Haiti Support Frequently Asked Questions
How can I support the recovery efforts in Haiti?
Right now all efforts are focused on the immediate response and stabilization efforts, such as providing food/water/shelter, debris removal, providing sanitary conditions and basic infrastructure repair. These efforts include ongoing search efforts and addressing the enormous casualties and injuries.
During this time the Code Council does not want to distract from the immediate need for response and stabilization resources. We encourage financial donations to reputable charities, including the new effort being co-chaired by former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, reachable at clintonbushhaitifund.org, along with the American Red Cross and other known relief organizations.
What is the Code Council doing now to make sure that rebuilding efforts include a strong commitment to code adoption and code enforcement?
The Code Council will be working under the auspices of its Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations to discuss how its technical resources and its membership can be useful in the rebuilding efforts. In addition, the Code Council has informed former President Clinton, in his role as Special UN Envoy to Haiti, of its interest in providing support for the rebuilding effort. Former ICC CEO James Lee Witt is in consultation with President Clinton and also is prepared to promote the ICC role.
The ICC also will participate in a coordinated effort with other Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) to provide a toolkit to the U.S. State Department through the National Institute of Building Sciences.
Will there be a fundraising effort hosted by the ICC to support the recovery effort?
After the immediate relief efforts have progressed, the ICC Foundation may look for support to underwrite the costs of materials and other technical capabilities. The Code Council and its subsidiaries will be focused on making sure that their efforts do not dilute or compete with other established efforts to provide the best opportunity for a safer and more sustainable Haiti.
Didn’t Congress pass a bill to fund ICC support for improving building practices in Latin America?
Yes, the Code and Safety for the Americas (CASA) Act was sponsored by Senator Christopher Dodd and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and signed into law by former President George W. Bush. The intent was to authorize funds to translate the ICC into Spanish and create pilot programs for training that would grow into an effort throughout Latin America. However the program never obtained appropriated funds. Accordingly, the ICC will be pursuing appropriation for this initiative as an additional mechanism for Haiti recovery as well as mitigation of disaster risk throughout Latin America.
Will the ICC send members to Haiti to support the recovery effort?
The Code Council does not have the authority to deploy individuals, nor does it have either the legal or financial mechanisms to do so. An additional challenge for our American membership is created when disasters occur outside the United States. However we believe that any informed recovery effort must include individual expertise as well as strong technical materials. As the design for the recovery effort comes into focus, we will work with the organizing parties to determine how our human resources as well as our written materials can assist in the effort with needs ranging from inspection and mentoring of code officials to development of professional capabilities. Our private sector members may benefit from tracking any contracting opportunities being advertised by federal agencies and the United Nations. Our governmental members may already have colleagues who are deployed as members of urban search and rescue teams. In a similar vein, in addition to working with the United Nations and the U.S. State Department, we are in ongoing discussions with FEMA regarding the utilization of our “second responders” in any recovery efforts that include federal coordination.
How will we be updated on ICC efforts and opportunities to support effective rebuilding in Haiti?
The Code Council will use its various electronic publications – including eNews and The Building Safety Journal Online – along with its website to provide updates.