Updated 11/27/2023

At A Glance: AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors Disaster Assets in Times of 

Disaster

AmeriCorps Disaster Services Unit

DSU@cns.gov 

Visit us at: https://americorps.gov/disasterservices

 

AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL

AmeriCorps State and National supports a wide range of local service programs that engage thousands of Americans 

in intensive community service each year. AmeriCorps provides grants to a network of local and national organizations 

and agencies committed to using national service to address critical community needs in education, public safety, 

health, and the environment.

I. AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams (A-DRTs)

Capacity: 27 programs, approx. 2,500 members*

Capability: Direct service activities; volunteer management; leadership; capacity building

Deployment: Under a Mission Assignment from the state or the federal government. In some instances, ADRT’s may deploy within their own state without a formal Mission Assignment.

II. Grantees (AmeriCorps State & National)

Capacity: Varies by state

Capability: Direct response activities; volunteer management; leadership; capacity building

Deployment: Programs which specialize in disaster response and recovery may choose to deploy.

III. State Service Commissions

Capacity: Every state

Capability: Volunteer Reception Centers; long term recovery

Deployment: In coordination with the state to provide local support

AMERICORPS NATIONAL CIVILIAN COMMUNITY CORPS (NCCC)

AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, team-based residential service program for individuals ages 18-24. 

NCCC members are organized into 10- to 12- member teams and serve in local communities in all 

50 states and U.S. territories. The mission of AmeriCorps NCCC is to strengthen communities and 

develop leaders through team-based national and community service. FEMA Corps is a unit of 

AmeriCorps NCCC whose members are devoted solely to FEMA disaster response and recovery 

efforts.

I. NCCC Traditional Teams

Capacity: 4 campuses, 1,200 members

Capability: Direct service activities; volunteer management; leadership

Deployment: Request from a qualified organization [i.e. government agency (any level), nonprofit, faith-based 

organization, school, tribe]; under a Mission Assignment; assignment in partnership with American Red Cross.

II. FEMA Corps

Capacity: 2 campuses, 500 members

Capability: Emergency management coordination support; capacity building; assist with specific FEMA 

operational tasks

Deployment: FEMA identifies the need and coordinates assignment with the Disaster Services Unit, NCCC 

Headquarters staff, and Regional Campuses; only FEMA can request and deploy.
Updated 11/27/2023

AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA (VISTA) 

AmeriCorps VISTA members are passionate and committed to their mission to bring individuals and communities out 

of poverty. Members make a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project at a nonprofit organization 

or public agency. They focus their efforts to build the organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of 

organizations that fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster economic development, and otherwise assist lowincome communities.

Capacity: Every state

Capability: Capacity building; long term recovery; indirect service

Deployment: May be redirected from their existing projects on short-term basis

AMERICORPS SENIORS 

Senior Corps connects today’s 55+ with the people and organizations that need them most. Senior Corps helps them 

become mentors, coaches or companions to people in need, or contribute their job skills and expertise to community 

projects and organizations. Volunteers receive guidance and training so they can make a contribution that suits their 

talents, interests, and availability.

III. Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

Capacity: Every state

Capability: Direct service activities; leadership; capacity building; indirect service

Deployment: Service activities and work plans may be modified to add additional work plans to meet new 

community needs caused by disaster.

IV. Foster Grandparents (FGP)

Capacity: Every state

Capability: Temporary reassignment to related work if unable to continue service due to disaster. 

Deployment: Service activities and work plans may be modified to add additional work plans to meet the new 

community need caused by disaster.

V. Senior Companions (SC)

Capacity: Every state

Capability: Temporary reassignment to related work if unable to continue service due to disaster. 

Deployment: Service activities and work plans may be modified to add additional work plans to meet the new 

community need caused by disaster.

Deployment: Service activities and work plans may be modified to add additional work plans to meet the new 

community need caused by disaster.
Updated 11/27/2023

AMERICORPS AND AMERICORPS SUPPORT SERVICES 

Regardless of the size of the disaster event, there is at least one AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps Seniors program that can 

meet key needs in disaster response or recovery phases: 

RESPONSE 

AmeriCorps 

State/National

AmeriCorps 

NCCC - 

Traditional

FEMA Corps AmeriCorps 

VISTA

Senior 

Corps

Volunteer 

Coordination

Yes Yes No Yes - indirect 

services

Yes

Base Camp Support Yes Yes No Yes - indirect 

services

Yes

Mass Care 

(sheltering & 

feeding)

Yes Yes Yes, under FEMA 

operations/guidance

No Yes

Community and 

Public Info Outreach

Yes Yes Yes, under FEMA 

operations/guidance

Yes Yes

Warehouse and 

Donations 

Yes Yes Yes, under FEMA 

operations/guidance

Yes - indirect 

service

Yes

Call Center Yes Yes Yes, under FEMA 

operations/guidance

Yes - indirect 

service

Yes

Direct Services: 

Debris Clearance; 

Mucking/Gutting; 

Blue Roof Tarping, 

etc. 

