American Volunteer Emergency Response Team Answer the call

About AVERT

The team that drives toward the storm.

AVERT, the American Volunteer Emergency Response Team, is an all volunteer disaster relief team based in Arkansas. We carry donated supplies into disaster areas and put them in the hands of the people who need them.

Photo illustration

On this page

Our story

The record begins with a hurricane season.

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey flooded Texas and Hurricane Irma tore across Florida. AVERT's volunteers loaded up and went, working recovery in both states, then coordinating medical and support volunteers who delivered aid to over 400 families in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

From the start, the idea was simple. Plenty of good people want to help when disaster strikes, but not everyone can pack up and go. So the people who can go carry everyone else's generosity with them. That philosophy has a name around here: we are the deliverers and stewards of your donations.

We support all charities and first responders, because relief works best when everyone on the ground pulls in the same direction. And we post from the field, so the people who made the trip possible can see what their support did.

“Our organization learned a very hard lesson in Puerto Rico. We saw a lot of supplies sitting at the airport that didn’t go anywhere.”

Michael Brewer to WUSA9, October 2019

So in the Bahamas two years later, the team ran it differently. Every day ended with the same questions, in Michael’s words: “What are you short? What do you need?” Then volunteers went to every supply location, found who had what, loaded the truck and drove it to the people who needed it. That habit of asking first is now written into our charter.

Field record

Miles behind us. More ahead.

Every season on the road has been carried by people who could not make the trip themselves.

  1. 2017

    Harvey, Irma and Maria

    The documented 2017 hurricane season. Volunteers worked recovery in Texas after Hurricane Harvey and in Florida after Hurricane Irma, then coordinated medical and support volunteers who delivered aid to over 400 families in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, including five weeks in the mountain town of Jayuya.

  2. 2018

    Florence in the Carolinas

    Back on the road after Hurricane Florence in North and South Carolina, carried by hundreds of individual donors across 2017 and 2018.

  3. 2019

    Dorian in the Bahamas

    After Hurricane Dorian, AVERT's Florida team went to the Abaco Islands with Florida Search and Rescue to run triage and medical aid and help airlift patients to Nassau. Volunteers handed out water, food and generators and joined search and rescue missions, including one that found a missing Canadian man on Treasure Cay.

  4. 2026

    The relaunch

    AVERT is rebuilding for the long haul with an advisory board, regional distribution centers and a development team, so the next response is ready before the next disaster.

Along the way AVERT was commended by communities we served, by organizations we supported and by members of the United States House and Senate. Read the letters.

From the field

Real photos. Real deployments.

Every picture in this section was taken by AVERT volunteers on the job. Select one to see it full size.

The Bahamas, 2019 After Hurricane Dorian

On the road Staging, loading and delivering

Why we do it

Long before there were emergency agencies, there were neighbors who set down their work and came running when trouble hit the next town over.

Citizens first, ready when called. AVERT carries that tradition into disaster country, no uniform required.

Recognition

Recognized for service.

Letters, commissions and honors that AVERT and its volunteers have received along the way. Select any document to read it full size.

Certificate of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award honoring Michael Brewer, signed by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., awarded 2023. Letter from the White House congratulating the recipient of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 4,480 hours of service.
AmeriCorps and the Office of the President, 2023

The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Awarded to Michael Brewer for a lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service. The White House letter that came with it recognizes his 4,480 hours of service.

“By sharing your time and passion, you are helping discover and deliver solutions to the challenges we face.”

Read the letter

The American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. I congratulate you on taking it upon yourself to contribute to the public good, and I’m proud to present you with the President’s Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of your 4,480 hours of service to this great Nation.

Throughout our country’s history, the American story has been strengthened by those who combine an optimism about what can be with the resilience to turn that vision into reality. I know I’m not alone in recognizing that those who are willing to step up and volunteer in service of community and country are essential to the ongoing work of forming our more perfect union.

By sharing your time and passion, you are helping discover and deliver solutions to the challenges we face, solutions that we need now more than ever. We are living in a moment that calls for hope and light and love. Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another. Through your service, you are providing all three.

On behalf of the American people, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to you for your volunteer leadership, and I encourage you to continue to answer the call to serve. The country is counting on you.

Teammates Tony Rosado and Aaron Kimball received the same award in 2023.

President’s Lifetime Achievement Award certificate, letter and pin for Tony Rosado, 2023. President’s Lifetime Achievement Award certificate for Aaron Kimball, 2023.
  • Letter from United States Senator Mark R. Warner to Michael Brewer, dated April 23, 2018.
    United States Senate, April 23, 2018

    A letter of appreciation from Senator Mark R. Warner

    For AVERT’s work in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

    “I understand that you coordinated a group of medical and support volunteers to deliver critical aid to over 400 families on the island.”

    Read the letter

    Dear Mr. Brewer,

    I am pleased to extend my appreciation for your work in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.

    Our Nation relies on citizens like you who are committed to helping their fellow Americans in emergency situations. I understand that you coordinated a group of medical and support volunteers to deliver critical aid to over 400 families on the island. This is a testament to your compassion, leadership, and courage. I commend you for the important contributions you have made to our Nation.

