In the wake of a natural disaster, the focus is rarely on those working behind the scenes getting basic necessities to the most vulnerable.
Zhibek Tosi, a Delmar native who graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2011, said that’s how she felt until she became one of those workers.
“It made me thankful for what I had, because (Tropical Storm Irene) hit so close to home,” she said.
After graduating with a degree in global supply management, Tosi opted to join a new program within the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Corporation for National and Community Service have partnered to form the FEMA Corps, a residential service program for those 18 to 24 years old who act as part of first response teams during natural disasters.
Tosi said she was attracted to the program because of her educational background. Global supply management involves tracking inventory and the logistics of shipping goods throughout the country or world.
“Our team works to get supplies from warehouses to natural disaster areas,” said Tosi. “We get the office up and running as fast as possible, and get supplies to those who need them.”
FEMA Corps participants commit to working with the organization for 10 months, with the option to sign up for a second session. Members work in teams of eight to 10 people, and are given a $4,000 stipend, housing, meals and medical care. According to AmeriCorps, the program is expected to save taxpayers about $60 million a year.
Lizz Gatzunis, a media representative for FEMA Corps, said the program has eight different branches, each providing support to disaster areas. After applying for the program and being accepted, participants are surveyed to see which track they should be trained in. Once surveyed, those in the program are trained for up to five months before being deployed.
Tosi said her team spent four months being trained in general field operations at an AmeriCorps facility in Denver, before spending time in New Mexico being trained in logistics. They were then sent to New Jersey to downsize a field office that was helping with Hurricane Sandy cleanup.
“It’s been a really great way to see the country,” she said.Gatzunis said team members become like family during the 10 or 20 months they spend together. They travel the country in a 15-passenger van and live together in either hotels or makeshift bases set up by FEMA.
“We’re with each other 24/7,” said Gatzunis. “It’s a whole different aspect for us, but it’s so much easier when we are out in the field working with this team because we know each other’s quirks.”
On weekends, teams are expected to volunteer their time with the communities where they are stationed. Tosi said her team recently helped the people of Seaside Heights in New Jersey re-plant gardens, demolish homes and remove debris. She said the experience was humbling.
“I got to see these things first hand and it made me thankful for the opportunity,” she said.
Tosi’s team is now in Atlanta preparing for the hurricane season. They will take inventory of supplies and get them to distribution points along the coast. The team will then track trucks that come to delivery the supplies.
Tosi said besides making close friends, her work with the FEMA Corps has also provided her valuable real-world experience outside of college.
“This is what I want to do in real life. I love it,” she said. “I’ve also been able to see the country in a way not a lot of young adults would be able to afford.”
To learn more about the program, visit www.nationalservice.gov.