Flood Disaster Awareness Training - Student Handout

Introduction and Course Overview NOTES

Disclaimer

The information presented during this training

is for educational purposes only.
It should not be used to provide guidance in
lieu of professional legal advice.
All parties involved in the development of this
course shall not be liable for any information contained
within.
It is incumbent upon each participant to verify any and all
information presented during this course, as needed.
As a student, it is your responsibility to adhere to all current
laws and regulations pertaining to the material covered in
this course.

Training from a Training Provider

It is important to note that online training, or

even classroom training, provided by an outside
training provider may not always meet the
complete training needs for everyone.
The bottom line in ALL SITUATIONS is that
employers are required to ensure that their employees are
adequately trained to do their job.
In addition to the training provided by an outside party,
there may also be a need for in-house training conducted
by the employer on company specifics.
In-house company training must be well documented.

Administrative Announcements

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Flood Disaster Awareness Training - Student Handout

Terminal Learning Objectives NOTES

At the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Explain the consequences of disasters with respect
to employment and wages;
• Understand preparation considerations prior to
cleanup and recovery from disaster flooding;
• Identify general hazards related to flood cleanup
work;
• Identify hazards unique to flood cleanup work;
• Understand how and why flood cleanup workers
may encounter electrical hazards;
• Describe the health hazards posed by fungi and by
contaminated water;
• Recognize fall hazards posed during flood cleanup;
and
• Grasp general safety requirements for tree removal,
trimming, and the use of chainsaws.

Introduction

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of

the United States, impacting hundreds of thousands of
people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
The exact death toll from Katrina is uncertain, but it’s
estimated nearly 1,900 people died from the massive
flooding that ensued.
The total damage from Katrina was estimated at $108
billion.
In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey also struck the Gulf
Coast of the United States and resulted in more than 52
inches of rain in the outskirts of Texas over a five day
period.
Houston, Texas and the surrounding area was the hardest
hit, with unprecedented flooding.
Following the life-saving efforts from disasters such as
these, a long, slow, hazardous, recovery process begins.

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Flood Disaster Awareness Training - Student Handout

Recovering from a Flood Disaster NOTES

Cleanup work of any kind is hazardous, but flood conditions

make it even more so.
Flooding can cause the disruption of water purification and
sewage disposal systems, the overflowing of toxic waste
sites, and the dislodgement of chemicals previously stored
above ground.
Following the procedures discussed in this training will help
keep you safe and healthy while cleaning up after natural
disasters that involve flooding.
Although most floods do not cause serious outbreaks of
infectious disease or chemical poisonings, they can cause
sickness in workers and others who come in contact with
contaminated floodwater.
In addition, flooded areas may be subject to electrical or fire
hazards connected with downed power lines.

About this Course

This FREE online course is meant to be an “awareness”

course about the hazards associated with cleanup and
recovery from a flooding disaster.
For those who will actually participate in cleanup and
recovery activities at the disaster site, more training is
warranted.
We will discuss other training options later in this course.
For those who want a Certificate of Completion for
completing this training, you must register as a student
prior to taking the entire course.
You must also pass a 10-question Final Exam.
If you want to register as a student and receive a Certificate
of Completion, please click here.

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Flood Disaster Awareness Training - Student Handout

Employment and Wage Information NOTES

The Department of Labor and FLSA

The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) enforces a
variety of worker protection laws, including
the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The FLSA is the most general law applying to wages and
hours of work.
The FLSA requires employers to pay covered, non-exempt
employees no less than the federal minimum wage for each
hour actually worked and overtime at one and one-half
times an employee’s regular rate of pay for all hours
actually worked in excess of 40 in a week.
These requirements are not subject to waiver during
natural disasters and recovery efforts.

Compensation during Disaster and Recovery

Employees must be paid for time worked prior to the

disaster situation even if businesses are closed and
records destroyed.
However, employers are not required to pay hourly
employees for whom they are unable to provide work due
to a natural disaster.
Volunteers to a public agency are not due compensation
under FLSA if they are not employed by the public agency
and perform their volunteer service for civic, charitable, or
humanitarian reasons, without promise or expectation of
compensation and offer their services freely, without
coercion.
Volunteers to a private not-for-profit organization are not
considered employees and are not due compensation.

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Flood Disaster Awareness Training - Student Handout

Employees Considered Working for the Government NOTES

Where employers are requested to furnish

their services, including their employees, for
disaster relief under Federal, State or Local
General Police Powers, the employer’s
employees will be considered employees of the
government while rendering such services.
No hours spent on the disaster relief services are counted
as hours worked for the employer under the FLSA.

Worker Protection Laws

Worker Protection is the “Law of the Land”.

Workers have the right to a safe workplace.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
(OSH Act) was passed to prevent workers from being killed
or otherwise harmed at work.
The law requires employers to provide their employees with
working conditions that are free of known dangers.
The OSH Act created the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), which sets and enforces protective
workplace safety and health standards.
OSHA also provides information, training and assistance to
employers and workers.
Click here to learn more about worker protections.

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