National Database of Skilled Volunteers Is Created to Respond to Disasters

The International Code Council and National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) have joined forces to create the Disaster Response Alliance, a national, digital database of volunteers to assist local, state or federal entities who need skilled, trained and certified building-safety professionals in a disaster’s aftermath.

The U.S. has a number of skilled code officials, engineers and others across the country willing to step in to help with post-disaster safety assessments, building damage assessments, inspections and other code-related functions. The Disaster Response Alliance brings these skilled volunteers together for easy access and quick mobilization.

Local and state jurisdictions, as well as federal agencies, can contact the Disaster Response Alliance for help reaching skilled professionals from across the country willing and able to assist. This alliance combines the International Code Council’s Disaster Response Network and NCSEA’s Second Responder Roster.

“A big thank you to NCSEA for joining with us to create the Disaster Response Alliance,” says International Code Council CEO Dominic Sims, CBO. “The Code Council and our members have long been active in the aftermath of disasters to help communities in their times of greatest need. The increasing frequency and severity of storms, including hurricanes Michael and Florence and the recent destructive wildfires in California, illustrated the need for this vital national database.”

For more information, to request help or to volunteer, visit www.disasterresponse.org.