People who want to "do good' while on vacation have become an important sub-segment of the travel industry. In a 2016 poll by Travelocity, some 63 percent of Americans indicated that they would be interested in taking the opportunity to volunteer while on vacation. That number increased from an 11 percent interest rate on a similar poll in 2010.
But people with the flexibility to travel who truly want to make an impact might consider skipping the volunteer work altogether.
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is looking for reservists, who work on a "temporary, on call and intermittent basis" to help with ongoing recovery efforts.
In this role, says FEMA, "you will travel, receive training, build your professional network and support those in need."
Many of FEMA's reservists, of course, will go to Texas and Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and likely Florida once Irma's full effects are assessed. But it isn't just hurricane-ravaged destinations where these workers are sent.
In 2013, after the Colorado flooding Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams (DSATs) were deployed to help flood survivors. There, the DSAT teams canvassed affected neighborhoods to assess immediate and emerging needs and to help residents register for disaster assistance.
Reservists are the main FEMA workforce during an emergency or disaster, according to the FEMA website and duties include "assisting disaster victims, processing claim requests for disaster assistance and providing information regarding available programs to individuals applying for disaster assistance."
When hiring, FEMA matches the skills of the applicant with the work that needs to be done, but the agency says it is particularly looking for people with experience in customer service, data entry, insurance processing, inventory management, communications or information technology.
[READMORE]READ MORE: How Travelers Can Help Save the Earth[/READMORE]
Once hired, reservists are then assigned to cadres that match their skills. Each cadre performs specific tasks, which can include the obvious such as "Disaster Survivor Assistance" and "Disaster Emergency Communications." But the duties are far reaching and tasks can also include "Environment Historic Preservation" and "External Affairs" to communicate with Congress, to name a few.
Pay scales vary depending on the hours worked and the duties performed, but Masters Public Health website indicates that it can range from $31 to $37 per hour. Plus travel expenses and per diems.
The numbers can add up. A recent email circulated by a FEMA contractor promised the pay would range from $4,000 to $5000 per week. Snopes investigated the email and found that to be true. Sadly, the application date for that particular position has come and gone.
And there are plenty of other emails circulate that are scams. FEMA warns of one that promised to pay $2,000 per week for 90 days and asked applicants to call an 888 number. That story was false and the number did not belong to FEMA.
If interested in applying to be a reservist, the most accurate, up-to-date information can be found at the FEMA website.
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