Training with Twine
A Chico Center Corpsmember uses twine to tie to a stake and a sandbag as part of wave wash protection training in Red Bluff, CA.
The State of California is no stranger to atmospheric river events. In December, heavy rains led to flooding in the Redding area. It’s the kind of emergency situation the young adults of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) are preparing to respond to, if and when they’re needed.
“That’s why a lot of us are here, so we can feel like we’re doing something useful,” said Redding Corpsmember Gerald Miles. “In the California Conservation Corps, we’re all classified as emergency responders. We’re all here to do our part and help out. This is a great way for young adults, especially, to get in the field of first response.”
Under the guidance of the California Department of Water Resources, crews within CCC’s Shasta-Cascade District, which encompasses centers in Yreka, Redding, and Chico, are filling and stacking sandbags in strategic formations and learning to secure sheets of plastic visqueen to levees. These actions create a protective barrier, preventing damage to people and property.
Teamwork in Action
Crews from all three centers demonstrated the various flood fighting techniques as outlined by the Department of Water Resources. The safe chaining of sandbags is a crucial part of the training and process.
“Best part is that this is a learning process. They’re trying to simulate as much as they can out here, just practicing and knowing how to work on a team.” said Siskiyou Corpsmember Samantha Vargo. “You get out there and you realize that you are stronger and more capable than you think.”
By engaging in DWR’s classroom lectures plus field exercises, CCC Corpsmembers not only gain transferrable life skills, such as clear communication and teamwork, they can also earn credits and scholarships to advance their formal education.
“We have the John Muir Charter School program,” said Siskiyou Corpsmember Maryjane Eschenberg. “This can count toward life skills, health, and environmental science if we need those credits for class to earn our high school diploma.”
Bag, Got It!
Corpsmembers learn how to properly fill a sandbag and then are put to the test with filling as many as they can during training to simulate the real thing.
“CCC also comes with scholarships, which is great,” said Chico Corpsmember LJ Salgado. “I feel fully prepared to go back to college, get that degree, and use this information I learned here.”
For these young adults, CCC training extends beyond emergency preparation, it’s a launchpad into meaningful careers. CCC Corpsmembers are gaining confidence and discovering their own strengths all while helping communities weather the next storm.
Large Scale Impact
A view from above shows how big of an area a crew of 15 Corpsmembers can cover with visqueen by working together and knowing the techniques to fight floods.
