Income and Job Assistance
If you become unemployed through no fault of your own, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance. States impacted by disasters may be eligible to apply for grant funding.
For workers:
The federal-state Unemployment Insurance Program provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Find your state's unemployment insurance information.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance provides financial assistance to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster declared by the president and who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits.
For states:
States can apply for Dislocated Worker Grant funds, which can be used to create temporary employment opportunities to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts.
Staying Safe During Cleanup and Recovery
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has guidance and resources to help protect workers participating in cleanup and recovery efforts. Call OSHA toll-free at 1-800-321-6742 with any questions. Learn how to keep workers safe during cleanup and recovery operations following hurricanes.
Review these OSHA fact sheets on natural disaster recovery:
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning [PDF] / [En Español]
Chipper Machines [PDF]
Cleanup Hazard [PDF]
Downed Electrical Wires [PDF]
Electrical [PDF]
Falls [PDF] / [En Español]
Flood Cleanup [PDF]
Mold [PDF] / [En Español]
Portable Generators [PDF]
Personal Protective Equipment [PDF] / [En Español]
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning While Working with Portable Generators [PDF] / [En Español]
Roof Tarping [PDF] / [En Español]
Tree Trimming [PDF]
Vehicle Safety [PDF] / [En Español]
Wages
Learn about workers' rights and employers' responsibilities regarding pay in the aftermath of a disaster. If you have questions about your pay, contact the Wage and Hour Division online or call 1-866-487-9243 with any questions, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in your time zone.
The Service Contract Act, which generally applies to federal or District of Columbia contracts for clean-up activities following a disaster, requires contractors and subcontractors performing services on prime contracts in excess of $2,500 to pay service employees in various classes no less than the wage rates and fringe benefits found prevailing in the locality, or the rates (including prospective increases) contained in a predecessor contractor's collective bargaining agreement.
Davis-Bacon regulations require federal contractors and subcontractors performing work on contracts in excess of $2,000 to pay their laborers and mechanics not less than the prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits for corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on similar projects in the area.
To record hours worked, download the DOL Timesheet App to record the number of hours you have worked and calculate the amount you may be owed by your employer.
Worker Claims
Find information for federal employees and workers in the longshore community injured in the line of duty. Our Office of Workers' Compensation Programs offers:
Online claims filing for federal employees injured during the performance of duty, as well as general information for claimants on the Federal Employees' Compensation Act.
Additional Resources
Note: If you live in a disaster declared county, you can register online for disaster assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call FEMA's toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585).