Last Day with Thunder 1

Leaving Thunder 1

Alright so I've been on disaster for two weeks now, and we're still hard at work in the VRC. The work has pretty much stabilized, we get a few volunteers on the weekdays and a large influx on the weekends which is pretty normal. AmeriCorps has gone a little intense with teams down here, while there is definitely a need for volunteers I do feel like there are going to be many more disasters this season so it almost feels like instead of third round projects they should just send us on disaster. I did get some interesting news the other day, my team is coming down to Tuscaloosa! Very exciting I do miss those little rascals, and I'm actually going to be leaving Thunder 1 and rejoining Raven 5. This is both good and bad all at the same time, while I do really miss my team it was nice to have this break it definitely prevents the storming phase. But I am excited to see what we'll be doing since they were called down through FEMA. I suppose I'll update when I find out, until then I have some more lovely pictures that are actually from my 3 days I spent in Camden, and a few from disaster down here in Tuscaloosa. Enjoy!

Broad Street Run

Breaking pretzels at the Broad Street Run

Part of Thunder 1

Moundville Archeological Museum

Here's some disaster pictures

Picture update, enjoy!

This is what happens after 12+hour work days

After debris removal on a 95 degree day

ThunderMoose!

Thunder 1 and Moose 6, the first two teams on disaster

With the Navy

Disaster update

Well it's been much of the same here in Tuscaloosa, we've been working at the volunteer center leading safety briefings, registering volunteers, and working in the call center. The volunteer flow has slowed down so it's often pretty boring, but we have luckily been able to go out and do some assessments and debris removal as well. The debris removal is actually the most enjoyable part except for the heat, but we've gotten luck and it's cooled down considerably so it'll make it much more comfortable to go out and move debris. We're going to be joined today in Moundville by four more teams, Raven 6 is going to be here so I'm totally pumped about that. Right now we have no idea how long we're staying down here, we're assuming at least 30 days or possibly all of second round. But I have my plane ticket home for July 1st which makes me ridiculously happy, I'm definitely ready for a break even if it is just a week. I have some more pictures but I'm not on my laptop so they'll have to wait. Until next time!

Disaster is....chaos

   I don't have the most information to update with, other than disaster is incredibly hectic. Our hours haven't been as ridiculous as they say they normally will, but I think part of that is we were the first group to really be on the streets. We've been working within the volunteer center since Friday registering volunteers along with a few other things. We've also been going out and assessing the damage on houses from the Tornado, which to me is the most interesting part even in the heat. Tomorrow who knows what we'll be doing, that's part of disaster you have to be flexible and ready to do something you didn't expect. I have a few pictures of the damage, it's pretty crazy. I think the weirdest part is that you'll have 4 blocks completely destroyed and then the next block over the houses are completely fine. Crazy is the best way to describe it. Anyway here are some pictures and I'll update when I have time!

Welcome to Disaster

 After four days in Camden I am now leaving for disaster o Moundville, Alabama! I am extremely excited about this, this really is the reason I joined AmeriCorps to help in times of need. Tomorrow they brief us and Thursday we deploy as Thunder 1. Needless to say I ill hve more information then.
  Camden was interesting, it is incredibly similar to Detroit in so many ways, didn't feel as ucomfortable as i thought I would. the  sponsor, Respond Inc is doing great things in the cmmunity. I mean within 2 days we cleared and cleaned an entire  it was also nice being near Philly where we got to xplore Sotuh Street and wrk the Broad Street Run. I'm going to miss my team but I'm so exited to deploy on disaster. More details soon!