Fire Damage Assessment for
Los Alamos Residents and Businesses
offered by
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS

The media is invited to attend an AIA Damage Assessment Briefing on Wednesday, May 24, for 30-plus New Mexico architects before the architects go into the field to offer expertise free to fire victims. AIA architect and natural disaster assessment expert, Charles Harper, FAIA, of Wichita Falls, Tex., will lead the briefing.

Following the training, volunteer architects will be available beginning on Thursday, May 25 to help local residents and businesses assess and mitigate the damage of the recent devastating fires

The AIA Damage Assessment Briefing will be held
Wednesday, May 24, 2000 from 3pm-5pm at the
Los Alamos Public Schools Board Room, 751 Trinity Drive, Los Alamos

Architects serve a vital role following a natural disaster such as a fire. The AIA provides pro bono damage assessment to natural disaster victims and damaged communities. In Los Alamos and surrounding areas, architects will be available to examine homes, workplaces, and public spaces to:

• Determine whether or not they are structurally sound
• Identify necessary repairs -immediate and long-term
• Identify "invisible" damage, structures weakened by the disaster
• Provide expertise on rebuilding to improve safety and prevent future damage
• Provide a written assessment to homeowners for use with insurers

Media are invited to the training session and ensuing assessments,
and AIA architects are available for interviews.

Contact:
Glenn Fellows, AIA
AIA New Mexico
505) 255-8668
ghf@smpcarch.com

Mike Janes
AIA National
703) 582-4454 (cell)
mjanes@aia.org

Phil Simon
AIA National
(202) 626-7463
psimon@aia.org

Please contact Mike Janes at The American Institute of Architects to arrange an interview or to request a copy of the AIA's Reporter's Guide for Disaster Coverage.

Copyright 2001 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.