Oct 2020
Blue Fluent™℠ FIRE DAMAGE REBUILD ROADMAP
As an Architect on many disaster rebuilds before and after the 2015 Lake Fire, I present this roadmap to expedite the rebuilding process, with fire resiliency thru the lens of water optimization. Blue Fluent fire rebuild designs for environmental resilience include: erosion resilient landscaping, manage storm water by sculpting the land with swales & terraces to invite percolation control, harvest and reclaim water to use in the dry season, and for fire suppression. Fires may result from the environment’s shortage of moisture and water.
- OBTAIN DAMAGE ASSESSMENT DOCUMENTS- from Fire Agency or Jurisdiction (required before debris removal permit is issued)
- FILE CLAIM WITH INSURANCE OR FEMA- Hire a claims appraiser to advocate your interests for the highest settlement
- FILE TAX ASSESSOR REASSESSMENT- to have your property re-assessed. It’s worth less if you subtract the value of destroyed improvements , to lower your property tax bill.
- EXPEDITE TEMPORARY HOUSING TO REDUCE COSTS- apply for an RV/mobile home permit with a port-a potty that gets pumped weekly, or sewage disinfection system, (if you don’t have functioning sewage or septic service), The goal is to get utilities and a sleeping area, kitchen and bathroom facilities immediately allowing you to reside on your property until the rebuilding is complete. If this is phase 1 of your masterplan, you just keep adding modules until build-out is complete. No further expenses to remove it & replace it later.
- IDENTIFY FUNDS TO REBUILD- cash, insurance claim funding, FEMA, savings, friends/family/gift, prequalified mortgage
- MATCH REBUILDING FUNDS TO PLANS- make sure the rebuilding plans you will have prepared match your funds to rebuild budget.
- CHICKEN & EGG IMPORTANT BUDGET ANALYSIS EXERCISE- Hire a professional to start a master site plan, phase 1 (kitchen, bath, sleeping) vs ultimate build-out goals, super preliminary design sketches, prepare rough area calculations of habitable, non-habitable, paving, fences, utilities. Get budget analysis cost estimates by a general contractor. Get consultant and permit estimates. Compare total to your rebuild funds. Reduce size until estimates matches rebuild budget.
- CONSTRUCTION COSTS- Generic regional sq ft costs satisfy a wild ball park estimate (not a substitute for for design sketches and actual take offs). See sq ft Trulia https://www.trulia.com/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-a-house/ , Zillow https://www.zillow.com/mortgage-learning/cost-of-building-a-house/ , Dodge, Home Advisor https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/architects-and-engineers/build-a-house/ , Home guide, SFIA. Note California costs run higher than national averages
- “REBUILD IN-KIND”- is what jurisdiction & insurance carrier call rebuilding a similar floor area , number of bedrooms, bathrooms . The replacement improvements will be required to meet all current codes (zoning, building,& fire codes). Rebuild of a non-conforming may be required to relocate further from property lines, slopes, or sensitive areas
- SITE DESIGN– have an updated survey showing the topography and any improvements surviving from the fire. Locate all features, improvements, and components: buildings, driveway, septic, well, utilities, tanks, underground trenches, fire truck turn around, parking, significant trees, slopes, paving, landscaping. Make sure all puzzle pieces fit.
- EROSION CONTROL PLAN- for landslide mitigation. Optimize sculpting the land with swales and terraces to invite maximum percolation, and collection into ponds., ideally sculpt and swale the land integrated with site master plan to direct & collect water.
- CODES THAT HAVE BECOME MORE STRICT- WUI Fire Codes, Structural Codes, Drainage Storm Water Protection Plans, All Homes Require Soil Engineer Report, CA Title 24 Energy Code Now Mandates Net Zero Energy (Building Power Use Not To Exceed Power Production)
- GATHER ALL RECORDS THAT DOCUMENT WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS WERE BEFORE THE DISASTER- Obtain permit records from jurisdiction: septic, planning & building dept archives, tax assessor records, contact prior design professionals & consultants who worked on the property, appraisers, surveyors, inspectors to obtain records from their archives, https://thegreenandbluearchitect.com/client-guide-articles/
- OPTIONAL DESIGN UPGRADES– If you had a permitted non-habitable building or a non-permitted building, you can apply to rebuild it either as non-habitable or habitable. Reduce the inconvenience of power company rolling brown-outs with abundant renewable power & back up systems. “Blue Fluent TM”, Integrated Water Management, optimization of everything water touches in the built environment can be a pattern in your rebuild design. Harvest & optimize available water with huge water storage pond or vessel for fire suppression systems. Reclaim water for irrigation of edible landscape plants.
- CONFIRM ONGOING HOME OWNERS FIRE INSURANCE– Will your prior insurance carrier continue offering you a home owners policy? I’ve heard rumors that FairPlan , https://www.cfpnet.com , will insure anyone but it is more expensive. Lenders require insurance ( for either you or a potential buyer)
- HIRE YOUR DESIGN PROFESSIONAL TO START DRAWING PLANS It’s complicated for a DIY. MARILYN CRENSHAW ARCHITECT, TheGreenArchitect@Gmail.com, 831-713-9860 , www.TheGreenAndBlueArchitect.com, Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyn-crenshaw-9b14b87/ , See my YouTube Fire And Disaster Rebuild Videos- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVljQTUP8TDtV6iQXBHwaGVX753n4BlqZ