Employees on Stand-by Time
FEMA may provide Public Assistance funding for labor costs related to intermittent standby time for staff conducting eligible evacuation or sheltering, search and rescue, or emergency medical care. All of the following criteria must be met:
  • Standby use and pay are consistent with the Applicant’s labor policy (or contractual obligation based on a labor agreement) and consistent with its practice in non-federally declared incidents;
  • The standby time occurred when it was necessary to have resources available to conduct the respective life-saving action;
  • The number of hours and individuals were reasonable and necessary based on the number of resources required;
  • The employee was conducting the respective life-saving action; and
  • All other labor cost eligibility criteria were met.

 Examples of eligible stand-by time costs include:

  • When bus drivers are prudently deployed to transport evacuees, even if the bus is not ultimately used
  • When first responders are prudently deployed for the purpose of evacuating or providing emergency medical care to survivors in order to save lives or protect health and safety, even if the employee does not ultimately perform eligible Emergency Work
  • When a contract or union agreement requires payment for stand-by time

FEMA determines if the cost is reasonable and necessary based on whether:

  • There is a contractual obligation to pay for stand-by time based on a labor agreement
  • The stand-by time occurred when it was necessary to have resources available to save lives and protect health and safety