FEMA classes Jan/Feb 2008

[gbeaumont]

Hi to all,

I was chatting with our old friend Jeff Coffey from PaRR today, after a couple of quiet years on the disaster front they are again ramping up for this seasons chaos.

PaRR are the main contractor to FEMA for post disaster inspections throughout the US and its dependent territories (Puerto Rico, Guam etc) inspecting residential properties after hurricanes, tornados, wildfires and floods, as a business that is dependent on quality subcontracting inspectors they like everyone else has a retention problem, people that they have trained in previous years have retired or left the business.

This year they are continuing their national training program across the country and love to have NACHI members on board.

Click here for their training schedule for the next couple of months:

http://www.parrinspections.com/train_sch.asp

Remember when disaster strikes FEMA work keeps food on the tablesfor very many NACHI members, plus their courses are accepted by us for educational credits.

Think about signing up for a course near you, or a refresher if you have not been active with FEMA for a couple of years.

Prior to undergoing training you will need to fill out their on-line application here:

http://www.parrinspections.com/application0.asp

Regards

Gerry

[klott]

How long are the classes Gerry?

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by klott

How long are the classes Gerry?

Hi Ken,

Their classes are a full day and as such get 8 hours educational credit.

Regards

Gerry

[John McKenna]

Originally Posted by gbeaumont

Hi to all,

I was chatting with our old friend Jeff Coffey from PaRR today, after a couple of quiet years on the disaster front they are again ramping up for this seasons chaos.

PaRR are the main contractor to FEMA for post disaster inspections throughout the US and its dependent territories (Puerto Rico, Guam etc) inspecting residential properties after hurricanes, tornados, wildfires and floods, as a business that is dependent on quality subcontracting inspectors they like everyone else has a retention problem, people that they have trained in previous years have retired or left the business.

This year they are continuing their national training program across the country and love to have NACHI members on board.

Click here for their training schedule for the next couple of months:

http://www.parrinspections.com/train_sch.asp

Remember when disaster strikes FEMA work keeps food on the tablesfor very many NACHI members, plus their courses are accepted by us for educational credits.

Think about signing up for a course near you, or a refresher if you have not been active with FEMA for a couple of years.

Prior to undergoing training you will need to fill out their on-line application here:

http://www.parrinspections.com/application0.asp

Regards

Gerry

Are the classes TREC appoved for CE ? How much does it cost?

[Stephen W. Stanczyk]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

Are the classes TREC appoved for CE ? How much does it cost?

Not sure about the TREC CE but the class is FREE..... you can find the training class schedule at:

http://www.parrinspections.com/train_sch.asp

I took the class in November. If you are comfortable with a computer, it is a breeze.

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by sstanczyk

Not sure about the TREC CE but the class is FREE..... you can find the training class schedule at:

http://www.parrinspections.com/train_sch.asp

I took the class in November. If you are comfortable with a computer, it is a breeze.

John,

I would hope that TREC has shown the forsight to allow the FEMA training for credit especialy as coastal Texas has a long history of needing FEMA assistance. (if they haven't let me know and I'll work with PaRR to change that)

Steve is correct about the cost, it's free. As to it being a "breeze" some find it a challenging class and probably not suited to those who are not very computer literate.

Regards

Gerry

[dbronsted]

Gerry,
They have a class in Atlanta tommorow and I would have a 2 hour drive to get there. I applied and registered for the class. What are the chances that they will use me. Do they call almost everyone for a large disaster? I dont have money to waste right now and just wonder if the trip would be worth it. Do you know if they have more classes later? It just sounds exciting. And helping folks would be really cool.

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by dbronsted

Gerry,
They have a class in Atlanta tommorow and I would have a 2 hour drive to get there. I applied and registered for the class. What are the chances that they will use me. Do they call almost everyone for a large disaster? I dont have money to waste right now and just wonder if the trip would be worth it. Do you know if they have more classes later? It just sounds exciting. And helping folks would be really cool.

Hi Dana,

neither I nor they would be able to guarantee that they could use you, 2-3 years ago they were sceaming for qualified inspectors who had been trained to do these inspections due to the ammount of disasters at that time. Personaly I suspect that if we were to have a bad storm year in 2008 that they would have issues getting enough trained people on site.

You have to consider doing the training as a bit of a gamble, yes it's an investment in time and gas, but as I've said before PaRR has used literally hundreds of home inspectors on prior disasters.

Regards

Gerry

[dbronsted]

Thank you Gerry for your help. I appreciate it a bunch. Im gonna go for it. I have to leave at 5 am. So I gotta get some sleep. Nite

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by dbronsted

Thank you Gerry for your help. I appreciate it a bunch. Im gonna go for it. I have to leave at 5 am. So I gotta get some sleep. Nite

Nite Dana,

Drive safe tomorrow, let me know how you get on and what you think of the class.

