Back to News and Events Menu

NEWS RELEASE

July 16, 2008

Media Contact:

Iowa officials express gratitude for Howard County support

Howard County Inspectors Proud to be of Help to Iowa Community Devastated by Flood

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The four Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits (DILP) building inspectors who were dispatched by County Executive Ken Ulman to the flood stricken area south of Cedar Rapids in Louisa County, Iowa, have returned from their mission. Sean Kelly, Ed Ackerman, Kenneth Brown and Dave Baer spent nine days in Iowa assisting with building inspections and damage assessment. At the request of Iowa officials, the four inspectors also researched local ordinances and offered their expertise on code adoption and enforcement issues.

In an e-mail to County Executive Ulman, Louisa County Sheriff Curt Braby said, “Your guys left us yesterday after doing a job that we could not have done by ourselves. …Other than the fact that they didn’t know what a grain elevator was, they got along very well. They fit right in…and required little care and keeping. ….They also did a little leg work for us in regards to some building codes that are sorely lacking and needed. They are all definitely invited back to our next disaster, and we appreciate Howard County letting them come out to visit.”

“I want to thank Sean, Ed, Ken and Dave for all they did to help the people of Iowa devastated by the flood,” said Ulman. “From all reports, I know the work was grueling and exhausting, but they did a remarkable job and accomplished a great deal in a relatively short period of time. If you visit our website you can read portions of their journal and get a better understanding of what the people of Iowa are facing as they attempt to recover from this tragedy.”

The four inspectors were dispatched in response to a call for help issued by the State of Iowa to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) through a state-to-state Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). The EMAC request was for International Code Council (ICC) Certified Building Inspectors. They were the only inspectors from the State of Maryland to travel to Iowa on the mission, and MEMA will reimburse Howard County for all costs.