Hurricane Recovery Assistance Page
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The U.S. Department of Labor is assisting in the recovery efforts in the communities affected by this season's hurricanes. For general questions and assistance, please contact DOL's National Contact Center at 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365) (1-866-487-2365).
The Department of Labor support includes the following income and job assistance as well as key announcements:
Employment & Training Administration (ETA)
- http://www.careeronestop.org/disasterrecoveryservices/
- http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/disaster.asp
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
- http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html
- http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/flood-tornado-recovery.html
- Emergency Job Information
Spread the word about Emergency Job Information with people in your community by downloading, printing and sharing this informational flyer.
- Unemployment Insurance (UI)
The Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. To find your state's unemployment insurance information, visit http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/map.asp.
- National Emergency Grants (NEGs)
Impacted states can apply for NEG funds that can be used to temporarily employ dislocated workers. These funds can be used to employ workers on projects that provide food, clothing, shelter and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims.
Learn how to apply for a National Emergency Grant.
- Disability Program Navigators
Persons with disabilities can receive assistance from specialists in finding employment opportunities and government services in their area. For more information about ETA's Disability Program Navigators, please visit: http://www.careeronestop.org/disasterrecoveryservices/
- Information on Wages
Wage and Hour Division (WHD) staff in the affected region are available to provide service to complainants on last paycheck and other wage related issues. WHD staff will also provide compliance assistance to employers and employees on the application of federal law in emergency and disaster relief situations. Employers and employees can call 1-866-4US-WAGE (1-866-487-9243) for help on wage-related issues. All calls are treated confidentially. For more information on the Wage & Hour Division, please visit: http://www.dol.gov/whd/
- Employment and Job Training
One-Stop Career Centers can provide assistance to evacuees and other survivors of victims of natural disasters find employment and training opportunities. Targeted assistance is available to people based on individual needs through the nationwide network of 3,500 One-Stop Career Centers located across the country.
- Occupational Safety and Health
The Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is making available technical assistance and resources to help protect those participating in cleanup and recovery efforts. Please visit the OSHA Hurricane Cleanup and Recovery Web page or review these fact sheets on natural disaster recovery from OSHA:
- Cleanup Hazard: [HTML] / [PDF] / [En Español]
- Flood Cleanup: [HTML] / [PDF] / [En Español]
- Downed Electrical Wires: [PDF]
- Fungi: [HTML] / [PDF] / [En Español]
- Falls: [PDF] / [En Español]
- Electrical: [PDF] / [En Español]
- Chainsaws: [PDF] / [En Español]
- Tree Trimming: [PDF] / [En Español]
- Service Contract Act
The Service Contract Act (SCA), which generally applies to federally-funded 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. For more information on the SCA, visit http://www.dol.gov/whd/govcontracts/sca.htm
- Davis-Bacon Regulations for Federal Contractors
The Davis-Bacon Act requires all contractors and subcontractors performing work on federal or District of Columbia construction contracts or federally assisted 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. In addition to the Davis-Bacon Act itself, Congress has added prevailing wage provisions to approximately 60 statutes which assist construction projects through grants, loans, loan guarantees, and insurance. These are referred to as “Related Acts.” For more information on the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, visit http://www.dol.gov/whd/govcontracts/dbra.htm
For information on other available Federal resources, please visit
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Weather/Hurricane.shtml.
For information on the latest Federal Disaster Declarations by state and county, please visit http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema.
For information on how citizens can locate and apply for disaster relief, please visit DisasterAssistance.gov
- ESA News Release: U.S. Labor Department secures more than $1.5 million in back wages for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita workers - 08-1528-DAL - [11/20/2008]
- ETA News Release: U.S. Department of Labor announces $7.5 million grant for Louisiana workers seeking jobs - 08-1640-NAT - [11/13/2008]
- ESA News Release: U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division reopens Houston office to assist victims of Hurricane Ike - 08-1405-NAT - [10/08/2008]
- ETA News Release: U.S. Department of Labor announces nearly $15.9 million grant in aid to Texas for recovery from Hurricane Ike - 08-1350-DAL - [09/24/2008]
- EBSA News Release: U.S. Labor Department extends annual reports deadline after hurricane hits Texas and Louisiana - 08-1346-NAT - [09/22/2008]
- EBSA News Release: U.S. Labor Department Web site assists hurricane victims in locating employee benefit plan sponsors - 08-1355-NAT - [09/18/2008]
- OSHA News Release: U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA deploys staff and resources to safeguard cleanup and recovery personnel in areas hit by Hurricane Ike - 08-1280-NAT - [09/18/2008]
- Broadcast Actuality: Brent Orrell on assistance available to Hurricane Ike victims - [09/16/2008]
- ETA News Release: U.S. Department of Labor announces more than $22 million in aid to Louisiana for recovery from Hurricane Gustav - 08-1263-NAT - [09/09/2008]
- Broadcast Actuality: Ed Foulke on safe clean up of storm damaged areas - [09/05/2008]
- Broadcast Actuality: Ed Foulke on safe clean up of storm damaged areas - [09/05/2008] (extended version)
- OSHA News Release: U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA releases public service announcements promoting safe cleanup and recovery from Hurricane Gustav - 08-1275-NAT - [09/05/2008]
- ETA News Release: U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration deploys assets to respond to Gustav and the hurricane season - 08-1259-NAT - [09/04/2008]
- OSHA News Release: U.S. Labor Department’s OSHA offers assistance for Hurricane Gustav cleanup and recovery - 08-1249-ATL - [09/02/2008]