Yes Yes No No Yes

RECOVERY 

AmeriCorps 

State/National

AmeriCorps 

NCCC - 

Traditional

FEMA Corps AmeriCorps 

VISTA

Senior 

Corps

Home 

Construction/Repair

Yes Yes No Yes - indirect 

services

Yes

Public Facilities 

Renovation

Yes Yes No Yes - indirect 

services

Yes

Needs Assessment Yes Yes Yes, under FEMA 

operations/guidance

Yes - indirect 

services

Yes

Case Management Yes Yes Yes, under FEMA 

operations/guidance

Yes - indirect 

services

Yes

Disaster Recovery 

Center Support

Yes Yes Yes, under FEMA 

operations/guidance

No Yes

Long-Term Recovery 

Committee/Group 

Yes Yes Yes, under FEMA 

operations/guidance

Yes - indirect 

services

Yes

Volunteer 

Management

Yes Yes No Yes - indirect 

services

Yes
Updated 11/27/2023

AMERICORPS DISASTER RESPONSE TEAMS (A-DRTs) 

AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams (A-DRTs) are the AmeriCorps programs that have a heightened focus on 

disaster response service and are a nationally deployable resource.

Capacity: AmeriCorps currently has 25 A-DRTs, made up of 21 AmeriCorps grantees/sub-grantees, 3 State Service 

Commission, and the AmeriCorps NCCC; this totals to access to over approximately 2,500 AmeriCorps members. 

Training: A-DRTs are trained in disaster services functions to include

• Incident Command

• CPR/First Aid

• Volunteer and Donations Management

• Mass Care/Family Services

• Shelter Operations

• OSHA certified Chainsaw Training

• Hazmat certification

A-DRT Capabilities

Individual Assistance Distribution of Life-Sustaining Supplies; Support for Mass Care 

(Sheltering; Feeding); Health and Wellness Checks

Direct Service: Mucking and Gutting; Debris clean-up 

Emergency Roof Tarping; Emergency Home Repair

Mold Suppression; Hazard Tree Removal/Chainsaw; Minor home 

repair; Critical Debris Removal; Flood Fighting (Sandbagging, etc.)

Dispatch and Tracking of Donated

Public Assistance Critical Debris Removal; Flood Fighting (Sandbagging, etc.); Dispatch 

and Tracking of Donated Equipment; Park and Public Lands Restoration

Volunteer and Donations 

Management

Volunteer Reception Center; Establish and Manage Operations

Database Management; Damage assessments; Track Volunteer Hours 

(can be used for State soft match); Field Leadership for Volunteers: 

Deliver safety and task training; Support volunteer logistics Donations: 

Warehousing Support, Points of Distribution (POD)Donations Tracking

Community Outreach Damage and Other Needs Assessment; Support to 2-1-1 or Other Call 

Centers; Client Intake and Tracking; Public Situational Awareness; Case 

Management; Support for MARCs; Transportation

Staffing for Staging Areas and Logistics; Canvassing

Capacity Building Support to Emergency Management; Support to VOAD, COADs, and 

LTRCs; Inter-agency Facilitation; Surge Capacity for Staffing; Support 

for Emergency Farm and Animal Care

Understanding the different A-DRT Programs: AmeriCorps Grantees and AmeriCorps NCCC within the A-DRT are 

two different AmeriCorps programs: AmeriCorps State and National grantees and AmeriCorps NCCC. The two 

programs are capable of the same basic direct services in disaster response, with each individual program having a 

varied level of experience and expertise. However, programmatically there are some differences between the two 

programs outlined below:

Program Structure 

and Capacity

AmeriCorps State and National AmeriCorps NCCC

Team Size 6-8 member crews; capable of adjusting 

crew size if needed, including single 

resource deployments

8-12 member teams; teams are fixed

size

Program Vehicles Typically, 2 pickup trucks/SUVs 1 GSA 15-passenger van

Supervision Crew leader (AmeriCorps or paid staff 

member)

Team Leader (AmeriCorps member)

Housing Self-sufficient for initial arrival; able to 

identify housing partners

Require housing identified before 

deployment

Sponsor/Hosting 

Organization

Self-sufficient for initial arrival; able to 

identify local organizations to partner

Require work sponsor and site 

supervisor identified before deployment

Personnel Costs Fee for service programs Fully federally funded; no fee for service