How to help our colleagues affected by Harvey
As you all know, Hurricane Harvey made initial landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, and remains a danger to Texas and southwest Louisiana due to significant rainfall, flooding, and wind. Many of our members have contacted AIA Dallas, asking how to support those in areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
TAKE ACTION
AIA Dallas has offered our assistance to our sister chapters in the southern region, and is participating in daily briefing and coordination calls between Texas components facilitated by AIA National.
AIA Dallas is also organizing resources to assist through our Disaster Action Committee, working with the Texas Society of Architects and Building Officials of Texas to quickly gauge availability and scheduling of our trained volunteer responders. AIA Dallas has over 40 members who have completed the mandatory CalEOS training session that is required to offer assistance to emergency responders and local government with recovery efforts and damage assessments.
If you are a registered architect in Texas interested in assisting with relief efforts, the Texas Society of Architects is offering a training session this Friday, September 1st from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Training will be held at TxA headquarters located at 500 Chicon in Austin, Texas. Lunch will be provided. Parking is available in the lot and on the south side of the building and on 5th Street. If you plan to attend, please contact harvey@texasarchitects.org.
If you have previously completed CalEOS training, you do not need to attend the training session in Austin. If you have completed CalEOS training and your certification has expired, you can update it by completing a 1.5-hour online refresher course here.
It is also recommended that you complete the FEMA webinars required to access a FEMA disaster site. For more information on these or the Disaster Action Committee, please contact Cathy Boldt at cboldt@aiadallas.org.
Deployment of trained assessors is expected to start as soon as the rain in southeast Texas stops later this week.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
If you have office equipment, furniture, office supplies, etc., to share with your fellow design professionals in the areas impacted by Harvey, the Texas Society of Architects will organize shipments at an appropriate time. Please respond by email to harvey@texasarchitects.org.
For additional ways to help or donate, please see the update from AIA: Harvey Update. Download AIA National's Disaster Assistance Handbook here to access case studies, resources, and tools.
The City of Dallas has created a website with details on how to make financial contributions to partner organizations such as the Red Cross, donate items of greatest demand, and ways to volunteer in ongoing relief efforts.
Our hearts go out to all of our colleagues, their families, and friends living in areas affected by this disaster. We hope you will join us in supporting our fellow Texans in whatever way you see fit.
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