Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC team Oak 6 Helps Out in Joplin

By Emily Fisher

Oak 6 has been in Joplin, Missouri since August 1. The team set out for their original project in Port Washington, Wisconsin on July 21 where they were scheduled to complete a number of environmental projects including invasive species removal and kiosk building. Just after a week of work in Wisconsin, Oak 6 was notified that they would be leaving Port Washington to help out with the disaster relief efforts in Joplin Missouri.

On May 22, a tremendous tornado blew through Joplin, destroying a number of homes and properties. The relief efforts have been relentless since then but there is still work that needs to be done. Oak 6, along with 3 other AmeriCorps NCCC from the Vinton campus, is working in collaboration with FEMA as case managers. This is their second experience with tornado disaster relief as they helped clean up the debris after tornadoes hit in Mississippi back in March. Oak 6 has been working very hard to make sure the community members are getting the attention they need to get their lives back on track.