The St. Louis Safety Service Corps (STL SSC) is lead by Bruce Bailey and is composed of approximately 35 full-time AmeriCorps Members. This Corps' primary focus is on preparing for and responding to disasters across Missouri, and by invitation, to other states. As of 2012, the STL SSC Emergency Response Team (ERT) has deployed to disasters in more than 50 Missouri counties and 30 states. The Safety Service Corps partners with the United Way, FEMA, SEMA, the US Forest, the Missouri Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as well as other state and local disaster agencies, State Commissions, and Emergency Managers.
In 2011, disaster after disaster struck Missouri. At times, the 35 full-time AmeriCorps Members were split among several cities simultaneously as overlapping disasters continued to affect a plethora of citizens across the state. Among these 2011 disasters was the Good Friday Tornados that struck North St. Louis on April 22; massive flooding in Southeast Missouri that also affected other contiguous states such as Illinois, and the EF5 Joplin Tornado that occurred on May 22, 2011. The St. Louis Safety Service Corps were among the first responders railing to the aid of affected Missourians caught off-guard by these devastating and unfortunate enormous events.