Workforce housing guide · Updated 2026-11-11
Emergency Workforce Housing Rentals After a Wildfire or Flood: A Response Checklist
A checklist for agencies, utilities, and contractors who need to house responders and recovery crews after a wildfire or flood. It covers the headcount, the site, utilities, and the order of trailers for a temporary camp of bunk bed sleepers, shower trailers, laundry, and kitchens, with Ready.gov and OSHA guidance on working safely through response and recovery.
Key points
- Have the headcount, site address, and utility status ready when you call.
- Beds, showers, and toilets come first; laundry and kitchens follow within days.
- Availability is confirmed for each call; an inquiry doesn't reserve equipment.
After a wildfire or flood, local lodging fills with displaced residents and the crews arriving to help. A temporary camp puts responders close to the work. Follow your state and local emergency managers for access orders; Ready.gov collects federal preparedness guidance, and OSHA publishes worker safety guidance for response and recovery.
Before you call
- Headcount by shift, and how many need private rooms.
- The site address, the pad surface, and the open approach for a truck.
- Water, power, and waste on site, or none.
- Who meets the driver and approves placement.
The order of trailers
Start with 20ft Accommodation (Labor Shared) or 20ft Accommodation (Contractor) units for beds, a 20ft Shower Container (5 Individual Stalls) for showers, and a Restroom Trailer. Add a 26ft-27ft Laundry Trailer (8 Washer/Dryer) and a 28ft Mobile Kitchen as the response settles into weeks. Most housing, shower, and restroom units are set up in about an hour once on site with utilities ready.
Rent by the week while response runs, or by the month for a long recovery. Call 24/7; we confirm availability before giving a delivery time.
Sources
- Ready.gov: Federal emergency preparedness guidance (FEMA).
- OSHA: Emergency Preparedness and Response: Worker safety during emergency response and recovery.
- OSHA 1910.142: Temporary labor camps †: At least 50 sq ft of sleeping floor space per occupant; beds 36 inches apart (48 for double-deck bunks); one shower head per 10 persons; one laundry tray or tub per 30; toilets one per 15 persons of each sex, minimum two.
Links checked 2026-11-11. Figures quoted above appear on the linked pages.
