Recovery information can be found on the ASCR Web site at http://www.ascr.org/news/hurricane090605.cfm and FEMA Web site at http://www.fema.gov/rrr/rebuilding_resources.shtm.
Members of the Association of Specialists in Cleaning & Restoration (ASCR) were actively involved in the research and development of these advisories, according to the ASCR.
Widespread flooding from Hurricane Katrina was caused primarily by storm surges and levee breeches, creating a variety of health and safety hazards, the ASCR states.
ASCR members participated in a FEMA Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) which included experts in building construction, engineering and codes. The team traveled to New Orleans in early October to survey hurricane damage and to draft recommendations for restoration and reconstruction. This marked the first time that FEMA had included restoration professionals in a post-disaster MAT study.
The team reviewed a number of damaged properties, spoke to home and business owners in the area and conducted sampling to determine what types of environmental dangers were involved.
"ASCR is in a unique position to utilize the expertise of our members in the restoration efforts along the Gulf Coast area," said Bill Lakin, CR, ASCR’s president. "The contribution of ASCR’s restoration professionals in the MAT study will move recommendations for building code changes beyond survivability to include provisions that will facilitate restorability of damaged properties."
