• Article Photo. Team leaders spent the day introducing FemaCorps members to the campus at the IBSSS.
    Team leaders spent the day introducing FemaCorps members to the campus at the IBSSS.
  • Article Photo. Members carry their large back packs toward the dorms.
    Members carry their large back packs toward the dorms.
  • Article Photo. Benjamin Hanson arrived from Massachussetts on Tuesday to begin the FEMA Corps program.
    Benjamin Hanson arrived from Massachussetts on Tuesday to begin the FEMA Corps program.
  • Article Photo. The Beyerly family of Minnesota accompanied Jeffery (left) to Vinton.
    The Beyerly family of Minnesota accompanied Jeffery (left) to Vinton.
  • Article Photo. Patrick Mackie looks for the right-sized coveralls.
    Patrick Mackie looks for the right-sized coveralls.
  • Article Photo. Rob Miller and Patrick Mackie try on coveralls.
    Rob Miller and Patrick Mackie try on coveralls.
  • Article Photo. Not like this: Patrick Mackie of the Philadelphia area gets an introduction to FEMA Corps overalls.
    Not like this: Patrick Mackie of the Philadelphia area gets an introduction to FEMA Corps overalls.
  • Article Photo. Feet first; Fema Corp member Patrick Mackie with coveralls.
    Feet first; Fema Corp member Patrick Mackie with coveralls.
  • Article Photo. FemaCorps members came from many different states all over the U.S.
    FemaCorps members came from many different states all over the U.S.
  • Article Photo. Jeffery Beyerly tries on gloves.
    Jeffery Beyerly tries on gloves.
  • Article Photo. Team leaders welcomed new arrivals and showed them to their rooms.
    Team leaders welcomed new arrivals and showed them to their rooms.
  • Article Photo. FemaCorps members begin with the required paperwork.
    FemaCorps members begin with the required paperwork.
  • Article Photo. Each team assigns members to special roles.
    Each team assigns members to special roles.

Patrick Mackie and Rob Miller are both from the same area of Philadelphia, but they didn't meet until Tuesday, in Vinton. They discussed neighborhoods they were both familiar with, and the best places their for teens to find jobs, as they tried on overalls. 

The two were among nearly 200 arrivals Tuesday at the Iowa Braille School, where the AmeriCorps NCCC has been based since 2008. The first Fema Corps teams arrived last year; the second group is now in training and will begin their service in a few weeks.

Campus Director Dan Milnes said program administrators have already identified specific types of projects, although teams do not yet know where they will serve. All FEMA Corps teams work in areas that have been declared Federal Emergency Areas because of tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding or other disasters.

After four weeks of training in Vinton and a two-week FEMA-specific training in Alabama, members will participate in an Induction ceremony Sept. 28 before heading out for their first projects. Many will also assist with local projects and events at various times. 

The first day's activities include signing in, a variety of paperwork, and fitting for uniforms, including coveralls, boots and gloves. 

The members and team leaders began their second day with a group meeting (called Community). Milnes welcomed the members and told them that NCCC has "great neighbors and wonderful partners" in both Vinton and the IBSSS family. He told them to take care of that partnership. 

"They are good for us and we are good for them," he said. 

Dan Boddicker of the IBSSS staff welcomed the members as well. He told them that the very first AmeriCorps team leaders who arrived came during the Flood of 2008 and spent their early days in Vinton sand-bagging and helping to run a Red Cross shelter. Also, in 2011, another group of new NCCC arrivals were awakened early on July morning by the storm and immediately went to work clearing the grounds. 

The roof of the IBSSS building, seriously damaged by that storm, is still under reconstruction. Milnes told the members that soon they will be helping other disaster victims recover from their losses.