Be safe

Gerry

[jwisecup]

Hi all,
Just wanted to add that I first was trained for Parr in Aug 2005(hurricane Katrina) They couldn't get enough people to work. It was great work, great money. But until the California Wildfires last fall, I hadn't been called since.
They deployed me to San Diego in Oct last year for registration intake, which is sitting in front of a computer and helping people fill out applications for Fema assistance. (they did switch people over to doing inspections when needed) My inspector number (= senority) is fairy high and I was called out in the first day.
For this they paid 400.00 a day, you pay all expenses.(hotel, car and food) They pay for your flight. They had many people that had just completed training and lots of people that have been working for Parr for years.

(I think they had between 500-700 people deployed to San Diego)
The rumors were that Fema had decided to use inspectors for registration intake to have them there, ready and prepared to complete inspections, if needed. They were very happy with Parrs presence and actually complimented Parr on their people.

The other big rumor was that a huge percentage of former inspectors did not either complete or pass the background investigation that is now required.

Sorry to go on and on, but I think that there is a good chance that Parr (and the other contractor Pb) will need more inspectors in the future, especially if they are doing all the registration intake. So, if you are not busy doing home inspection, I say go for it!

If anyone has any questions feel free to call.

Jamie 970-846-0707

[Peter C. Russell]

I got certified by Parr in 10/06 and never heard from them since, in fact we have had two disasters, two years in a row in NH and every FEMA/PARR inspector was from down south.

My local fire chief told me he was dealing with inspectors from Texas while I was at home 2 miles away!!!!!

What I believe is that we, as certified inspectors should expect is if a disaster happens in our area, we should be the first to be called out.

We know our area, these are are neighbors, we took the training and then you don't get called and someone from Texas comes and does the inspections.

This program is one sided and is designed for PARR to make the money and not you. To be fair the same goes for PB.

[dbronsted]

Just back from the FEMA class. PARR held the class in south Atlanta today and it was a full day ending at 5pm. Yes they do require a background check now and if you have felonies, sex crime, or drugs in your background you will not be hired. It pays just short of $50 an inspection and you pay all expenses (out of pocket and not reimbursed food, rental car, motel, etc) with the exception of air fair. Your first check for inspections may take up to 3 weeks to get to you. You also have to commit to being deployed for 30 days at a time not being able to return home. Oh and you can be called to work a claims desk at a shelter for a set pay..I think $450 a day. They like you to complete courses on their online site if you are approved one time a month and I got the drift that the more hours you have recorded on their site the more likely you will be called. And they really don't care where you are when they deploy you. You are usually only given 24 hours notice. Im sure the reason they don't use hometown folks is because of conflict of interest. It is on each form you fill out and If you connect with a person in any way you must excuse yourself. So we shall see if they call me.

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by dbronsted

Just back from the FEMA class. PARR held the class in south Atlanta today and it was a full day ending at 5pm. Yes they do require a background check now and if you have felonies, sex crime, or drugs in your background you will not be hired. It pays just short of $50 an inspection and you pay all expenses (out of pocket and not reimbursed food, rental car, motel, etc) with the exception of air fair. Your first check for inspections may take up to 3 weeks to get to you. You also have to commit to being deployed for 30 days at a time not being able to return home. Oh and you can be called to work a claims desk at a shelter for a set pay..I think $450 a day. They like you to complete courses on their online site if you are approved one time a month and I got the drift that the more hours you have recorded on their site the more likely you will be called. And they really don't care where you are when they deploy you. You are usually only given 24 hours notice. Im sure the reason they don't use hometown folks is because of conflict of interest. It is on each form you fill out and If you connect with a person in any way you must excuse yourself. So we shall see if they call me.

Dana, The only way you will get deployed is if we have a catastrophic year like when we had Katrina. There have been plenty of declared disasters since our floods up here in NH and Parr will take care of the regulars before they will you. You are just back up until you get your turn. They have yet to call me for any disaster in 2 years while there has been plenty across the country. Just my 2c worth.

[dbronsted]

Do you keep up with the monthly requirements? You might be right but it was worth the effort to see. And I cant wish for disasters but if one happens maybe I can be of service.
Dana

Originally Posted by prussell

Dana, The only way you will get deployed is if we have a catastrophic year like when we had Katrina. There have been plenty of declared disasters since our floods up here in NH and Parr will take care of the regulars before they will you. You are just back up until you get your turn. They have yet to call me for any disaster in 2 years while there has been plenty across the country. Just my 2c worth.