1

Disaster Cleanup Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Mitigation Technician

Sterling, VA ยท On-site

$27 - $33/hr

... disaster and for restoring property and lives with a servant's heart. They should embody Jenkins ... damage cleanup for properties and providing excellent customer service skills. This is a labor ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Disaster Cleanup information

See Virginia salary details

$28.8K

$86.3K

$175K

How much do disaster cleanup jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for disaster cleanup in Virginia is $86,271.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46,100.00 and $116,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Who cleans up after disasters?

Disaster cleanup is typically performed by specialized teams such as disaster response and recovery workers, including contractors, hazardous material handlers, and emergency services. These professionals use tools like protective gear and cleaning equipment to remove debris, restore safety, and prevent health hazards in affected areas.

How to get into storm cleanup?

To get into storm cleanup as a disaster cleanup worker, you should gain physical fitness, learn safety procedures, and obtain relevant certifications such as OSHA training. Experience with tools like chainsaws and debris removal equipment is helpful, and being prepared for irregular hours and challenging environments is common in this field.

What qualifications do you need to work for FEMA?

Disaster cleanup jobs with FEMA typically require relevant experience in disaster response, environmental cleanup, or construction, along with the ability to work in physically demanding and potentially hazardous environments. Certifications such as OSHA safety training or hazardous materials handling may be required, and a background check is usually conducted. Strong communication skills and the ability to work under pressure are also important.

What does a typical workday look like for someone in disaster cleanup?

A typical workday in disaster cleanup involves assessing damage, removing debris, using specialized equipment to clean and sanitize affected areas, and following strict safety procedures to handle hazardous materials. You may work both indoors and outdoors, often in environments impacted by floods, fires, storms, or other disasters. Teams coordinate closely to prioritize urgent tasks, ensuring areas are restored swiftly and safely. Flexibility is essential, as schedules can vary depending on emergency situations and response needs. Over time, you can take on more responsibility, learn advanced remediation techniques, and work toward supervisory or project management roles.

Which emergency job pays the most?

In disaster cleanup and emergency response roles, positions such as hazardous materials specialists and emergency management directors tend to have the highest salaries. These jobs often require specialized training, certifications, and experience, and may involve working in high-risk environments or overseeing large-scale operations.

What is a Disaster Cleanup job?

A Disaster Cleanup job involves removing debris, water, and hazardous materials after natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and fires. Workers clean, sanitize, and restore affected areas to ensure safety and habitability. This job may include mold remediation, structural repairs, and hazardous waste disposal. It requires physical labor, protective equipment, and sometimes specialized training.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Disaster Cleanup position, and why are they important?

To thrive in Disaster Cleanup, you need strong physical stamina, attention to detail, knowledge of safety protocols, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with personal protective equipment (PPE), specialized cleaning tools, hazardous material handling, and certifications like HAZWOPER are typically required. Dependability, teamwork, adaptability, and strong communication skills help professionals stand out in challenging environments. These qualifications are critical for maintaining safety standards, efficiently restoring affected areas, and effectively collaborating with emergency response teams.

What are popular job titles related to Disaster Cleanup jobs in Virginia? For Disaster Cleanup jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Disaster Cleanup jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Disaster Cleanup job openings:
Infographic showing various Disaster Cleanup job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, and 14% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $86,271 per year, or $41.5 per hour.

Mitigation Technician - Tier 1

JENKINS SERVICES GROUP

Ashland, VA โ€ข On-site

$18 - $20/hr

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago


Job description

OVERVIEW
Jenkins Restorations upholds a vision to be the restoration firm of choice in existing and future markets while upholding Biblical values. The Mitigation Technician reports to the General Manager with accountability for providing excellent service for those who have been victims of disaster and for restoring property and lives with a servant's heart. They should embody Jenkins Restorations' core values, including, Can-do Attitude, Excellent Execution, Do the Right Thing, Actions of a Servant, and Responsible Stewardship (C.E.D.A.R).
The Mitigation Technician is primarily responsible for physically performing the water and storm damage cleanup for properties and providing excellent customer service skills. This is a labor-intensive construction related position that has a rotating on call / response requirement.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES for the Mitigation Technician:
  • Mitigation Technician cleans and dries out internal/inside areas of damaged property
    • Identifies items that are wet with a specialized equipment
    • Removes drywall, pulls up flooring, clears out all debris
    • Pumps water out with extraction equipment
    • Dries out water damaged materials with drying equipment
  • Mitigation Technician provides excellent customer service to property owner
  • Mitigation Technician effectively communicates job updates/progress with clients, insurance representatives and Project Manager
  • Mitigation Technician responds 24x7 as needed
  • All other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
  • Experience: Successfully completed the IICRC WRT course or another industry recognized/approved class; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
The Mitigation Technician must possess the ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Demonstrate the ability to write routine reports, correspondence, and the ability to speak effectively to customers and/or employees of organization in the English language.
TECHNICAL SKILLS:
To perform this job successfully, the Mitigation Technician should have knowledge of industry related software be able to "touch type" and be familiar with software like Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, etc.); able to communicate via cell phone and appropriate apps.
REASONING ABILITY:
The Mitigation Technician should possess the ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. They should also have the ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form in the English language.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to sit; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to visit project sites that have incurred catastrophic events from fire, water, and storm damage and could require accessing roofs, which they need to be able to carry a 28' ladder from their truck and setting it up at the roof line of the associated property. The employee must be able to carry a minimum of 50 pounds in weight for the purpose of getting material to a specific place on the project site.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is also frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and high, precarious places. The Mitigation Technician is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Appropriate safety equipment is furnished.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • Willing and able to engage in manual labor, which can be physically demanding able to regularly lift/carry 50 lbs and, on occasion, up to 100 lbs
  • High School diploma or GED required and/or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Excellent customer service and communication skills using English language
  • Due to the Emergency Response aspect of this position, work schedules typically include On Call participation (24x7) with modifications in work schedule being dependent on local On Call status
  • Willing and able to work and be available for overtime when needed
  • Great attitude, trustworthy, dependable, and a pleasant personality
  • Willing to receive appropriate vaccines/medical requirements
  • Able to pass a background check, driving record check, and regular employee drug screenings

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None