“In Times of Need” - Disaster Relief Rocky Mountain Youth Corps - NM

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) is based in northern New Mexico in rural mountains, nearly three hours to the nearest airport. In the rugged mountains and isolated villages, RMYC AmeriCorps crews weatherize homes, reduce the risk of devastating wildfire, and build trails on public lands. Simultaneously, Members take steps toward economic opportunity, learning valuable work skills and certifications for future employment. Our programs are based on the belief that youth can solve America’s most pressing problems. As part of this belief, RMYC has engaged with CNCS and FEMA, and has sent crews to Louisiana and Mississippi in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Isaac, to New York City and New Jersey to respond to Super Storm Sandy, and locally, RMYC AmeriCorps crews have responded to numerous wild fires, snow storms and even floods. Now, as flooding continues on the Yukon River, RMYC is again preparing for the call from CNCS/FEMA Response Team to deploy to Alaska.

Since 2005, RMYC has deployed for over 15,000 hours to disaster ravaged areas across America. Our crews have replanted burn scarred areas, pumped water out of homes, gutted severely damaged buildings, and served in emergency shelters and volunteer centers. While we deploy with chain saws, hammers and trucks, RMYC crews also bring smiles, hugs and reassurance that life will return to normal.

Kelley DeGraff, Director of Disaster Service and Senior Advisor at CNCS, expressed her appreciation: “…I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your dedication and for the tremendous impact you have made in New York thus far. Your members are outstanding and truly inspiring. I had the opportunity to see their work during my trip last week. I meet many community members and NY state staff who couldn't say enough about the young men and women who have restored faith and provided hope.”
For New Mexican crews, disaster relief has reconnected them with the larger community that is the United States. Responding to national disasters has connected our Members to service in a different light. Due to the extreme rural nature and low socio-economic levels of northern New Mexico, many of our Members have limited travel experience and thus exposure to different ways of life. RMYC Members often express feeling hopeless, even trapped by the limited economic choices present in rural and frontier communities. Returning Members express how their outlook has changed through disaster response. None more eloquently than Jeffrey, who wrote, “Going to New Jersey gave me the first breath of fresh air I have had in two years. It opened doors that I thought were locked shut forever. Working in the emergency shelter, I gained valuable skills in conflict resolution, organization and communication.”

We work to transition Members to employment or continued education, and disaster response provides another opportunity. We have Members moving into employment and additional volunteer positions in disaster response, inspired by their experiences. This is the true power of national service to transform individuals and communities, to create bridges and strengthen ties to their country.