Et cetera : NCCC Called Up to Assist with Disaster Relief Efforts in Wisconsin

By: Taylor Jean Maciosek and Angela Sarrels

NCCC team Oak 5 will complete their project at Sugar Creek in Ferryville, Wisconsin where they are currently removing honeysuckle and bucking tree tops to allow for more native plants to grow and for a healthier ecosystem this Friday, April 15.  The NCCC team will then head to Adams County on Saturday, April 16 to assist with disaster clean up efforts.

On April 11, 2011, Adams County, Wisconsin encountered spring thunderstorms with strong winds, hail and tornados. As a result, homes were damaged and destroyed. NCCC members will assist NECHAMA with cleanup in Adams County by conducting brush and debris removal. Members have the opportunity to learn about the initial stages of disaster relief and the community benefits by allowing people to move to the reconstruction phase quicker after being affected by disaster.  

Oak 5 spent two days, March 18-19, with NECHAMA being trained on disaster clean up and chainsaw usage. NECHAMA (Hebrew for comfort) is the Jewish community's disaster response organization. Based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, NECHAMA has deployed thousands of volunteers to help communities clean-up after floods, tornados, and other natural disasters.