Texas Calls For Inspectors In Hurricane Areas

[John McKenna]

I just got this in my email....

From: Pekar, Gregory [mailto:Gregory.Pekar@txdps.state.tx.us]
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 7:00 PM
Subject: Request for Assistance, Wide Dissemination

Impacted jurisdictions will have a demand in the days following hurricane Ike’s landfall to 'red-tag'
a massive number of storm damaged residential and commercial properties. Red-tagged
structures require a building permit before permanent repair.

The Hurricane Ike Public Works Response Team (PWRT) can be used to allow building code
personnel from non-impacted communities across the state to temporarily come to the aid of the
damaged communities, and to do so without taking on the financial burden themselves.
Reimbursement will be made for time, travel and other approved expenses up to State of Texas
approved rates.

This commitment can be short or long, a day or two, up to as long as it takes, based on your
availability. This activity will be after basic restoration of critical resources have been completed,
however you should expect only basic lodging accommodations and meals; alternatively you may
find yourself driving in and out of the impacted area on a daily basis from a base camp outside
the impacted area.

So, we are looking for qualified building inspectors. If you, or any other member of your
municipality, company or neighboring community or company qualify and can assist please
contact me directly. You do not have to be a Public Works Response Team member to
participate in this assignment, although this will now become a new category of resource within
the PWRT.

If interested, message Tony Alotto. His contact information is below.
=====================================
|| Tony Alotto
|| GDEM - State Operations Center
|| TEEX - Public Works Response Team
|| 979-575-7759 (Cell)
|| 512-424-2208 (SOC)
|| tony.alotto@teexmail.tamu.edu
=====================================
Thanks, Gregory Pekar
GDEM Mitigation 512-424-2429

[Michael R. Boyett]

....

The response to the States call for building inspectors to assist with Ike has been gratifying.

However, the volume of calls has been tying up important phone lines and is frankly, not sustainable. Please immediately stop calling the phone numbers listed in the original announcement. Additionally, this is a Texas program only. Only inspectors employed by Texas jurisdictions, or licensed to operate in Texas, can be accepted.

Effective immediately, the State will only accept electronic registrations for this program. Reply to Tony.Alotto@teexmail.tamu.edu with "Ike building inspector" in the subject line. Telephonic signup will no longer be accepted. If you do not have e-mail, then you cannot participate.

Thanks again to those that have already signed up.

[Richard W. Washington]

Is this similar to FEMA's Disaster Housing Program?

[John McKenna]

Not sure... waiting for more info.

[Michael R. Boyett]

Remember, if this is a TRCC program (which it appears to be) then a TREC licensed inspector is not indemnified from errors like a code official is. You miss a code issue and you will be responsible for it. Now, I will say, that is true for the county TRCC inspection program, and this program may be different. Get the details before signing up.

[John McKenna]

Just got this...

If you receive this email you are in my database of inspectors available to respond to Hurricane Ike restoration efforts.

The way this works is that when I receive a specific request from an impacted jurisdiction for an inspector, I will search the database for persons who hold the specific certification requested. Those with that certification are then notified with the specifics, starting with those closest to the requestor. If you didn't provide me with your specific certifications, phone and location you probably won't hear from me.

Please do not call me, this is all being done by email. I have not, and will not, enroll or update anyone's information by telephone - there is simply too much going on. If you wish to be removed from the list and further notifications, simply let me know by email and I'll take you off the list.

As of this time the only request I have received is from one jurisdiction looking for Texas State Licensed Plumbing Inspectors and Texas State Licensed Electricians who currently are employees of another city in Texas. If you indicated to me when you registered that you hold these certifications and work for a City, you have heard from me, otherwise you haven't.

Thank you for your interest in supporting Texas.

-----------
Tony Alotto
Public Works Response Team
Tony.Alotto@teexmail.tamu.edu

[Richard W. Washington]

i've been staying busy so have not enrolled in this. are you guys signing up? i'd like to hear how the jobs are.

[John McKenna]

Many have signed up but only few calls for inspectors are going out because of conditions
in hurricane damaged areas.

[John McKenna]

Just got this message.

The request for hurricane Ike inspectors has ceased.