FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Louisiana state Sen. Ken Hollis, Paul Myers, International Code Council Foundation president, and Louisiana state Rep. Gil Pinac were on hand as the ICCF donated codebooks to 11 Louisiana parishes declared federal disaster areas in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
NEW ORLEANS - The International Code Council Foundation (ICCF) donated codebooks to help local Louisiana governments' efforts to carry out requirements of the state's new construction code law as it rebuilds in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The ICCF donated copies of I-Codes to 11 Louisiana parishes declared federal disaster areas. The donated codes are intended to help many jurisdictions replace technical libraries that were damaged or destroyed during the hurricanes. Other communities are using the codes, including the International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Fuel Gas, and Mechanical codes, for the first time as part of the new law.

The foundation also contributed the book "Reducing Flood Losses through the International Codes." This guide, jointly written by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the International Code Council, will help communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program to integrate the I-Codes into their current floodplain management procedures.

"We certainly welcome the support of the International Code Council Foundation in our efforts to implement these new safety measures," said state of Louisiana Sen. Ken Hollis.

"We appreciate their generosity for donating the codes which would have cost our already cash-strapped communities thousands of dollars to purchase on their own."

Hollis and state Rep. Gil Pinac, co-authored a bill during a special legislative session that set up a process to establish a statewide, uniform Louisiana construction code.

Publication date: 06/19/2006