Code inspectors to help in Eastern NC

Mecklenburg County is sending as many as five code officials to Eastern North Carolina for help with cleanup from Hurricane Matthew.

The county workers will be helping with code inspections and could stay in the area for up to two weeks, according to a press release from the county.

“When a disaster like this occurs, the damage is so widespread that nearly every aspect of the local infrastructure is typically overwhelmed,” said Ebenezer Gujjarlapudi, director of Mecklenburg County’s Land Use and Environmental Services Agency, which houses Code Enforcement, in the release.

Communities often see a spike in permit applications and inspection requests in the aftermath of a storm due to the repairs under way. The widespread nature of the repairs can make it difficult for local code authorities to keep pace.

Mecklenburg County is sending building, electrical and multi-trade inspectors to help local code officials complete inspections in a more timely manner. Much of this work is expected to focus on residential repairs.

The county is asking that customers be patient as some inspectors will be occupied with the hurricane repairs.

Five residential inspectors can complete about 375 inspections in a week, so this may mean a slight delay for Mecklenburg County customers awaiting inspections, especially on residential projects, according to the release.

“Safety and our customers are always our highest priorities,” Gujjarlapudi said in the release. “But in this special circumstance, when people are hurting and trying to rebuild, we wanted to do everything we could to be good neighbors, and we know our customers will support our participation.”

For more information, contact Code Enforcement’s Customer Service Center at 980-314-CODE.