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Disaster Response Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Peers and Partners

Disaster Reservist

Washington, DC · On-site

This program maintains a database of individuals with critical skills that can be rapidly deployed to support disaster response and recovery efforts. Disaster Reservists may come from a variety of ...

Peers & Partners Inc

Disaster Reservist

Washington, DC · Remote

This program maintains a database of individuals with critical skills that can be rapidly deployed to support disaster response and recovery efforts. Disaster Reservists may come from a variety of ...

Peers and Partners

Disaster Reservist

Washington, DC

This program maintains a database of individuals with critical skills that can be rapidly deployed to support disaster response and recovery efforts. Disaster Reservists may come from a variety of ...

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Disaster Response information

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How much do disaster response jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for disaster response in the United States is $20.63, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $22.84 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in disaster response, and how can they be managed?

Disaster response professionals often face unpredictable and rapidly changing situations, which can include logistical hurdles, communication breakdowns, and emotional stress. Managing these challenges requires strong adaptability, clear protocols, and effective teamwork. Regular training, mental health support, and reliable communication systems are essential to maintaining resilience and performance in high-pressure environments. Building strong relationships with local agencies and community members also helps streamline coordination and resource allocation during emergencies.

What is the difference between Disaster Response vs Emergency Medical Technician?

AspectDisaster ResponseEmergency Medical Technician
Required CredentialsDisaster response training, certifications in emergency management, first aid, and sometimes specialized coursesEMT certification, CPR, first aid
Work EnvironmentField operations during disasters, including natural and man-made events, often in challenging conditionsPre-hospital emergency care, ambulances, hospitals
Employer & IndustryGovernment agencies, NGOs, emergency management firmsAmbulance services, hospitals, clinics

Disaster Response involves coordinating and providing aid during large-scale emergencies, often requiring specialized training and working in challenging environments. Emergency Medical Technicians focus on providing immediate medical care in emergency settings, primarily within healthcare and ambulance services. While both roles respond to emergencies, Disaster Response covers broader disaster management activities, whereas EMTs specialize in medical treatment.

What job pays the most in emergency response?

In emergency response, senior roles such as Emergency Management Directors or Disaster Response Managers tend to have the highest salaries, often exceeding six figures. These positions require extensive experience, leadership skills, and often advanced certifications in emergency management or related fields.

What Are Disaster Response Jobs?

Disaster response jobs focus on providing emergency relief after a natural or human-made disaster. In this role, you may be asked to take action shortly after a disaster occurs, help with planning and preparation before disasters strike, and help with management during a crisis. The jobs themselves take a variety of forms, from working on the ground to rescue people and pass out supplies to managing communications or raising public awareness about threats. State and federal governments provide many disaster response jobs, but many non-profit and humanitarian organizations also respond to disasters. These roles are not the same as firefighters or police. While both help with disasters, disaster response jobs focus on events like earthquakes, major wildfires, or outbreaks of disease.

What jobs respond to natural disasters?

Disaster response jobs include roles such as emergency responders, search and rescue personnel, disaster relief coordinators, and humanitarian aid workers. These jobs often require specialized training, certifications like CPR or first aid, and the ability to work in challenging environments during emergencies.

How much do disaster relief jobs pay?

Disaster response jobs typically pay between $30,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on the role, experience, and location. Positions such as emergency responders, coordinators, and logistics specialists often require certifications and may include benefits like hazard pay or overtime compensation.

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

To thrive in Disaster Response, you need a solid background in emergency management, risk assessment, and crisis intervention, often supported by relevant degrees or certifications such as FEMA training or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credentials. Familiarity with incident command systems, GIS mapping tools, and emergency communication platforms is typically required. Strong problem-solving, adaptability, and teamwork skills help responders manage high-pressure situations and coordinate effectively with diverse agencies. These abilities are crucial for ensuring rapid, organized, and effective responses to emergencies, minimizing harm and aiding affected communities.

What is disaster response?

Disaster response refers to the coordinated efforts and actions taken immediately following a disaster to save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety, and meet the basic needs of affected communities. This phase includes activities such as search and rescue, providing emergency shelter, distributing food and water, and offering medical care. Disaster response is carried out by a range of organizations, including government agencies, humanitarian groups, and emergency services. The goal is to stabilize the situation quickly and lay the groundwork for recovery.

How hard is it to get a job with FEMA?

