FEMA hiring for recovery work in Albany

ALBANY — On Sept. 12, Governor Nathan Deal requested an expedited major disaster declaration due to Hurricane Irma. Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is hiring local residents to assist in the ongoing disaster recovery efforts.

According to a press release issued this week by FEMA, there is a particular need for people with a general background in construction to fill more than 50 temporary positions in Albany, Brunswick, Savannah and Warner Robins. These Public Assistance Site Inspectors will validate disaster damage and collect specific and detailed information on damaged public facilities.

“An ideal candidate for the Public Assistance Site Inspector position would have a background in engineering, construction or public works with the ability to work with local governments to quantify damage from Hurricane Irma and assist in developing or verifying cost estimates,” FEMA spokesperson Crystal Paulk-Buchanan said.

The temporary workers FEMA is hiring are is directly related to city and county assessments that were conducted and reported in late September.

On Sept. 21, federal and Georgia Emergency Management officials were in Albany to help assess the city and Dougherty County damages to determine what reimbursement amounts and benefits the area may be entitled to. At that time, Dougherty County Assistant Administrator Michael McCoy said FEMA and GEMA officials would visit every city and county in the state to conduct damage assessments.

“Since our state has been designated a federal disaster zone, we are automatically eligible for reimbursement of costs related to storm debris removal and for emergency protection measures,” McCoy said at the time the initial assessments were conducted.

McCoy said debris cleanup “covers removing trees, limbs and root balls from roadways and other vegetation or building and construction debris caused by the storm. Emergency protective measures cover anything that had to be done before, during and after the storm to protect and save lives.”

Soon after the storm, FEMA and GEMA conducted preliminary assessments in affected counties. All 159 counties will be eligible for categories A (debris removal) and B (emergency measures). Additionally, 137 counties are eligible to receive federal assistance to help cover expenses for permanent work to help with costs to repair or replace infrastructure damaged as a result of Hurricane Irma.

On Tuesday, Buchanan said most of the hiring in and around Albany will be for Public Assistance Site Inspectors who will work with local government officials to identify and document the damages that occurred from Hurricane Irma and were subsequently reported by city and county officials.

“The Public Assistance program provides federal reimbursement for eligible projects to repair or replace damaged public buildings and properties such as schools, hospitals, fire stations, public parks, bridges,” Buchanan said.

Those hired for the new site inspector positions will work closely with local government officials.

“This could be going out and looking at damaged culverts or roads or buildings,” said Buchanan.

Buchanan said the primary goal for the site inspectors will be to help determine eligible projects.

“Eligible applicants for the public assistance program include state government agencies, local governments and private nonprofit organizations,” she said. “For a facility to be eligible for FEMA public assistance, it must be located in a designated disaster area and be under the legal responsibility of an eligible applicant. The facility should have been in active use at the time of the disaster and open to the general public.”

Plans may also be underway to open a regional branch office in Albany to serve Southwest Georgia.

“It will require a lot of work. There was a good amount of damage,” Buchanan said. “Albany is a good fit because of its location.”

Because site inspectors will be hired all over the state, Buchanan said she does not know how many will be hired for Albany or the Southwest Georgia region. She also does not know the exact date or location for the Albany FEMA office to open.

FEMA has listed additional temporary positions for the Albany area to include Public Assistance Administrative Assistant, Historic Preservation Specialist and Environmental Specialist.

On Tuesday, Buchanan said that resumes are now being accepted and a required training will be conducted for all those who are hired.

“There is a great need to fill these positions as soon as possible. We need the resumes now and hope to have everyone on board by the end of November,” she said.

More information about these positions and other available positions in Georgia are listed under the “We Are Hiring” tab at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4338.

Interested applicants must be current residents of Georgia. For information, visit www.employgeorgia.com/jobseekers, create a profile and enter the position title or send a resume to FEMA-DR4338GA [email protected] and list the job title and location of the position you are applying for in the subject line of the email.