Architects in Service : Flood Disaster Relief

This page is a joint effort of AIA Tennessee and AIA Middle Tennessee.

News

June 18, 2010 - Join us for a workshop entitled "Maximizing FEMA Funding In A Post Disaster Environment... and the Architect's Role" - View the Event

June 3, 2010 - Train to complete FEMA evaluations and help victims navigate insurance options - Review the webinar presentation

How to Help

Photo - Alicia Gipson - THE TENNESSEAN

While your home and office may have been spared any major damage, there are many opportunities to help others less fortunate as the water recedes (and continues to rise in some places!). Read on to find out ways to help our community.

Reporting Problems and Staying Informed

FEMA - Find basic, life saving tips on post-flood response at the FEMA Flood site.

United Way - The United Way’s 211 service can connect callers with roughly 7,000 programs in Middle Tennessee that offer assistance with food, clothing and shelter, among others. Call 2-1-1.

Metro Nashville Flood Hotline - Questions about flooding or need non-emergency assistance? Call the Metro Flood Hotline: (615) 862-8574.  The May community newsletter has some helpful information regarding cleanup.

Rebuilding Together Nashville - Helps rebuild lives by revitalizing existing homes of low-income, elderly, and disabled people to live safely and comfortably. Their website currently contains very helpful post-flood links for help and support from P!N.

The Tennessean - In addition to providing safety tips, FEMA guidelines,  and to-date information, the Tennessean has lent their SeeClickFix system to the community to allow residents to report flooding problems and request supplies. You can also find a county by county survey of flood damage.

Nashville Chamber of Commerce - From creating a disaster response plan for your business to finding local flood recovery services, the Nashville Chamber of Commerce has some helpful tips for businesses.

Need information on recovering your business or home after the flood?

FEMA, Small Business Administration (SBA), Metro and state employees as well as Congressman Jim Cooper and other state and local politicians provided the following information on financial help for people affected by the flood waters. There three ways that you can get assistance:

1. There are potential tax breaks/right offs. You will need documentation (i.e., pictures) but can amend your 2009 taxes for faster compensation.

2. FEMA: 1-800-621-FEMA Everything through the federal government (minus the tax breaks) begins with calling this number or going online and registering. Once you register, an inspector will be sent to your house for a site visit. Documentation will help in this process. You can also get updates on your application by call the 800 number of by going online.

a. SBA - Once you’ve been routed through FEMA, the SBA will assess you for a low interest, long-term loan (home owners and renters: 2.75% interest, 30-yr term up to $200,000; businesses: 4% interest, 30-yr term up to $2M). Homeowners/renters can move from the county, but businesses have to remain in the county they were in when the disaster occurred. They touched on a roll over option for homeowners that would allow you to roll your current debt into the new loan (for those who qualify). Small businesses can also qualify for an Economic Injury Loan (up to $2M; there is a reduced interest rate for non-profits) for operating assistance until you are operational.

b. If you don’t qualify for an SBA loan, you will be returned to FEMA to see if there are any grants available to help.

How to Find a Trustworthy Contractor for Your Reconstruction

In light of the historic flooding that has devastated parts of Tennessee, the Department of Commerce and Insurance is encouraging homeowners to verify the licensure of contractors they hire to repair their homes by using http://verify.tn.gov.

You can view the press release and accompanying verification instructions document for information on verifying and selecting a home contractor. Once you verify a contractor, click the "details" button. This will show you any complaints that might have been filed against that contractor, and also shows the monetary limits they have for projects. This information will let you know they have available credit to do a project as large or small as what your constituent requires for their repairs.

Use Your Skills

As architects, we can lend very specialized talents to our communities during disasters. With these skills in mind, the AIA has created the AIA Disaster Assistance Program, designed to encourage architects to use their skills to help communities recover from disasters. The program includes documentation defining the volunteer architect’s role in disasters, news and events related to architects involved in recovery efforts, and significant support documentation and tools for recovery teams. See the site to get tools like Damage Assessment Worksheets, Checklist for Wind Storm-Damaged Structures and even Information on Good Samaritan Legislation. | more…

Jack Potter, AIA, has offered to champion the volunteer organization and relief tasks here in Middle Tennessee. He is trained for disaster response through the Disaster Assistance Program, and will serve as coordinator for the AIA's recovery effort.  Register though our volunteer registration system, and we can patch you through to Jack for more information and assignments. Below are the steps and forms you will need to become a volunteer in the effort.

