters. Learn more about FEMA Corps.