Et cetera : FEMA Corps Class 19 Member Shea Douglas saw Katrina damage first-hand

Today we continue our FEMA Corps member spotlights, featuring Shea Douglas, who helped his brother at Loyola University deal with the damage and mess of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Name: Shea Douglas

Hometown: South Burlington, Vt.

Shea is serving as a member of the AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps team Hickory 4 at the Vinton Campus. While initially interested in the traditional NCCC program, he decided to participate in NCCC FEMA Corps because he wanted to be part of something new. He says that he believes in helping others and wanted to extend a hand to people facing hard situations.

Shea graduated from Lamoille Union High School in 2007 and attended the Community College of Vermont where he studied photography and graphic design. After his service term ends he plans to return to school and complete his degree in photography.

Shea’s family has experienced firsthand the destructive power of natural disasters. When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, his brother was living in New Orleans attending college at Loyola University. After the storm and the floodwaters receded, Shea and his father drove down to New Orleans to help his brother clean out his damaged apartment.

This experience had a big impact on Shea. He says that the city he knew had changed completely with garbage and debris everywhere, night curfews, and police armored vehicles patrolling the streets at all hours. “This gave me a very good look into what goes on in disaster relief and recovery efforts after a natural disaster,” he says, efforts he is now replicating through his NCCC FEMA Corps service.

Fun Facts about Shea:

Q: What is your favorite movie? The Avengers

Q: What is your favorite book? The Lord of the Rings

Q: What is your favorite candy? Good and Fruity

Q: What is your favorite food? Lasagna

Q: One place in the world you really, really wish you could visit? Scotland and England

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? Read and play video games