Getting a disaster response job with FEMA typically requires relevant experience, such as emergency management or related fields, and often involves a competitive application process including assessments and background checks. Candidates may also need to obtain certifications like ICS or NIMS and be prepared for a rigorous hiring process due to the agency's high standards and the urgent nature of disaster response work.
More about Disaster Response jobs
What cities are hiring for Disaster Response jobs? Cities with the most Disaster Response job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Disaster Response jobs? The most popular types of Disaster Response jobs are:
What states have the most Disaster Response jobs? States with the most job openings for Disaster Response jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Disaster Response jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Disaster Response jobs are:
Disaster Response jobs near you
Infographic showing various Disaster Response job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,907 per year, or $20.6 per hour.

Disaster Legal Fellow

Indiana Legal Services

Indianapolis, IN • On-site

$57K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

INDIANA LEGAL SERVICES, INC.
Job Announcement
DISASTER LEGAL FELLOW
INDIANAPOLIS OR BLOOMINGTON
AGENCY DESCRIPTION: Indiana Legal Services, Inc. (ILS) is a statewide, not-for-profit law firm
that provides free legal services to eligible clients in civil cases through 8 regional offices. ILS is funded
by the Legal Services Corporation, Indiana Civil Legal Aid Fund, Indiana Bar Foundation, United
Ways, Area Agencies on Aging, and approximately 60 other funding sources.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER:
ILS is committed to being an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and
promote without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation,
national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any category protected by law.
LOCATION: This position is located in the Indianapolis or Bloomington office of Indiana Legal
Services.
JOB SUMMARY: The disaster legal fellow will work collaboratively to establish a statewide disaster
and emergency legal response plan and build networks with disaster response agencies and
organizations in partnership with a disaster legal fellow hosted by another legal service provider (Pro
Bono Indiana). Both of these positions are funded by the Indiana Bar Foundation. The ILS legal fellow
will also work to integrate Indiana's network of legal aid organizations into the existing network of
disaster response efforts and will represent clients in matters including housing, foreclosure, consumer,
and public benefits matters, which are among the types of cases that arise from disasters and
emergencies. This is a two-year fellowship. The fellow will work under the supervision of the Managing
Attorney of the office for which they are assigned.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Lead efforts to create a statewide legal response plan for disasters, emergencies, and
other crises including research on other states' plans and relevant academic literature
and meeting with disaster and emergency response agencies, legal aid providers and
other relevant entities. The fellow will be the primary drafter of the state legal response
plan and will present the plan at a future Indiana Civil Legal Aid Conference.
• Work with disaster preparedness agencies and other legal partners to embed legal
response as part of Indiana's statewide disaster response planning and ensure an
appropriate legal component in disaster and emergency response.
• Meet with disaster and emergency responders across the state to foster knowledge of
legal response to disasters and emergencies and build relationships with ILS.
• Collaborate on the development of training materials for legal aid staff and pro bono
volunteers and systems for recruitment and engagement of volunteers.
• Build partnerships with state and local bar associations, pro bono attorneys and law
firms to marshal and prepare resources for disaster and emergency response.
• Assist with design and deployment of a justice bus to be used by Pro Bono Indiana to
deliver mobile legal services and outreach to communities affected by disasters and
emergencies.
• Provide legal advice and representation to clients facing the types of legal problems that
arise in response to disasters and emergencies including housing, foreclosure, consumer
law, and public benefits.
• Comply with all LSC and grant requirements and all ILS policies and procedures.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Dedicated to the mission of Indiana Legal Services.
• Licensed to practice law in Indiana within the last 3 years or less or ability to be licensed
promptly is required.
• Background, experience, or interest in disaster preparedness or disaster response is preferred.
• Experience with significant writing projects and planning are preferred.
• Ability to travel as needed to perform job responsibilities both in-state and out-of-state.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
COMPENSATION: The starting salary for the position is $57,425 with a range up to a maximum of
$75,535 depending on experience. ILS offers an excellent fringe benefits package including health
insurance (medical, dental, vision, Rx), disability insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and a flex
benefit plan. The fellow will be offered leadership development opportunities, travel to relevant national
conferences, travel to investigate other states' disaster and emergency planning, and participation in the
Indiana Coalition for Court Access.
TO APPLY: Visit https://www.indianalegalservices.org/careers/ to apply online. Applicants should
submit a letter explaining your interest and experience, your resume, and a list of professional references
with contact information.

Apply