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 Resources for Affected Workplaces
Thousands of businesses and millions of lives have been disrupted by Hurricane Katrina and the flooding that followed in its wake. This page has resources for employers trying to assist their workers and get their businesses up and running again.

  TELL US WHERE YOU ARE
Have you relocated due to the hurricane? If you are a member of the national SHRM organization, please update your member information to reflect your new location. If you belong to a local SHRM chapter, but are not a member of the national SHRM, please use this online form to let us know where you are.

  FAQS
Question: Can we have a different policy or practice on background checks for applicants affected by Katrina and take additional actions such as fingerprinting when we don't do so for applicants who have proper ID?

Answer: Employers who rely on background checking information as an essential element of their selection decisions may find their hiring decisions complicated by Katrina victims who lack appropriate documentation.

Where the nature of the job requires a high level of risk avoidance, such as jobs involving handling of cash or access to sensitive information, or jobs where background checks are mandated by state law, employers may not be able to change their process to provide opportunities for those displaced by Katrina.

Where background checks are viewed as helpful, but not essential, employers may be able to proceed on the basis of verbally provided identification information (Social Security number and date of birth) and hope that the applicant is providing accurate information.

  • More Frequently Asked Questions

    •   SHRM CHAPTERS
    Web sites for the Louisiana State Council and several Louisiana chapters have been unavailable since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, where the web sites were hosted. Chapter members can communicate with each other and get information posted by their chapters on web pages now hosted via SHRM Online.

    Many HR professionals affected by Hurricane Katrina have relocated to five areas. Here is contact information on the SHRM affiliated chapters in those areas:

    Baton Rouge, La.
    Greater Baton Rouge SHRM
    President - Rebecca Briley
    E Federal Credit Union
    Phone: (225) 214-6807
    Home Page: www.gbrshrm.com (web site temporarily unavailable)

    Jackson, MS
     Capital Area HR Association
    President - Tom Sullivan, SPHR
    St. Dominic Hospital
    Phone: (601)200-6741
    Home Page: www.cahra.com

    Dallas
    Dallas HR Management Association
    President - Carla Williams, SPHR
    Home Page: www.dallashr.org Phone: (214) 631-8775

    Dallas-Fort Worth EMA
    President - Joe Sommers
    Talent Management Resources
    Phone: (972) 379-3038
    Home Page: www.dfwema.org

    Houston
    HR Houston
    President - Lane Transou, SPHR
    Home Page: www.hrhouston.org Phone: (713) 780-9960

    Houston
    Bay Area HR Management Association
    President - Amber Williams, PHR
    UTMB Human Resources
    Phone: (409) 772-2755
    Home Page: www.bahrma.org

    San Antonio
    San Antonio HR Management Association
    Jennifer Rower, PHR
    Home Page: www.sahrma.org
    Phone: (210) 231-5711

    For information on all SHRM-affiliated chapters, please visit www.shrm.org/chapters.

      UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
  • Alabama. Claims may filed by (toll free) at 1-866-767-8103. More information on the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations’ website.

  • Louisiana. Claims may filed at the nearest state Job Center or via the Louisiana Department of Labor website.

  • Mississippi. UI and DUA claims are taken in person in Mississippi. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that job centers north of Jackson are open for claims. The only offices open south of Jackson are McComb and Natchez on the Mississippi River. If workers are unable to visit, or do not live near an office listed below, they may call toll free (888) 844-3577 from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.    

    •   WHERE TO GET HELP
  • U.S. Labor Department Hurricane Recovery Assistance Page.

  • The White House Hurricane Relief Page

  • Federal Emergency Management Agency

  • Centers for Disease Control Hurricane Katrina Health Information

  • Small Business Administration

  • FirstGov. Index of state and local resources.

  • Easter Seals Gulf Coast Disaster Resource Center

    International Facility Management Association Prepare and Recover

    Alabama

  • Alabama Emergency Management Agency
  • Alabama Department of Health
  • Alabama State Labor Department

    Florida
  • Florida Department of Health
  • Florida Division of Emergency Management

    Louisiana
  • Louisiana Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness
  • Louisiana Hurricane Katrina home page
  • Louisiana State Labor Department

    Mississippi
  • Mississippi Emergency Management Agency

    Texas
  • Texas Workforce Commission. Information for evacuees relocating in Texas

    •   WORKPLACE RESOURCES

    Emergency Response Toolkit - "Natural Disaster"

    Keeping Workers Safe During Clean Up and Recovery Operations Following Hurricanes (Source: OSHA)

    Employer Resource Guide (Source: Mercer HR Consulting)

    Emergency Supply Kits (Source: Ready.Gov)

    Employers’ Responsibilities in the Wake of a Natural Disaster

    Katrina Recovery - For Employers (Source: Nola.com)

    U.S. Labor Department Training Grants for Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas

    Wages on Days of Inclement Weather

    Step by Step: Pay for Exempt Employees

    HR Solutions: How Are Employees Paid If Organization Is Closed Due to Inclement Weather?

    Sample Policies
      HOUSING ASSISTANCE

    The following organizations are assisting individuals in need of housing find homes where they can stay:

  • My Family Can Help

  • HurricaneHousing

  • Operation Share Your Home

    •   SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES

    Do you have employees or facilities that were directly affected by the hurricane? Please share your experiences with your colleagues in HR. What happened? What was your response? What have you learned from the experience? Use the form below to submit your responses.

    You can also view some of the responses we've received, documenting how HR is responding to this crisis.

    Name:
    Email Address:
    Company Name:
    City/State:
     
    Tell us your experiences:
    Can we publish this information on our website?
    Yes  No
    Can we include your name and company name with this description?
    Yes  No
     
     

    		 

     


     

     

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