  • Register to let us know you are willing to volunteer your time and service to evaluate flooded homes for damage.
  • Distribute informative flyers in your community. This flyer describes briefly the need for professional evaluation of flooded structures, what to look for when selecting a contractor, and contact information for AIA Middle Tennessee to match home and business owners with volunteer architects and engineers. A larger alternative can be found here, for printing on tabolid paper (fold in half).  Distribute to local groceries, mail boxes and wherever they might be helpful.
  • Download and review the AIA Disaster Handbook to familarize yourself before heading out to do evaluations.
  • Print a copy of the Liability Disclaimer and have your client fill it out, and review the Good Samaritan laws. Make sure you explain why they need to sign a Liability Disclaimer, and call our office or Jack if there are any questions.
  • Evaluate the structure and fill out an Assessment Worksheet regarding the property.
  • Return your complete evaluation to Jack, and leave a copy for your client as well.

AIA Disaster Assistance Program - Instructions and tools to help architects in the survey and evaluation of flood damage and recovery.

Find out more about the FEMA evaluation process, and find example FEMA PW forms on their official site.

Lend a Hand

Be proactive! As Nashville begins what surely will be a long recovery process from the historic May Day Flood, a wellspring of resources have emerged on the web with word spreading largely through social-networking sites.

  • Hands On Nashville: A clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities during the flood as they are approved by the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management. Registration is required, but HON provides a wealth of opportunities with a large level of coordination.
  • Middle Tennessee Red Cross: Donations are accepted. Can be made online or by texting REDCROSS to 90999
  • Second Harvest Food Bank: The food bank is being forced to relocate its inventory from MetroCenter. Monetary donations can be made at their website.
  • Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: Donations to the Metro Nashville Disaster Relief Fund can be made online.
  • Nashvillest: The website and its Twitter have proven invaluable among the social-networking savvy and blogging community during the flood. The site has become something of a clearinghouse, and following Nashvillest on Twitter is a great way to find volunteer efforts in your area.
  • The Bridge Bunch: Taking donations of money and, at the moment, socks for the residents of Nashville's Tent City and larger homeless community.
  • NashvilleFlood on Twitter: An account set up sometime Monday promising to help disseminate information. In need of a truck? Send them an @-reply. Got a truck? Let NashvilleFlood now. A grassroots resource that is helping the in-need and the willing-to-help.
  • Also, in East Nashville, ArtHouse Gardens is acting as a community meeting place to connect people who can help with those who need help. 
  • Nashville Flood Radiothon: A Facebook group for radio stations mobilizing relief efforts. Read more about at Music Row.
  • Pets are flood victims, too: Local orgs are helping with stranded or lost pets in the wake of the flood. 
  • NashvilleFloodHelp: A group of lawyers at Dodson Parker Behm & Capparella wanted to do something to help flood victims and so have created a blog designed to be a digest of useful information.
  • Free legal advice for victims: Nashville Pro Bono is offering free legal assistance and seminars to those affected by the flood. Check out their website for scheduling and more information. 
  • Mental Health Assistance: If you've experienced trauma or other emotional effects from the flooding and aftermath, the state has resources at this website. Or you can call 615-532-6700 or 1-800-560-5767 for more information. 
  • What to do when you're cleaning up: The University of Tennessee's Institute of Agriculture has a comprehensive list of tips and guidelines for cleaning up flood-damaged property. 
  • MusiCares: Providing emergency financial assistance to people in the music industry, they have the ability to help anyone in the music industry who was affected by the flooding. To be qualified you must have been in the music industry for at least five years. This includes tour bus drivers, writers, etc. The organization will help replace homes, music equipment, etc. Call Cortney Bailey at (615) 327-0050 or email at cortney.bailey@grammy.com. 
  • FEMA: FEMA said residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance Wednesday by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper's office also issued guidelines to apply for aid. Read them here (PDF).
  • Metro Nashville: Get help through the Metro Nashville Flood page. Metro expects an overwhelming amount of permits to be requested in the next few months.  Contact Bonnye Holt (615-880-2420) if you can volunteer to help in either of the following capacities:
    • Staffing at MOB - We would like to ask for volunteers to be on stand by to help us at Metro Office Building researching the permit applications, pulling flood elevations, checking Elevation Certificates, checking Floodway locations etc. We would like to identify some volunteers and get them in our office for a briefing sometime this week so that we will be prepared to draw you in when necessary. We do not want the required permitting process to slow down the recovery process in these hard hit areas. There will be some structures that will not be allowed to be put back in the same location just as it was prior to the flood. We are prepared for those tough decisions.
    • Elevation Certificates - We have a large portion of the county covered with Elevation Certificates (EC), however, there will be structures that don't have them. If a home was substantially damaged (greater than 50% of pre-flood value) we will need to know the FFE in order to determine if the home can be repaired as it was. All substantially damaged structures must be put back according to our current requirement of 4' above the flood elevation. If we do not have an EC for the structure, we cannot process the permit applications. If we could provide free elevation certificates to these folks it would be a tremendous help to them as they try to recover from the devastation. Again, the results of some of these certificates will be that the home must be elevated as part of the repairs.