    Thank you for your service.

    Sincerely,
    Mark R. Warner, United States Senator

  • Letter from Congressman Darren Soto to FEMA Administrator William B. Long, dated September 17, 2018, regarding the AVERT Florida Rapid Response Team.
    U.S. House of Representatives, September 17, 2018

    A letter of support to FEMA from Congressman Darren Soto

    Written to FEMA Administrator William B. Long for Tony Rosado and the AVERT Florida Rapid Response Team, after their work in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria and in the Carolinas following Hurricane Florence.

    “I urge you to work with groups like AVERT and to allow them to continue their volunteer efforts in future disasters.”

  • Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition presented to Michael Brewer, signed by Congressman Scott Peters of California’s 52nd District.
    U.S. House of Representatives

    Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition

    Presented to Michael Brewer by Congressman Scott Peters of California’s 52nd District for promoting BlackBoxx as an international partner in humanitarian relief.

    “Your service and dedication to helping others is commendable.”

  • Commission from the Commonwealth of Kentucky naming the Honorable Michael S. Brewer a Kentucky Colonel, signed by Governor Andy Beshear on December 1, 2022.
    Commonwealth of Kentucky, December 1, 2022

    Kentucky Colonel

    Governor Andy Beshear commissioned the Honorable Michael S. Brewer a Kentucky Colonel, “with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities thereunto appertaining.”

  • Arkansas Traveler certificate commissioning Michael Brewer as an ambassador of good will, signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson on September 9, 2022.
    State of Arkansas, September 9, 2022

    Arkansas Traveler

    Governor Asa Hutchinson commissioned Michael Brewer an Arkansas Traveler, an ambassador of good will from Arkansas to the people of other states and nations.

  • In the news

    Covered by the people who saw the work

    Press kit and fact sheet

The people

Who answers the call.

Michael Brewer at a relief distribution point in the Bahamas, 2019.

Michael Brewer

Organizer

Michael has organized AVERT's deployments since the 2017 hurricane season, from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian, and is leading the relaunch.

In 2023 he received the President's Lifetime Achievement Award for 4,480 hours of volunteer service. He is a commissioned Kentucky Colonel and an Arkansas Traveler. See the honors or find Michael on LinkedIn.

  • AVERT Florida Rapid Response TeamTony Rosado

    Spent five weeks in Jayuya, Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Maria, and went to Abaco with the Florida team after Hurricane Dorian, serving as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician. President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, 2023.

  • Team memberAaron Kimball

    President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, 2023, for a lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service.

Relaunch roll call

  • Web designTHATDEVELOPERGUY LLC

    Built and donated this website. A service disabled veteran owned business in Cassville, Missouri. thatdeveloperguy.com

  • OpenYour name here

    Advisory board seats, distribution centers and development roles are open. See the roles

Our charter

Find the gap. Build the solution. Hand it off.

AVERT exists to close the gap between disaster and organized response. We stay lean, work through partners and put the mission ahead of the logo. When the work can carry on without us, we hand it off and move to the next gap.

Read the charter

  1. Mission over brand.

    AVERT exists to solve problems, not to create visibility for itself.

  2. Relationships before introductions.

    Trust, access and interoperability are built before they are needed.

  3. Requirements before resources.

    AVERT asks what is actually needed before collecting money, goods or people.

  4. Connection before acquisition.

    AVERT seeks to activate available capability before buying redundant capability.

  5. Integration before duplication.

    AVERT strengthens effective efforts and fills uncovered gaps.

  6. Temporary structure for temporary problems.

    AVERT creates only the organization required to solve the mission in front of it.

  7. Handoff is success.

    AVERT leaves when the mission can continue without AVERT.

  8. Learn every time.

    Every operation and exercise should make the next response better.

Questions

Straight answers.

What is AVERT?

AVERT is the American Volunteer Emergency Response Team, an all volunteer disaster relief team based in Arkansas. We carry donated supplies into disaster areas and deliver them to the people, first responders and charities working there.

Is everyone at AVERT a volunteer?

Yes. AVERT runs on a 100 percent volunteer basis, supported by donations and volunteers’ own resources.

What does AVERT deliver?

Food, water, blankets, pet food and other essentials, plus the specific items people on the ground ask for.

Where has AVERT worked?

Our documented work includes the 2017 hurricane season, with recovery work in Texas after Hurricane Harvey and in Florida after Hurricane Irma, and medical and support volunteers who delivered aid to over 400 families in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. In 2018 we were back on the road after Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas, and in 2019 we went to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian.

Who leads AVERT?

Michael Brewer has organized AVERT's deployments since 2017 and is leading the relaunch.

Is AVERT responding to a disaster right now?

Not at the moment. The relaunch is focused on building the team and the supply chain before the next disaster.

How can I help?
What should I do if I am in danger?

Call 911. AVERT is a volunteer relief team, not an emergency dispatch service. For federal disaster assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov.