Utah Conservation Corps Concludes First Disaster Relief Deployment to Iowa
The Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) concluded a disaster relief deployment to Fremont County, Iowa in response to severe flooding on May 30, 2019. This deployment began on May 16 and lasted two weeks. During that two-week period, the nine-person UCC crew served more than 1,100 hours. UCC AmeriCorps members mucked and gutted three structures, cleared 59 cubic yards of debris, sorted 7,000 pounds of donations and collected an additional 6,800 pounds of donations for distribution.
In addition to their structural work, UCC members got to work directly with community members impacted by flooding. Members worked with homeowners during structural projects and performed 30 wellness/safety checks in the community. Members also assisted 21 separate individuals at the Glenwood Volunteer Reception Center in Glenwood, IA.
“The Utah Conservation Corps is honored to have this opportunity to help out our fellow Americans in a time of need and to be part the AmeriCorps response to this historic flooding," said Sean Damitz, director of Utah Conservation Corps.
To continue the accomplishments of the first deployment, UCC is preparing to send a second disaster relief crew to Iowa from June 17 to July 10. This second crew will continue aiding communities with the various stages of flood cleanup and structural rehabilitation, and helping with donation logistics.
As a member of the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team, UCC is expertly trained to provide support for shelter operations, call centers, volunteer and donation management, muck and gut operations, blue-roof tarpinp and debris cleanup, among other services. Over the past two years the UCC has responded to disasters Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.
The UCC, based out of USU’s Center for Community Engagement, was formed in 2001 with a mission to develop the conservation leaders of tomorrow. Since 2001, more than 1,400 UCC AmeriCorps members have served over one million hours creating or maintaining 3,442 miles of trail and 425 miles of fence, restoring 41,653 acres of public land and reaching 332,250 students with environmental education.
More information on UCC can be found at http://www.usu.edu/ucc.
CONTACT
Sean Damitz
Center for Community Engagement
Utah State University
sean.damitz@usu.edu
Elizabeth Kirkham Sodja
Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator
Center for Community Engagement
liz.kirkham@usu.edu
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