Save the NCCC

What is the NCCC? It stands for the National Civilian Community Corps and the budget planners of the Bush Administration are trying to cut funding for this program. It takes 18-24 year olds from across the country and for 10 months bases them at one of five different campuses across the country, trains them in crisis management and whatever other skills they need to go into any disaster situation and be of assistance.

Why am I such a huge proponent of this program at this time? Because I was so impressed with the quality of young men and women I met from this program in my week of work in New Orleans that I had to publically make a statement of support. Since the days after the flooding of Hurricane Katrina, NCCC have been on site in New Orleans doing hands-on relief work. Groups of 8-12 NCCC members from the different campuses have spent on average two months at the Hands On site serving as leaders for the groups being sent out to gut houses.

Gutting of houses took on three phases, of which I participated in only the first two over my weeklong stay. As you saw in pictures that I previously posted, it starts with removing all the debris from a house that a homeowner wants. Generally, it is everything, save for the occasional lighting fixture or to look out for some precious keepsake, but it's all moved out to the curbside. Currently, the federal government is still paying for debris removal in Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes. Debris removal consists of all major appliances and electrical items. I watched in complete awe and a pride as 19 year old young women of the NCCC enter homes and remove refrigerators (these are NOT to be opened under any circumstances) and hot water heaters without so much as a second thought. Debris removal was generally an all day affair for a team of six or seven, all while wearing the white Tyvek suits in which sweat became a veritable swimming pool inside by the end of the day.

The second phase was removing the sheetrock and the all parts of the house below the water line right down to the 2x4 studs. This again was an all day to two day affair for larger homes. Everything had to be removed and all the studs denailed in order for the third part of the gut to occur, mold remediation.

My experience in all this was one of a 36 year old who just got on site working with the NCCC members who have been here for weeks on end. They were all understanding of when I lost some zip after lunch and let me have longer breaks. But I was inspired by the quality of the work these NCCC members, and the numerous alumni of the NCCC who heeded the call to help, did on all these guts. And they did the work with good cheer, humor and a sense of purpose that the call to service wasn't because of the $4,700 they were to receive upon completing their 10-month service year, it was the fact that this current generation responds to the call of service as a part of their lives, it is ingrained in them and it isn't a burden. Service to others is simply another aspect of their busy fulfilling lives. These members of the NCCC embody that spirit and I urge all readers to write their Congressmen and Senators to save the NCCC and in turn continue to help the residents of the Gulf Coast reclaim their lives.