To develop a team of trained AmeriCorps members to assist in the event of state or federally declared disasters.  As a result of participation in Disaster Corps, members will gain knowledge of disaster & emergency preparedness, spontaneous volunteer & donation management, and the emergency management process in the state of Utah. Upon completion of initial training, members will be ready to deploy in the event of a disaster in our state.

Members will commit to monthly meetings or trainings for at least six months after their initial training in October or March.  The initial training session will cover material that is essential for members to deploy and assist with spontaneous volunteers or donations.  Additional meetings for Disaster Corps members will provide networking opportunities or training on emergency response skills.  This group would be the commission’s first line of contact for activation and/or deployment as part of a UServeUtah response to a federal or state declared disaster. Alums of the Utah Disaster Corps would be encouraged to remain engaged in the disaster response realm as skilled volunteers.

The Utah Disaster Corps shall consist of multiple members from each of the programs that have members serving for 6 months or more. 

• The Disaster Corps will be open to all AmeriCorps State and VISTA members that will have six consecutive months of service after training begins in October or March. Members will be required to gain prior approval from their program director or project supervisor in order to participate.

• It is expected that Disaster Corps members will attend any of the offered trainings that their schedule allows.  Members who complete the initial training of Disaster Corps 101, Basic First-Aid & CPR, Donations Management, and Spontaneous Volunteer Management will be certified and recognized members of the Utah Disaster Corps.

• AmeriCorps members who join the disaster corps will gain experience and develop skills that would aid them during a disaster or as part of a career in emergency management.  They will also have networking opportunities with members from other programs, UServeUtah staff, and emergency management personnel.

• Initial training is expected to take 16 Development Hours.  After initial training, Disaster Corps members should expect to use 30 minutes of Member Development time each month.  Specific training and meeting details may vary.  Directions and information will be shared each month from UServeUtah staff.  Total Member Development time will be 20 - 30 hours.

  If a member is deployed to assist during a disaster, their time spent will be considered direct service hours.

Talk to your program supervisor for permission, then apply here.