Be Careful When Hiring Contractors For Disaster Repairs 

Release Date: May 13, 2000
Release Number: 1327-11

» More Information on Kansas Severe Storms And Tornadoes

Parsons, KS -- State and federal disaster recovery officials advise Kansans to be extremely careful when hiring contractors to clean and repair disaster damage, offer to construct Safe Rooms or remove disaster debris. Some scam artists claim to be "FEMA certified or FEMA approved."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency neither certifies nor endorses any private-sector contractor. Individuals and government entities should be extremely cautious when hiring contractors after any disaster.

"In disaster situations, scam artists are often ready to take advantage of the misfortunes of others," warns the Kansas Attorney General's Office.

Safe Rooms, which are designed with life safety as the primary consideration, have been evaluated by The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center for their design and construction methods, materials and costs. In addition, engineers at Texas Tech University have confirmed the design requirements for the expected forces from wind pressure and the impact of typical flying debris.

"Although FEMA agrees with the findings of the NAHB and the Texas Tech engineers, FEMA does not endorse any retail product made, manufactured or marketed by any company," Federal Coordinating Officer Louis Botta said. "The recovery process can be a positive one if you take your time and select a contractor with care," he added.

Consumers are cautioned to watch out for shelter manufacturers/installers making false claims. Use of terms such as "FEMA Approved" and "FEMA Tested" are patently false and may well be violations of Federal Trade Commission and state consumer protection laws and regulations. FEMA does not approve nor test shelters. Consumers should exercise great caution when seeing such misrepresentations. For more information on tornado shelters, order FEMA's Taking Shelter From the Storm: Building a Safe Room in Your Home. A copy may be obtained free of charge by calling 1-888-565-3896.

Persons who are having problems with a contractor or have been victims of fraud are urged to call the Kansas Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, at 1-800-432-2310, toll-free.

Last Modified: Thursday, 13-Nov-2003 14:04:47