AmeriCorps Disaster Services Unit (DSU) leads the agency’s engagement across the disaster services cycle with federal, state, local, nonprofit, and other partners. The DSU’s role as the central hub for the agency’s disaster-related activities ensures that AmeriCorps engagement in this area is appropriate, consistent, and coordinated. The DSU also provides technical assistance before, during, and after a disaster. This includes but is not limited to national service roles and functions in the disaster cycle, accessing national service support, volunteer and donations management, disaster response and recovery planning, disaster partnership building; and training support. Learn more on the AmeriCorps DSU website.
General Information
Serve Kentucky has pledged to assist with statewide preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters. We are working to coordinate our available resources for managing unaffiliated volunteers during times of disasters in Kentucky. In addition to disaster volunteer management, Serve Kentucky can provide disaster assistance utilizing the network of national resources in Kentucky, as needed.
AmeriCorps programs can play a role in helping prepare for and responding to disasters. However, Kentucky AmeriCorps programs cannot self-deploy. All disaster deployments (outside approved program design) must be coordinated and approved by Serve Kentucky. When a disaster occurs, Serve Kentucky will coordinate with the Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) to determine the need to request and deploy national service resources. Serve Kentucky focuses on long-term disaster recovery efforts.
Volunteerism During Disasters
When disaster strikes, unaffiliated/spontaneous volunteers who want to help will often travel from all over Kentucky and the country to assist their neighbors, friends, and even complete strangers. Yet without a plan, these much-needed volunteers can cause complications with rescue response efforts. A surge of
unorganized volunteers immediately following a disaster can actually cause more issues than help.
Serve Kentucky is a member agency of the
Kentucky Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (KY-VOAD) and can provide resources to help emergency managers develop a plan and train community members to mobilize and manage these volunteers to meet needs and ensure safety.