Additional disaster recovery opportunities and information:

Conserve

Perhaps the easiest and most critical step you can take right now is to conserve water. With much of Davidson county's water treatment system out of operation, it is important to reduce non-essential water consumption to make sure that the whole of Davidson county can still access clean drinking water.  You can find tips for water conservation at Use it Wisely or through the DOE's WaterSense site.

Ask for Help

A recent post from Rebuilding Together Nashville has some very helpful information regarding getting more help:

EMERGENCY FOOD, SHELTER AND MEDICAL CARE:

  • The United Way’s 211 service can connect callers with roughly 7,000 programs in Middle Tennessee that offer assistance with food, clothing and shelter, among others. Call 2-1-1.
  •  For those who have questions about flooding or need non-emergency assistance, Metro has a hot line, (615) 862-8574.
  •  Call the Red Cross at (615) 250-4250 to find the closest shelter or go to www.nashvilleredcross.org. The American Red Cross is operating 18 shelters across Middle and West Tennessee. The centers will provide counseling and aid for victims as well as access to other social services.Metro Davidson County now has multiple Disaster Information Centers for general information on utilities, social service assistance and legal and insurance information (but not medical assistance). Centers will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at:
    • Bellevue Community Center, 656 Colice Jeanne Road, (615) 862-8435
    • Coleman Community Center, 384 Thompson Lane, (615) 862-8445
    • East Park Community Center, 700 Woodland Street, (615) 862-8448
    • Hadley Community Center, 1037 28th Avenue North, (615) 862-8451
    • Hermitage Community Center, 3720 James Kay Lane, (615) 316-0843
  • Metro Public Health is offering free tetanus shots at the five community centers around Nashville for people who might come into contact with flood water.

COUNSELING SERVICES FOR VICTIMS WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES, THEIR HOME, AND OTHER PROPERTY:

Call the Red Cross at (615) 250-4250 to find the closest shelter or go to www.nashvilleredcross.org. The American Red Cross is operating 18 shelters across Middle and West Tennessee. The centers will provide counseling and aid for victims as well as access to other social services.

FEDERAL AID MONEY FOR RECOVERY AND REBUILDING:

Residents and business owners in the affected counties can apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

FREE LEGAL ADVICE:

Volunteer lawyers will provide free services at three upcoming legal clinics:

  • Legal Clinic, sponsored by the Nashville Pro Bono Program – May 11 at 4:30 p.m. at Legal Aid Society, 300 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37201. No appointments needed.
  • Special Disaster Legal Clinic, sponsored by the Nashville Pro Bono Program – May 12 at 5 p.m. at Legal Aid Society, 300 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37201. No appointments needed.
  • For more information about the Nashville Pro Bono Program clinics, visit the organization’s blog at: http://nashvilleprobono.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/legal-help-for-flood-victims.

HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR INSURANCE WILL AND WILL NOT COVER:

If you have issues with an insurance company, call the Department of Commerce and Insurance at 1-800-342-4029.

Avoid unlicensed contractors who could take advantage of homeowners anxious to rebuild after disasters by hiring only licensed contractors. Consumers may verify a license status by calling 1-800-544-7693 or checking online at http://licsrch.state.tn.us/.

  •   State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., 1-800-732-5246
  • Farm Bureau Insurance, 1-800-836-6327
  •   Allstate Insurance Co., 1-800-767-7619
  •  Nationwide Insurance Co., 1-800-421-3535
  •   Traveler’s Insurance Co., 1-800-252-4633
  •   Farmers Insurance Group 1-800-435-7764
  •   USAA (United Services Auto Association), 1-800-531-8111
  •   Foremost Insurance Co., 1-800-527-3907

For non-insurance issues, call the Consumer Affairs hotline, 1-800-342-8385.

FOR NON-VICTIMS, HOW TO HELP THOSE IN NEED:

  • Hands On Nashville is doing widespread organizing of volunteers to help with a variety of flood recovery and relief efforts, as safe volunteer opportunities are identified by the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management. Register at www.hon.org.
  •  Middle Tennessee Kroger locations are collecting donations of money and non-perishable items for the American Red Cross and Second Harvest Food Bank to aid flood victims.
  • Financial donations can be made to relief efforts through the Community Foundation at www.cfmt.org.
  • To support The Salvation Army’s relief efforts, make a credit card donation by calling 1-800-725-2769 or online at www.salarmy-nashville.com.

Contact us at the office if you see a way our membership can help the community.
 

 

 
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