Help us take our disaster recovery program to the next level!

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Want to help with hurricane recovery and take the FBB disaster recovery program to the next level?

Starting in June 2019, Foundation Beyond Belief (FBB) will send a volunteer to New Bern, North Carolina to help with recovery in the area. In addition to helping rebuild, this volunteer will help us organize our two week group deployment in New Bern in early September. (We will release more information about signing up for the group deployment in July.)

Last September, Hurricane Florence landed in the Carolinas. Although it was “only” a category 1 hurricane when it made landfall, by stalling and combining with a large storm surge, it caused widespread flooding. Several rivers overflowed their banks, major highways were impassable, and many areas received record amounts of rain with more than 30 inches in some places. The overflowing rivers were contaminated by partially treated wastewater, coal ash, and manure. The direct and indirect death toll in the US was 57, which includes two mental health patients who were shackled in the back of a transport van that was swept away. Property damage and other economic losses, including 3.4 million farmed poultry and 5,500 pigs, for North and South Carolina are estimated at $24 billion.

FBB launched an appeal to help mitigate the extensive damage from Hurricanes Florence and Michael. One of our beneficiaries, All Hands and Hearts (AHAH), is providing the infrastructure for our volunteers in New Bern. AHAH volunteers have already rebuilt at least 189 sites during their Florence recovery efforts, but there is a lot more work to do. AHAH is need of more volunteers in New Bern, which is why we are deploying there. Much of the attention from a disaster drops off after six months and volunteers are much more difficult to find.

What will volunteering entail? While in New Bern, you will likely be working on mold sanitation and critical repairs, which includes installing drywall, insulation, basic cabinetry, and appliances. Never done this before? Don’t worry. You will receive training in whatever work you'll be performing. If you are not from New Bern, FBB will help you get there and accommodation will be provided at the AHAH base camp. AHAH base camps are communal living spaces with gender-neutral dorm style rooms with bunk beds and air mattresses. On work days you will be provided with three meals, snacks, and water. FBB is also offering a monthly stipend to help with additional expenses.  

To apply for this role, please submit this form (with cover letter and resume attached) before April 3rd. Construction and/or disaster deployment background is a plus, but not required. There is a possibility that this role may be formalized and/or extended longer-term after the deployment. Questions can be emailed to info@foundationbeyondbelief.org.

You can make a real, tangible difference in the lives of people affected by Florence and other disasters!


**The Humanist Disaster Recovery program is sustained through a partnership between Foundation Beyond Belief and the American Humanist Association (AHA). We thank AHA for their generous support of our efforts.