1. Find out where to go for help. Depending on the scale of the weather event, assistance may come from a local or state agency or a larger federal organization.

The Red Cross helps individuals recover from disasters. Last year, their historic disaster responses included the Hawaii wildfires as well as tornadoes in the South and Midwest. And in 2024, 1,400+ volunteers deployed to the Southeast in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) is a government agency that helps people prepare for disasters before they happen — and respond after.
The Disaster Distress Helpline is another government service under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This 24/7 hotline allows individuals to text or call to receive crisis support and information after natural or human-caused disasters.
Local and state agencies may also provide support before, during and after a severe weather event. For example, here in Iowa, individual disaster assistance programs are housed within the Homeland Security and Emergency Management department.

2. Know what they're responsible for if their living space is damaged. After the immediate threat of severe weather passes, this is often the biggest concern employees face in a disaster. First, employees must remember that they need to wait for the all-clear from local authorities before they re-enter their homes to make sure there are no structural or electrical concerns. Once it's safe to re-enter, homeowners can typically assume that:

They're responsible for all clean-up and disposing of debris that comes from their home. However, they should check their homeowner's insurance policy, as it may help pay for clean-up of debris like tree limbs.
They're likely to have to pay for the clean-up of debris that came from a neighboring property unless they can prove that the neighbor's negligence led to the damage.

If your employee rents or leases their home, their landlord is most likely responsible for making all repairs in a timely manner. However, the landlord is not responsible for personal injury or property damage due to the natural disaster. Employees should review their renter's insurance policy to see what is covered and what can be replaced.

Instant Insights /

Disaster prep and recovery: 4 tips for 2024 and beyond

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