Hurricane Safety Tips for the Public and Code Officials

As Hurricane Irene approaches the East Coast, the public can take precautionary steps (www.iccsafe.org/hurricane) to help minimize damages and ensure their safety before, during and after the storm. Governmental jurisdictions preparing for Irene also have resources available to assist with post-hurricane recovery efforts.

“As a member-based organization, the International Code Council is dedicated to assisting jurisdictions prior to and in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene or any other natural disaster,” said ICC Chief Executive Officer Richard P. Weiland. “As always, with an array of expertise and services, we are ready, willing and able to help.”

With Hurricane Irene expected to make landfall this weekend, the Code Council encourages citizens to take the following safety steps:

Before the storm

• Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys, and garden tools. Anchor objects that cannot be brought inside.
• Check/replace emergency supplies and store bottled drinking water.
• Review evacuation plans.
• Keep a supply of flashlights and extra batteries handy.

During the storm

• Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for hurricane progress reports.
• Stay inside, away from windows, skylights, and glass doors.
• Keep a supply of flashlights and extra batteries handy.
• If an evacuation is ordered, leave as soon as possible.
• Avoid flooded roads and watch for washed-out bridges.
• Secure your home by unplugging appliances and turning off electricity and the main water valve.

After the storm

• Stay tuned to local radio for information.
• Return home only after authorities say that it is safe to do so.
• Avoid loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company, police, or fire department.
• Enter your home with caution.
• Beware of snakes, insects, and animals driven to higher ground by flood water.
• Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.
• Take pictures of any damage to the house and its contents for insurance claims.
• Drive only if absolutely necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

Jurisdictions in need of assistance following the storm can access the Disaster Response Network, a database of volunteers who are available to assist with building damage assessment, building inspections and other code-related functions. Jurisdictions seeking assistance can email volunteer@iccsafe.org. Code officials in regions not affected by the storm are encouraged to join the volunteer force.

The Code Council offers tools such as education seminars and certifications to help jurisdictions respond to hurricanes and other disasters. Two examples are the When Disaster Strikes – An Institute for Disaster Response seminar designed to provide code officials the skills and tools to become a Disaster Response Inspector; and the Disaster Response Inspector national certification, which validates that knowledge to respond to disaster sites with a specific emphasis on code provisions.

Other tools include events such as the ICC Foundation Luncheon at the Code Council’s fall 2011 Annual Conference and Final Action Hearings in Phoenix, where Lt. General Russel L. Honoré, USA (Ret.) will serve as the keynote speaker. Honoré, who led the Joint Task Force-Katrina – the U.S. Department of Defense’s response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana—will discuss “The New Normal: Leadership and Preparedness in the 21st Century.”

The International Code Council is a member-focused association dedicated to helping the building safety community and construction industry provide safe, sustainable and affordable construction through the development of codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.