Looking for a Job? Katrina-Ravaged Areas Need You

Now that huge hurricanes have ripped through the Deep South and Gulf region, not only are millions of people still displaced, but there is a grave need for those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and help in the emergency restoration and then full rebuilding effort. Combine this with a situation where so many in non-affected states as well as displayed Louisianans are looking for work, and a good match can be made between those who need help and those who need jobs.

This demand, experts insist, will last years rather than months. Added to this challenge is that hurricane season continues well into the fall. It officially ends November 15th, but Mother Nature does not always follow expert schedules. The potential for more hurricanes to hammer the U.S. coastline is strong; statistically, more big storms strike later in the season

While trained specialists in various fields – including nurses, engineers, law enforcement professionals, plumbers, electricians, waste haulers, and construction workers are in greatest demand, literally anyone in reasonably good health and the ability to get into the affected areas stands a better than even chance of finding at least short term employment. The question is often just where to look to find them.

Sure, you could just hop in the car – although a truck or van may be better since it may give you more options for work once you arrive – and drive down or across to the hardest-hit areas. But it’s probably wiser to start your search locally. Many companies already awarded with contracts to begin the recovery and cleanup effort there are beginning to advertise through both private and state-run job agencies across the country; travel often picked up by the contractor.

Already, you may be seeing ads for this kind of work appear on the Internet. Many are certainly for legitimate firms. But many scam artists are out on the Web as well; many asking you to pay a fee to get a job only to discover that all you get – if you even receive this – is a list of companies hiring. Some of these lists are not even specific to recovery work being done in storm-ravaged states. There are preliminary reports of others hiring people on with promises of per diem rates of $300-1,000 only to actually pay them far less than the going wage. Always remember the tried and true saying: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You may want to look at established legitimate employment agencies first; they often weed the con artists and scammers out.

There is another good reason to consider getting work with an established contractor: with livable housing and basic resources in limited availability right now, it can be very difficult for you to find a place to call your temp home. Some of the big contractors are providing living accommodations and either on-site food or food stipend as part of the job package.

Yet be prepared to ask as many questions as possible for each contractor/recovery company you consider. Determine and compare exactly what each firm offers for benefits and pay before you decide. Some may appear to pay better but may take a larger percentage of your wages for food and housing. Still others could pay far more but give you no housing or housing voucher or may require you to buy special equipment. That equipment may be deductible come tax time, but could put a big dent in what you expect to earn up front. If you can’t re-use the tool for other work, this can hurt even more.

A smart question to add to the mix is who pays if you get hurt or ill directly as a result of your work. Conditions in many of these devastated cities and communities are pretty rough right now; work you do may bring you into close proximity to toxic chemicals, decaying materials, and both sharp and very unclean objects. Match that to a situation where medical services will probably remain severely stressed for months and it’s easy to understand why some type of medical coverage is badly needed. Unfortunately, such forward-thinking companies may be tough to find, given the overall cost of health coverage. Don’t simply assume you’re covered: ask.

Some of the best places to look for recovery and reconstruction listings for the storm areas include:
* Newspaper ads featuring job fairs just to sign up temporary staff for disaster relief and rebuilding
* Your local employment or Job Corps office
* Established temporary agencies like Manpower and Kelly Union meeting places for those who belong to a recognized workers’ union
* Established online Web job services sites such as Monster.com Services (where you will see that even volunteer agencies like the Red Cross and federal firms like Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA are hiring help on a per diem basis)