Virginia Lida is pictured on FEMA Corps graduation day with team leader Savannah Moffett, Tori Contreras, Hayden Parlato, Mountain Unit leader Jack Corcoran, Alec Sasamoto, Britanie Rountree, Kathleen Salas and Ben Hymson.
When University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student, Wyoming native and 2012 Forest Lake graduate Virginia Lida happened upon a blog post detailing the benefits of service in the AmeriCorps and FEMA Corps, she knew that her life was about to change. She applied for both and was accepted into a 10-month FEMA Corps program, which sent her around the country to help victims of natural disasters.
Lida’s opportunity came about when the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Corporation for National and Community Service launched a partnership to establish a FEMA-devoted unit of 1,600 service corps members within AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps solely devoted to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. FEMA Corps members focus on disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery activities, providing support in areas ranging from working directly with disaster survivors to supporting disaster recovering centers to sharing valuable disaster preparedness and mitigation information with the public.
Lida filled out an application that included work history, references and two essays. Once accepted to the program, she was given a small stipend, and her travel, food and uniforms were all paid for.
“I had never actually experienced a serious natural disaster, so I was not sure what exactly to expect,” Lida said. “I thought I would be doing a lot of hands-on stuff that would allow me to see the actual effects of the disaster areas we were serving.”
Lida was surprised to learn that she would not be part of a cleanup crew, but instead worked with local governments to help secure public assistance for those affected by the disasters.
“Although the work I started out doing was different than what I expected, I am glad that I was placed where I was,” she said. “It was inspiring to see these local government workers trying so hard to care for the people of their county even though there was very little money to work with even before they got hit with the floods.”
Lida’s FEMA Corps experience began with a general training session in Colorado. From there, she moved on to a week of FEMA-specific training in Mississippi. During the trainings, she earned the titles of public assistant specialist, hazard mitigation specialist, and planning specialist. She then spent six weeks each in Washington and New Jersey. She finished her FEMA Corps service with stints in Washington, D.C., and Nebraska. Most of her work involved areas that were affected by serious flooding and subsequent mud slides. In Newark, New Jersey, where the youth crime rate is notoriously high, she worked with police to inform youth about the benefits of FEMA Corps and how they can choose a different path for their lives.
“I am very grateful for this experience, and I would definitely do it again,” Lida said. “In fact, once I finish my bachelor’s degree, I may very well go back to FEMA Corps and hopefully become a team leader. My first experience gave me a much better sense of what direction I want my life to go in. I actually changed my college major to global studies.”
Not only is Lida planning future work with FEMA Corps, she is also encouraging other young people to do the same.
“If you are unsure of exactly where you are going with your future, I would look into FEMA Corps,” she said. “No matter who you are, you will be changed by seeing this different side of life.”