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I wanted to bring up something that most people would never think about: FEMA Disaster Housing Inspections.
My husband did this years ago (in 2002-2005) and if you have intelligence, endurance, some real estate or definitely construction knowledge would be helpful and the ability to learn, one could do FEMA Disaster Housing Inspections.
We've discussed this for a year now. Having an RV now, instead of hubby flying or driving to a hurricane site, etc., we would drive the rig and live in the trailer while he works the disasters. It's often weeks of very long days (from dawn to dark...you don't work in the dark), in sometimes devastated areas, without a day off (sounds like Gate Guard work) but the rewards are that you have helped others by finding out what was done to their home, recording that damage and sending info in for processing. You work under Homeland Security/FEMA but are subcontractors to contractors to FEMA. The two major ones that we know of are PARR Inspections and PB Inspections. You have to fill out applications, do an extensive background check (fingerprinting too) and wait. While waiting you can and truly HAVE to take online courses through the contractors sites. You need to go with one to sign on and do the background check, but you can sign up with both after that. One is more stringent it seems (PARR) and you must do a MOCK class (in person) before you are able to work.
Now, the thing about doing this is that they pay $57 plus per inspection. The average good inspector can do about 10 per day (some will do less and the hotdogs will do far more sometimes) but on average 10 a day is feasible. Working for weeks and sometimes even months (hubby was out in the field for over 2 months once), you bring in a LOT of money. You do the math. Over $500 per day for weeks adds up to lots of dough.
You can be called out for something like flooding, wildfires, definitely hurricanes, tornadoes (when they hit a broad area and a federal disaster is called) and you can be called to any state, but living where hurricanes (the most likely large disaster) hit frequently you are more likely to get called. You are contractors, have to pay for your travel (they will actually pay to fly you there) and motel room and food and gas, car rentals, etc. If you drive your RV, they will pay for your trip there (after you get there). You pay for RV parks and having a generator and water, etc. will be beneficial in disaster areas.
So you have to have money to go out in the field.
We discussed this and if you can make good money and are in the position to be called out if needed, it's is worth working for a while and saving money to live on the rest of the year, or work camp doing something you enjoy for low wages or for free.
Just a thought. If you have questions, I can supply further information and websites. For someone that is planning to do gate guarding, this is a way to work in the Hurricane Season and make good money as a contractor too. But there is never a guarantee you will get called out, so you are basically on call during flood, hurricane, tornado season.
Hope this all makes sense. It just occured to me to post this as another possibility for work with your RV. Also, both husband and wife (or both partners) can take the courses and background check and work. But couples work is a different situation. Only one gets paid but both being inspectors means one can do paperwork, make calls and line up routes (GPS on computer is a blessing) while the other works out in the field. A non inspector cannot go to work with their partner or go into the house of an applicant. Frankly, I plan to stay in the RV and go out and spend money HE makes.
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Two senior dogs, one cool senior lady and the Dream Lives On!
$57 for an inspection? What the heck are you able to do in less than an hour that would make a worthwhile inspection? What are you inspecting? Who benefits from a good or a bad inspection report? Our Government is looking for what kind of information?
Bill, look up PARR Inspections and PB. The web addresses are: http://www.parrinspections.com/pw/public/index.aspx and: http://www.pbdisasterservices.com/
These sites are pretty self explanatory. The purpose of a disaster housing inspection is to observe the damage (and exclude existing damages...this is why a background in construction comes in REAL handy) done by a storm and doing an outside check and inside, moving from room to room and recording damages on your computer pad, plus clothing damages, toys for kids, etc. Trying to read the applicants honesty can be an issue at times (they lie...shock!) but most of the time a good inspector can tell if flood waters have damaged items by checking for water damages and water lines on the walls. Some damage is very obvious in hurricanes, etc. Pre-existing (like roofing tiles or shingles) situations that may cause say, water damage inside, is addressed but it takes a wise person to figure that out.
Rick was a very good inspector. The duty of the inspector is to NEVER tell anyone they will get anything. They do their job and get the signatures and get out to the next inspection. No crawling under houses or into unstable buildings. They know what is covered or not and simply do the inspections.
FEMA makes the judgement calls based on the info sent to them. Prior to HOMELAND SECURITY getting involved,there were "dirty inspectors" and they gave the whole situation a bad name. They could be bribed. Now it is way more organized and the rules and getting in are stringent.
The purpose behind FEMA help is to simple get people back into their homes if possible. They do not pay for floorcoverings like tiles, carpter, etc. but will pay for putting in flooring base (plywood). Walls are drywalled or plywood. No paint, no fancy wall paper. A destroyed TV may be covered, but a big screen damaged by lightening or shorted out in floods will be replaced by a small, functional television. Your SubZero would not be replaced with like. Insurance is supposed to cover those things. A whole lot of people do not even have home and contents insurance in poorer areas.
Kids can get some money for toy replacement and also basic clothing for school, work. etc. will be covered, but not wardrobes.
So....other than what you can read on the Inspection companies and FEMA sites, that is what I know.
Rick wants to get back in (and has passed this most recent background check this year) in and do these, not only to make that kind of money in a short time, but to help people get some needed aid. But he cannot make the judgement call in regards to whether they deserve it. He can only tell FEMA what he sees and records. Only the facts, Ma'am.
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Two senior dogs, one cool senior lady and the Dream Lives On!
GiniaJ, can one as a contractor pick and chose when to go and how long to stay? Or does the company say Hey you, you'r going here and your staying for two months, and that's what you have to do. What if one wants to work only one or two disasters per year kind of thing.
Flyone
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Team Cockrum: 2001, F250 Diesel, 2012 33 FT. CrossRoads Cruiser Fifth Wheel
No, you can't pick where you're sent and you stay as long as you can out in the field. You may ask to leave early but the thing is this: You want to be chosen to be called out and there are favorites who are generally those that go when called and stay out. They are conscientious and work hard (some work TOO hard and burn out). And you can go online and put down onsite whether you are available to be called out or not, so you have some control over that aspect. But as you know, disasters happen with little warning often (except for hurricanes which give good warning but change course and keep everyone on edge). If you are not tied up when you know one is imminent (hurricane) or when a slew of tornadoes tears up a state, or anything of that kind, you can go in and put down that your available. If you aren't, you make sure it's noted that you are NOT available. You are a subcontractor to a contractor to FEMA/Homeland Security and basically you are your own boss, but compliance makes sure you are one they will call time and again and that is how one makes money at it. You could conceivably keep busy for half a year (not all at one time) or so and not even have to work the rest of the year. It's just much more difficult nowdays to get in and it is hard, stressful work. People have just gone through a disaster and are NOT at their best, plus you also have quality control people following behind you to make sure you've done your job right. But for the right person, this is great work and a chance to make some serious income.
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Two senior dogs, one cool senior lady and the Dream Lives On!
