In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, city, state, and
federal agencies have formed a Disaster Housing Task Force ("Task
Force"). This Task Force has asked architects and engineers to help with
the evaluation of damage to the estimated 35,000 buildings affected by
the storm. Damage assessment of these buildings is essential for
families to return to their homes and for businesses to reopen.
AIA New York and its Design for Risk and Reconstruction Committee ("DfRR") are therefore looking for registered architects and professional engineers interested in helping.
There are two ways you can become involved:
(1) If you are already trained or certified for such
damage assessment by an approved agency, please send us your name,
address, AIA member number, and date of certification, or;
(2) If, in order to help, you wish to receive damage
assessment training through the New York City Department of Buildings
("NYC DOB"), please send us your name, address, and AIA member number.
Please send responses to dfrr@aiany.org. In your emails, indicate which way (1 or 2) you are interested in becoming involved.
AIA New York will then submit a list of interested
professionals to the Mayor's Office and the NYC DOB to advance this
effort.
Interested participants should note that training is
the first step to becoming involved. AIA New York and DfRR will be
working closely with governing officials and response organizers to
address liability issues and identify the agencies for which volunteers
will work.
Thank you for your interest and support of recovery efforts,
Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, and Illya Azaroff, AIA
Co-chairs, AIANY Design for Risk and Reconstruction Committee