RV Disaster Corps

Yesterday, we got an email from Workamper News that showed their Thanksgiving special. But what caught my attention was their intent to donate part of the proceeds from membership upgrades and renewals for the rest of the month. The donations are to go to something called the RV Disaster Corps.

 

I went to their website to learn more about the organization and, after an initial review, it sounds very much like what we wanted to participate in way back when we started on the road in 2005. I can't believe we hadn't heard about this group, but it turns out it's only been existence since September 2016, and it started as a response to a more local problem in Texas.

I immediately called and spoke to Susan Copeland and Jamie Allnutt, the originators and coordinators of RV Disaster Corps and asked if we could help. They were thrilled that I called, and after chatting for a bit, we agreed to talk again this morning. We're excited to get involved, and I've been learning more so I can pass it along to you. We're going to talk again next week, but in the meantime, we're going to start getting the word out.

The RV Disaster Corps homepage video provides a tremendous overview.

 

 

 

 

How RV Disaster Corps Came About

In 2013, the West Fertilizer Plant (in the town of West, just north of Waco) exploded.  

Jamie AllNutt's house was heavily damaged from the explosion, and she got involved with the Heart of Texas Retired Senior Volunteer Program in Waco which responded to the disaster. The Heart of Texas Retired Senior Volunteer Program is part of the Senior Corps which operates under the Corporation for National and Community Service.

From the CNCS website:

We are the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that leads service, volunteering, and grant-making efforts in the United States. We help millions of Americans improve their lives and the lives of their fellow citizens through service. We work hand-in-hand with local partners to tap the ingenuity and can-do spirit of the American people to tackle our country's most pressing challenges. We are AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, the Volunteer Generation Fund, and more.

The Heart of Texes Retired Senior Volunteer Program was given funding to help coordinate volunteers, but it was a struggle to find housing for all the volunteers that came to help. A huge problem in disaster areas is finding a place for volunteers to stay, and that is often exacerbated when residents are displaced from their homes and need to live in the hotels and any other available structures.

As you heard in the video, they realized there are people with mobile housing that can be deployed - RVers. It's much easier to find campsites than coordinate lodging where there is none. One thing led to another and the RV Disaster Corps was created.

There are many reasons why enlisting RVers makes sense.

1. They don't need housing,
2. They can stay and help for longer periods,
3. They have knowledge, skills, talents, and experience,
4. Their presence helps give the struggling local economy a little boost.

The volunteers are not "first responders", they are "second responders" that start assisting with recovery efforts a month or two after disaster events, and those efforts are often necessary for months and years. Most of the RV volunteers stay a week or two, but some volunteer for a month or more. Susan says “They can stay as little or as long as they want. People have found that it recharges them and it humbles them.”

 

How It Works 

The RVDC website lists a four-step process to get started.

1. Create an RVDC profile that includes a valid email address and password to access the MyRVDC online portal.
2. Complete an online Application and submit it; it's automatically accepted.
3. Complete the 4 Units of Training & Assessment online; Each unit has a study section and is completed with the passing of a quiz (an Assessment).
4. You are then ready to serve with RVDC.
5. You can use the MyRVDC to refer back to the training and track your service hours.

Jamie says more training for more specific positions will be added in the future. As of now, they say the above takes a couple of hours.

Once your application is submitted and the training units have been completed, you will be contacted by RVDC and deployed. RVDC helps you find a place to camp with hook-ups. Susan and Jamie told me that, so far, they haven't had to ask anyone to dry camp. The cost of camping is the volunteer's responsibility.* Some RV parks and campgrounds may offer discounts, but RVDC in no way guarantees that.

You pay all your own expenses during your volunteer term, but some of those may be deductible.*

Once on location, you will receive additional on-site training for what needs to be done in that area.

Jobs and needed skills vary a lot, but there is something for everyone. According to Jamie, “You don’t have to swing a hammer. You can assess damage, do inspections, manage donations. You can be indoors.”

Susan says “That one-to-one assistance is important. It can be filling out forms to going to a home and assessing the damage. Anybody can do it.” 

