Be safe. Do not self-deploy until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support. Wait until it is safe to travel to volunteer sites and opportunities have been identified. Once assigned a position, make sure you have been given an assignment and are wearing proper safety gear for the task.
Be patient. Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after the disaster - especially when the community enters the long-term recovery period.
How can I help? Cash is the most efficient method of donating and offers voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources while pumping money into the local economy to help businesses recover. Unsolicited donated goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, and perishable foodstuffs require resources to sort, package, transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors. Donate and volunteer responsibly https://www.fema.gov/
Is FEMA hiring for positions related to Hurricane Harvey? FEMA is currently hiring immediate temporary jobs in several locations in the U.S. to assist with Hurricane Harvey response efforts. Customer representatives serve as the primary point of contact for persons inquiring about disaster assistance. Duties include assisting disaster victims, processing claim requests for disaster assistance, and providing information regarding available programs to individuals applying for disaster assistance. Visit https://careers.fema.gov/
I want to learn about contracting on Harvey-related projects with my company. In accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Act, FEMA’s goal is to seek local companies within the disaster area for goods and services related to a specific disaster when practical and feasible. To learn about opportunities with FEMA’s Industry Liaison Program for Hurricane Harvey, call 202-646-1895 or email industry@fema.dhs.gov.
Is FEMA hiring inspector positions at a rate of $4-5k per week? No, FEMA is no longer hiring for this specific position. FEMA was hiring field inspectors under a pre-existing contract to assist with surge capacity of field inspections. To learn more about rumors or opportunities as they relate to FEMA’s response to Hurricane Harvey, please visit www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey-
We want to volunteer to work on the Hurricane Harvey recovery, who do I talk to? Those interested in learning about opportunities to serve in a volunteer capacity for Hurricane Harvey recovery should contact the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster association. Visit their website at www.nvoad.org. Other resources include www.serve.gov and www.citizencorps.gov.
I have family in Texas/Louisiana who had storm damage, what do they do to get support? Registering online, at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, is the quickest way to register for FEMA assistance since the event will last several days and the full scope of damages may not be immediately evident. If you are unable to access the internet, you can also call at 1-800-621-3362, 1-800-462-7585 (TTY).
Rumors about Hurricane Harvey
FEMA is keeping an up-to-date website with rumors being shared on social media and by word of mouth. A couple rumors are listed below, read the full list at www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey-
Full Hurricane Harvey Resource Page
For the most up to date information from official FEMA resources, please visit www.fema.gov/hurrican-harvey.
