According to city officials, volunteers are still being sought to sign up for Structural Safety Inspection teams, and the deadline for submitting applications in this Friday, July 29.

The purpose of the structural safety teams is to initially assess the overall property damage on the island prior to allowing residents to return followed by a completed written external damage report for each single or multi-family structure as to its condition for occupancy.

“So far this season, we’ve had 22 people sign up, but I do know quite a few people who are scrambling to get their applications in,” said Harold Law, a building official with the City of Sanibel. “We hope to have enough people signed up so if some of them get called away, we’ll have enough people on-hand to do the work that needs to get done.”

According to Law, a knowledge of building construction is essential. Applicants should be in excellent physical condition as actual work will require extensive walking under potentially arduous conditions in a hot and humid climate. They must also be able to respond immediately upon call and write reports of damage assessed.

Among the specialties or skills participants should possess, but are not limited to, include:

• Electrical

• Plumbing

• Carpentry

• Masonry and/or concrete work

Selected personnel will be required to complete approximately six hours of field training to include first aid and CPR-AED. A physical examination, drug test and background check will also be required at no cost to the selected personnel.

Applicants successfully completing the training, certification, physical and drug screen will be reimbursed $25 per hour for the time involved, not to exceed eight hours. Upon activation in the event of a disaster, the rate of pay will be $50 per hour.

“The city started this program in order to respond to just about any disaster or emergency,” added Law, who noted that training will take place during August. “Obviously, hurricanes are the biggest threat, but the SSI’s could be used in response to anything from brush fires to a tornado.”

Interested parties should forward their resume by July 29 to Harold Law, Building Official, City of Sanibel, 800 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, FL 33957. For additional information about the SSI team, call 472-4555.