Et cetera : NCCC-FEMA Corps Class 21 Spotlight: Emily Hink

By: Robert Cook Jr, FEMA Corps member

Emily Hink of LItitz, Penn., is serving on team Spruce 6 in AmeriCorps NCCC-FEMA Corps Class 21. She arrived in Vinton in August of 2014 to start her 10-month service term with the program.

Emily joined the program because she wanted to spend her time giving back to communities and thought that this program was the best way to do just that.

Spruce 6 is a public assistance team made up of six people from across the country who are serving together on emergency management and long-term recovery projects with FEMA. As a public assistance team, they team goes to disaster sites to assess the damage and write grants to assist businesses impacted by the disaster.

Spruce 6 served on their first project in Washington, DC where they were worked on a new deployment tracking system made by FEMA. Hink said on this experience, “I thought it was it different, definitely an experience one I am glad to have. It taught me a lot about professionalism and gave me a different view on service.”

They are currently on their second project Washington, DC where they are working on becoming a mobile helpdesk for the new deployment tracking system.

One thing Hink has learned while serving in FEMA Corps is valuable interpersonal skills which is needed to be on a team.

After completing the program in May, she plans on traveling over the summer and then finishing her B.A in religious studies and peace studies.

Some fun facts about Emily:

Q: What is your favorite TV show and why? Arrested development because it’s hilarious.

Q: What song best describes you? Ruby Tuesday by the Rolling Stones

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up? An astronaut

Q: If you could have a superpower what would it be and why? To fly because I can travel everywhere for free.

Q: What is the most challenging and/or exciting thing you have done? Traveling out of the country.

Q: What is one thing you can’t live without? A pen

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? Be with friends if I am feeling social.