FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OBOA Recognizes Damage Assessment Readiness During Building Safety Month
COLUMBUS, Ohio – As Building Safety Month continues through the end of May, the Ohio Building Officials Association (OBOA) recognizes its Damage Assessment Response Team (DART), the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, and participating Ohio jurisdictions for their work supporting damage assessments for buildings in floodplains.
“Damage assessment readiness is building safety in direct application,” said OBOA DART Chairman Duane Matlack. “When buildings in floodplains are damaged, communities need qualified professionals who can evaluate affected structures, support local decisions, and help recovery begin as soon as practicable. OBOA DART trains and brings together jurisdiction-sourced building safety professionals to make that readiness available when communities need it most.”
OBOA encourages continued local participation in damage assessment training, which it hosts throughout the year, as well as mutual aid coordination throughout the state.
“Resilient communities are built before the emergency,” said James Decker, President of the Ohio Building Officials Association. “We commend communities that take proactive steps to enhance their disaster response capabilities, including Washington County’s recent adoption of a memorandum of understanding with OBOA DART.”
About the Ohio Building Officials Association
The Ohio Building Officials Association supports the public officials and technical professionals responsible for administering and enforcing Ohio’s building codes. Through education, advocacy, partnerships, and professional development, OBOA works to provide its members with the resources they need to support a reasonable level of life safety and property protection in the places Ohioans live, work, gather, and play.
Media Contact
Kota Asano Wharton
Ohio Building Officials Association
[email protected]