FEMA Mitigation Advisors Set-Up at Ala. Stores

Home Depot, Lowe’s, Marvin’s and Wal Mart locations in Mobile, Foley, Brewton and Atmore, Alabama are supporting Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel who will be providing damage assistance and mitigation information to interested residents and business owners.

Hazard Mitigation experts will demonstrate hardware available at the Lowe’s, Home Depot and Marvin’s stores. These locations will be highlighting ‘hurricane clips’ for roofs; new roofing materials available and paints designed to protect against mold and mildew damage. Publications on pre-disaster planning and post-disaster care will also be available, according to FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Bolch. Contractors will also be able to obtain information on disaster-resistant building techniques at these three home improvement locations.

Material from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) will be available at Home Depot locations only.

FEMA representatives will be identifying steps that people can take to reduce damage from future disasters. They range from something as basic as having an updated family plan for what to do when a disaster occurs, to building a ‘safe room’ designed to protect against most hurricane and tornado winds.

Information and printed material on building tornado safe rooms, minimizing damage to mobile homes, elevating homes, preventing mold and mildew damage, reducing wind damage to structures, purchasing flood insurance and other pertinent topics will be available at all Lowe’s, Home Depot, Marvin’s and Wal Mart locations.

Hazard Mitigation specialists will be available at the following locations from Sunday, Aug. 7 through Saturday, Aug. 20. They will be available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Stores and their locations for the period Sunday, Aug. 7 through Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005 are:

Lowe’s
Mobile
151 E-I65 Service Rd.

Wal Mart
Brewton
2401 Douglas Ave.

Store locations beginning Aug. 13 – 20 will be announced at a later date.