AmeriCorps Members at the Heart of Disaster Recovery

For SBP AmeriCorps members like Kristen Bedard, Isabella Fogal, Denise Simmon, and Alexis Patell, service is a calling and a journey of growth. Kristen found her purpose on disaster sites, leading teams through grueling days of mucking and gutting in hurricane-ravaged neighborhoods. Isabella helps survivors navigate the long road to rebuilding. Denise, a disaster survivor herself, ensures no one gives up after a FEMA denial. And Alexis hopes to break the cycle of vulnerability by helping people plan for the next disaster.

These AmeriCorps members prove that disaster recovery is not just about what is rebuilt, but about who is uplifted along the way.

Service: “AmeriCorps isn’t just about serving others—it also helps its members grow.”

Kristen Bedard didn’t expect to find herself in disaster zones when she first joined AmeriCorps straight out of high school. But after serving with the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and working on recovery efforts following Hurricane Idalia, she knew she wanted to stay in the disaster response world.

“I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do after high school,” Bedard said. “But I knew I wanted to travel, learn about different communities, and give back. AmeriCorps gave me a way to do all of that.”

Bedard is now a Disaster Corps Project Lead with SBP, a role that has taken her to multiple states in the wake of devastating hurricanes, including Helene and Milton. Her deployments focused on mucking and gutting homes, mold suppression, and helping survivors navigate the first steps toward recovery.

“In Florida, there wasn’t a lot of muck, so it was mostly straight gutting,” she said. “The homeowners were often there while we worked, and you could see how much it meant to them. In North Carolina, we saw a lot more mudslides, and homeowners tended to stay with family further away, so we had less direct interaction—but the work was just as critical.”

Long days—often nine to 10 hours, six days a week—were grueling but rewarding. Bedard saw firsthand the resilience of the communities she served. “These people had lost everything, yet they still showed us so much generosity and kindness.”

As she nears the end of her 10-month term with SBP, Bedard—a Philadelphia native— is considering staying in New Orleans for another year to do mission-driven work. “AmeriCorps isn’t just about serving others—it also helps its members grow. We take the skills we learn here into whatever we do next.”

She adds, “It’s been a privilege to serve. Communities welcome us in ways that are really special. It’s important to have structured ways to give back, and I’m grateful to be part of it.”

Compassion: “Disasters cause real trauma, and people need to know they’re not alone.”

Denise Simmon never imagined that a Google search would change her life. As a Caribbean native who has lived in Puerto Rico for more than 25 years, Simmon lived through the devastation of Hurricane Hugo in St. Croix and Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. She was looking for opportunities to help communities rebuild after disasters and her search led her to AmeriCorps and SBP. At the time, she was staying with her sister in the mainland U.S., waiting for power to be restored back home in Puerto Rico after a hurricane.

Simmon was already in her 50s and was unsure if she could physically handle the demanding work of rebuilding homes. So she started as a volunteer helping out at SBP build sites in any capacity. In just a short time, she knew she had found her place. When she finally signed on as an AmeriCorps member, Simmon started as a Project Lead, guiding volunteers through construction projects—laying flooring, installing kitchen cabinets, painting walls, and more.

Over the years, she took on various roles at SBP, from Construction Coordinator to her current position as a Client Service Coordinator in the Disaster Assistance Program. Now, she is the first point of contact for disaster survivors navigating the complex FEMA appeals process. She works directly with homeowners who have been denied assistance or received insufficient aid, helping them gather documents, understand their rights, and submit strong appeals.

Her experience as a survivor of multiple hurricanes—including Hurricane Hugo and Hurricane Maria—allows her to empathize deeply with those she serves. “Sometimes we just talk about what we’ve been through,” she says. “Disasters cause real trauma, and people need to know they’re not alone.”

Her compassion has made her a trusted resource, with past clients referring friends and neighbors to her for help. One case in particular stuck with her—a young mother whose home was completely destroyed. Denise worked closely with her to gather every document needed for a strong FEMA appeal. When the approval finally came through, SBP’s office erupted in celebration. The mother wanted to send Denise a gift, but Denise had a different request: “Pay it forward. Help someone else who needs it.” Weeks later, she received a message: “I found someone. An elderly man who needs help. I’m sending him to you.”

Denise’s journey with SBP has come full circle. From volunteering on construction sites to guiding survivors through the recovery process, she has built more than just homes—she has built hope. “This work is about people,” she says. “The kind of people you want to be around, the kind of people who make a difference.” And for Denise, making a difference is what it’s all about.

Resilience: “We love our clients, but we want them to have the capacity and resiliency to face the next hurricane head-on.”

When Alexis Patell moved to New Orleans, she was searching for community and a way to align her passion for disaster management with meaningful work. She found both through AmeriCorps and her role as a Preparedness Coordinator at SBP. Now, she spends her days ensuring that individuals and families—especially those who have experienced disaster before—are ready for whatever comes next.

Patell helps assess community members’ preparedness for hurricanes and other natural disasters and then guides them through creating their emergency plans. The goal: Break the cycle of disaster vulnerability. “We don’t want people to be repeat clients,” she explains. “We love our clients, but we want them to have the capacity and resiliency to face the next hurricane head-on.”

One of her most impactful initiatives has been engaging college students in disaster preparedness training, particularly those new to New Orleans. Many of them arrive unaware of the realities of hurricane season, lacking evacuation plans or even basic supplies. Patell helps students think critically about their emergency plans and resources by leading workshops at Tulane University, University of New Orleans, and other local colleges.

Her efforts extend beyond the classroom. She has helped distribute preparedness kits—assembled with community donations. She also collaborates with local nonprofits, ensuring that disaster readiness reaches the communities most vulnerable to hurricanes.

Since joining SBP AmeriCorps, Patell and her fellow Preparedness Coordinators have reached over 1,300 households in less than a year. “AmeriCorps is invaluable,” she says. “The impact we make at a local level ripples out nationally. Preparedness is power, and helping people realize that has been incredibly fulfilling.”

Impact: “People join AmeriCorps because they want to be part of something bigger—to give back in a real way.”

After graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a degree in Environmental Studies, Isabella Fogal knew she wanted to stay and give back to the community she had come to love. AmeriCorps felt like the right next step, a structured way to serve while gaining hands-on experience.

Now serving as a Client Service and Volunteer Coordinator through SBP’s AmeriCorps placement partnership with the Santa Cruz Long Term Recovery Group, Fogal works directly with disaster survivors, particularly those affected by the CZU Lightning Complex fires in 2020.

Her role involves guiding clients through the long and often frustrating process of rebuilding—helping them budget, access funding, or navigate construction management. Each case is different, but the challenges are similar: financial barriers, bureaucratic delays, and the emotional toll of starting over.

“A lot of times, people come into meetings feeling angry or defeated—not at us, but at the situation,” she said. “They’ve lost their homes, and on top of that, they’ve been jumping through hoops for years just trying to rebuild.”

Much of her work is about persistence. She spends her days following up with clients, scheduling meetings, and tracking paperwork to ensure no one falls through the cracks. Survivors are often overwhelmed, not just by the loss of their homes but by the countless obstacles to recovery. Many have spent years navigating a system that can feel impersonal and unyielding.

Emotions run high in this work, but moments of connection make it worthwhile. She recalls one meeting with a couple deep in the rebuilding process. At the end, the woman broke down in tears and hugged her. “That was the moment I knew I was making a difference,” she said.

For Fogal, AmeriCorps isn’t just a job; it’s a service. “The stipend is small, but that’s not the point,” she said. “People join AmeriCorps because they want to be part of something bigger—to give back in a real way.”