Et cetera : FEMA Corps Continues to Help New Jersey Recover from Sandy

FEMA Corps Continues to Help New Jersey Recover from Sandy

Trevor Anderson organizing files for the FEMA Closeout Processing Center (CPC) in Colts Neck, NJ.

By: Kelsey Nunn

Spruce 1 was sent to Colts Neck, New Jersey to assist FEMA Region 2’s Closeout Processing Center (CPC) back in December 2014. They have spent the last 14 weeks helping FEMA closeout projects from Hurricane Sandy and other declared disasters.

FEMA Corps member, Matthew Atteberry states, “Similar to our first round, Spruce 1 has been aiding FEMA Region 2 with the closeout process. This region hasn’t officially closed out a disaster like Superstorm Sandy in over a decade. Although we are not doing a lot of field work in New Jersey, I feel that we are making a difference by clearing the way for FEMA experts to do the work that they need to do.”

The team has also had many opportunities for service learning during this project round. The most notable opportunity Spruce 1 had was a trip to Atlantic County, NJ. The team was able to see how Atlantic County’s Emergency management office dealt with the recent disasters and what the office learned in the process. The team also saw how far the recovery had come first hand by seeing what had and had not been repaired and built in Atlantic City, NJ. The trip gave Spruce 1 a unique perspective on emergency management and the complications that can occur after a disaster.

Spruce 1 is returning to the Vinton Campus on March 12 and will be in the area for a week. They will then head out to serve on their final project before graduating from FEMA Crops on May 21.