Building Inspections after Natural Disasters

[jike]

Is there any agency or website where structural engineers can offer either volunteer or paid services for building inspection in the aftermath of a hurricane or other natural disasters?

 

[eyec]

FEMA

 

[Lutfi]

I just received e-mail from Patrick J. Natale, P.E., F.ASCE, CAE Executive Director with some information on this matter. I believe this e-mail was sent to all ASCE membership.

You will find essentially the same information in the e-mail at his link:

http://www.asce.org/asce.cfm

The link has links on how to volunteer and with whom.

I am sure we all are touched by the tragic results of the hurricane. I lived through four (4) of them last year here in Florida. It could have been very easily us. I also have family connection in NO. We shall recover and come back from this one as well.

Regards,




Regards,
Lutfi

 

[Taro]

Some Structural Engineers Associations have arrangements with their local government's building department or Emergency Operations Center. After a disaster, the engineers on the list become "deputized" to inspect structures for safety and post placards. It can be important to have this arrangement set up before disasters occur to outline the volunteer engineers' limits of authority and liability. A good resource for more information in the U.S. is the NCSEA and particularly the SEA of Washington state. SEAW's Emergency Preparedness Committee chair is an authority on the subject.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

thread765-133212

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

 

[JAE]

Here's the key passages in the link that Lufti posted:

[green]Volunteers should not report directly to the affected areas unless directed by a voluntary agency.

The American Red Cross has an ongoing need for engineers who are trained in disaster response and ready for deployment. To volunteer in that capacity, we urge you to contact your local American Red Cross chapter at

http://www.redcross.org/donate/volunteer/.

While the Federal Emergency Management Agency also has an ongoing need for engineers, only those who have pre-registered and trained with the agency will be included in the disaster response teams. If you would like more information on working with FEMA, please visit

http://www.fema.gov/.

[/green]