Recovery Officials Offer Free Re-Building Advice 

Release Date: January 17, 2008
Release Number: 1734-047

» More Information on Washington Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

LACEY, Wash. -- Disaster recovery officials are urging Washingtonians affected by the floods of December to rebuild their homes safer and stronger to lessen the impact of future natural disasters.

Rebuilding after a disaster presents an opportunity to reconstruct in a much safer, stronger and smarter way. Implementing mitigation measures now can reap savings in time and money, say officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Washington Emergency Management Division (EMD).

Specialists from FEMA will offer free professional advice to help home and business owners toughen up their properties against flooding. They will be available to share written materials and advice at:

Lincoln Creek Lumber & ACE Hardware Store
1621 Harrison Ave.
Centralia, WA 98531

Mitigation specialists will be at this location from Monday, January 21 through Saturday, January 26, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

"Mitigation is the ten-dollar word that describes hundreds of dollars of savings down the road," said Kurt Hardin, state coordinating officer. "Studies have shown that you get back four times the benefit from every dollar you spend when you mitigate your property against future damages from nature's upheavals."

Some tips to protect property from flooding include:

"Mitigation specialists are a good resource for residents to learn ways to protect themselves and their homes from future damages," said Federal Coordinating Officer Willie Nunn. "I encourage residents in the Centralia area to drop by and pick up informative materials and speak with mitigation experts about their homes and businesses."

Mitigation advice is also available on-line at the following sites: www.fema.gov, www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/coping.shtm, www.fema.gov/library/index.jsp and www.wadisasternews.com.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Thursday, 17-Jan-2008 16:24:25