The AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team (ERT) is a multi-functional rapid deployment group based out of St. Louis, Missouri, that has been called out nationally to floods, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes, search and rescue, ice storms, and terrorist attacks. When not responding to natural disasters, the ERT functions as a conservation corps that assists the Missouri Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and local Missouri organizations with various natural resource projects, including trail building and maintenance, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and prescribed burning.
Service Activities
On any given day, an ERT Member could:
1. Provide immediate and long-term relief in areas affected by natural disasters
2. Restore Missouri forests, river-ways, and recreation areas
3. Build and maintain hiking trails
4. Fight wildland fires or participate in prescribed burns
Community Need Addressed
The three pillars of our AmeriCorps program— environmental stewardship, wildland fire, and disaster response— all play a very important role in addressing climate change.
In our country the frequency of natural disasters has doubled in the last decade, and the threat of human-made disasters has increased; yet, most citizens are still unprepared when disaster strikes. The ERT strives to serve any community, large or small, affected by disaster, focusing particularly on the vulnerable populations who are often impacted the most.
Position Outcomes
All ERT Members receive extensive trainings and certifications throughout their term in the areas of emergency response, environmental stewardship, and wildland firefighting. Some of these trainings include team building and leadership skills, introduction to disaster services, chainsaw and other power equipment operations, supporting people in crisis, risk management approaches, Incident Command System, emergency communications, and other basic emergency medical care.
Over the course of the service year, ERT Members will have various opportunities to support communities affected by natural disasters, improve the environment through conservation and natural resource management projects, and participate in wildfire response and prescribed burning as weather permits.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Free mental health support options
2-week winter break and 6 national holidays
Paid Personal Vacation Days and Sick/Mental Health Days
Discounts for outdoor gear, YMCA Memberships, cell phone plans, public transportation, tax filing, and car insurance available
Networking and professional development
U.S. Forest Service Preferential Hiring eligibility through the Public Lands Corps
Education Benefits
S212 Chainsaw Certification; Red Card Certification in Wildland Firefighting; CPR/First Aid
Skills you will gain
Teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution, problem solving, CPR/First Aid, timekeeping, project management, various hard skills (chainsawing, trial building, etc), public speaking, mental health first aid
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment