Commission Creates Web Resource for Hurricane Ike Response
Announces Plan to Provide Consumer Assistance in Affected Parts of State
|
(Austin) —The Texas Residential Construction Commission has launched a new Web site, IkeResponse.org, designed to provide all known state and federal Internet resources at one location.
“We (the commission) noticed that just about every news article about Hurricane Ike referred homeowners to several different government Web sites where they could find information about assistance being offered to homeowners and other affected Texans in the Hurricane Ike strike zone,” said Executive Director Duane Waddill. “We created IkeResponse.org to put all of that information on one page, where it is easier to find.”
Waddill said the commission’s builder and remodeler search information is also prominently displayed so Texas residents can look up information about the builder or remodeler they’re thinking about hiring to fix their home.
“We want Texans to be informed before they hire anyone to perform repairs on their homes,” Waddill said. “In addition to our information IkeResponse.org currently has links to the Office of the Governor, Texas Health & Human Services, the Texas Department of Insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and TexasResponds.org. As soon as we find out about other sites with Hurricane Ike information, we’ll post them as well.”
In addition to being a clearinghouse for Hurricane Ike information, the commission is sending commission staff to the region for the next three months to conduct job site audits to ensure no unregistered fly-by-night companies or builders from other states set up shop in Texas illegally.
“In order to work as a builder or remodeler in Texas, you have to have a physical address in Texas. Contractors from other states should work as subcontractors for registered builders and not try to set up temporary shop here. The commission will issue cease and desist orders to illegal builders and levy fines if necessary to enforce the law,” Waddill said. “Consumers deserve no less.”
Commission staff will also meet with local building officials over the next several weeks to find out how the commission can assist them and local registrants as they work to rebuild their communities.
For more information about any commission-related issues, go to IkeResponse.org or www.texasrcc.org.
--##--
|
