For the first time in its 44-year history, the Peace Corps is joining a disaster relief effort domestically with 60 Crisis Corps volunteers.

Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez visited areas of Louisiana devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. “As Americans, we have an obligation to share our resources and assist when help is needed. The Peace Corps Crisis Corps program was founded on the premise of mobilizing when a crisis occurs, and this time the crisis was here at home,” said Vasquez.

The new volunteers will be standing in good company as the FEMA efforts in Louisiana consist of workers from several different government, state, local and private agencies. The volunteers will be divided into groups with 10 members each going to Plaquimines and Saint Bernard parishes and 40 people going to Orleans parish.

Crisis Corps teams will be working with FEMA's Community Relations teams, in Disaster Recovery Centers, as well as teaming up with Firefighters Task Force 83. Additionally, the volunteers will offer assistance at churches and American Red Cross distribution centers. FEMA will deploy Crisis Corps members to aid in the travel trailer housing project. The Peace Corps will keep a liaison on hand to also aid in coordinating disaster relief efforts.