State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor announces that OSFM has, pursuant to the authority granted to it by the General Assembly in S.L. 2024-57, issued guidance to FEMA and local governments regarding alternative methods for safely and efficiently installing FEMA-owned transportable temporary housing units (TTHUs) to shelter North Carolinians displaced by Hurricane Helene. The guidance – which is enclosed with this press release – has also been incorporated into an emergency rule that is pending review by the Codifier of Rules of the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings.
OSFM, in cooperation with the North Carolina Building Code Council, has already taken emergency action to create minimum requirements for temporary shelters constructed on-site. However, these types of shelters are not available for many North Carolinians who are waiting to occupy a FEMA TTHU. FEMA’s contractors are faced with a variety of geographical challenges and other factors that make it difficult for them install these TTHUs – particularly with respect to utility service connections (i.e., electrical wiring and plumbing) and foundations (i.e., piers, footings, exterior landings, etc.) – in a manner that complies with the North Carolina State Building Code. These same challenges make it very difficult for local inspectors to consistently and uniformly inspect FEMA’s TTHUs for compliance with the North Carolina State Building Code.
OSFM has again taken prompt action to remove impediments to installing FEMA’s TTHUs so that families in North Carolina displaced by Hurricane Helene can be provided with safe and warm shelter this holiday season. Based on their constant communication with local inspectors and representatives of FEMA, OSFM’s engineers developed a list of alternative methods for the installation of foundations and the connection of external electrical and plumbing systems that prioritize the safety of the occupants of FEMA’s TTHUs while preempting the most common installation roadblocks faced by FEMA’s contractors in the field. Equipped with this guidance, FEMA’s contractors will be able to more rapidly install TTHUs and local inspectors will be able to quickly confirm that the structures are safe to occupy.
OSFM remains committed to its mission of supporting FEMA and local governments in their work to ensure that North Carolinians have safe and warm shelter for the Winter. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to create innovative solutions to the problems faced by our most vulnerable citizens and we hope that every North Carolinian has a joyful and safe holiday season.