* - Though the value of your services are not tax deductible, your unreimbursed expenses related to volunteering, including campground costs, probably are. However, these volunteer expenses are only deductible on Schedule A Itemized Deductions, so if you are not itemizing, you can't deduct the expenses. For those that do itemize, see IRS Publication 526 and the section called "Out-of-Pocket Expenses in Giving Services" and/or talk with your tax advisor.

 

Are You An RVer? Would You Like To Help?

If so, go to the RVDC website and look around. It's a simple website to navigate and you can easily find the Join/Login page. Per the steps above, create your Profile, Submit an Application, and Complete the Training & Assessment. 

RVDC is a small organization with limited funding at this point, and they are extremely busy, so be patient. When you are contacted, they will find you a spot that works with your schedule.

You don't have to be a senior or retired, you just need an RV and be willing to help. 

Have you always talked about helping out in a disaster, but didn't know where to start? RV Disaster Corps makes it easier to get involved, and the work is done after the craziness of the immediate aftermath of the events. And I can assure you it will be something that will provide you fulfillment and a sense of purpose, and as Susan states, there's a good chance it will re-charge you and your faith in the human spirit.

If you are unable to volunteer at this time, you can certainly help get the word out to your RVing friends and groups that you are a part of.

My goal is to overwhelm them with volunteers to the point they will need volunteers to coordinate volunteers all over the country. And, at that point, they will need even more staff and more funding. So, even if you don't have an RV and you believe in the concept, I'm sure monetary donations will be greatly appreciated.

 

The RVer Spirit

When we started full-timing in 2005, we were on the road about a month when Hurricane Katrina hit. We had our house with us, we had time, and we had the desire to help, but we were told by several organizations to stay away because we would likely get in the way and resources such as food, gas, and even electricity were limited. It takes an organized effort to make things better, so they recommended against volunteer "self-deployment". It was frustrating, but understandable.

To our surprise, victims and refugees flowed into the campground where we were staying in central Alabama, and we became part of an RVer/camper-driven effort to assist these people. We got donations, posted job offerings, helped with communications with the satellite internet we had at the time, coordinated meal schedules with the many churches that sent food, and worked with the National Guard to set up meal tents. It was one of the most fulfilling things we've ever been a part of, and in our first month on the road we came to know the heart and spirit of RVers.

Here's what I know. RVers are wonderful people that like to help others. We have a strong work ethic, we have compassion, we're smart, and we have an amazing variety of skill sets. And we can show the rest of the country what it is like to work together for the common cause of helping those that have been affected by disaster. Sure, we have different views and beliefs and opinions, but when it comes down to it, we can set all that aside and do what needs to be done. If you, like us, believe that, then join us in mobilizing an RV force to provide much needed assistance in areas devastated by disaster that are forgotten once the first responders and news media leave.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and we hope you pass it on.

Sincerely,

Howard & Linda

 

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P.S. If RV Disaster Corps isn't right for you, consider checking out the sub-group of the Escapees RV Club known as DOVE (Disaster Operations Volunteers Escapees). It's a wonderful group that was started in 2001 that partners with the Red Cross. To be a part of DOVE, you have to be an Escapees member, a member of DOVE, and a Red Cross Volunteer, but this is an RV organization that's been around a long time and also assists with disasters. They just do things differently and in conjunction with the much larger Red Cross.

Also, Habitat For Humanity has an RVing section known as RV Care-A-Vanners and a special group comprised of RV Care-A-Vanners known as the Disaster Rebuild Team. We've met several RV Care-A-Vanners over the years, and this too is a great organization of RVers giving back. For some, this may be a perfect fit.

 

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Comments

[Daniel Crooks]

Kinda sounds like a Texas thing...If you see a list of possible locations they support please let me know.

[Dan Crooks]

Is this a Texas thing or nationwide?

[Jodee Gravel]

I love this! I remember you and Linda starting out your fulltime life helping those displaced by Katrina. There are certainly many places in the west and east where help is needed.

[Cheryl Goldstein]

We agree that this is a fantastic opportunity for RVers to give back. We are scheduled for a week of volunteer work in Sinton, TX in December. Hoping to be able to do some good.

[Cheryl Goldstein]

Our understanding is that for now RVDC is supporting Texas sites because their grant money is from TX but I know they are trying to expand the volunteer opportunities.