FEMA will Pay Katrina and Rita Firefighter Overtime

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has agreed to reimburse Gulf Coast firefighters for overtime worked during their response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Under the agreement issued on April 16, fire companies in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and Florida will be eligible to apply for reimbursement of overtime claimed by firefighters, up to 24 hours per day for the first 14 days after the official federal disaster declaration dates for each of the hurricanes. FEMA had originally offered overtime reimbursement based only on a 16-hour workday.

While FEMA was unable to estimate the total cost for the overtime reimbursements, all fire companies that apply will be required to provide proper justification and documentation of hours worked.

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