Safety Assessment Program Evaluator Student Manual

CA Emergency Mgmt. Agency Safety Assessment Program Evaluator Manual April 2011the jack stands. Thousands of these have been installed, and while they are not seismically rated,they undoubtedly will contribute to mobile home stability. State inspectors and SAP evaluatorswill encounter them often.Photo courtesy Global Emergency ManagementFigure 3-6 – Mobile home rendered unstable, 1992 Landers/Big Bear EarthquakesThis mobile home (Fig. 3-6) is dangerous in a deceptive manner. It appears at first glance to bein fine form, but close examination shows that the steel frame of the unit is resting on thenonstructural, unreinforced, one brick thick masonry skirting, which could give way at any time.Further, the marriage line on this double-wide unit is pulling apart at the bottom. This unit is adangerous collapse hazard, and no one should enter it until it has been made safe. The UNSAFEplacard is the right call in this case. Note that barricade tape has been run across the entryway toemphasize the denial of access.Figure 3-7 shows a large tree that snapped off in the winds of Hurricane Katrina and slicedthrough an older mobile home. This is a fairly common occurrence in windstorms, and affectsbuildings of all kinds. This particular mobile home could be posted RESTRICTED USE and theoccupants allowed to perform possession retrieval. While a structure open to the elements isgenerally not useable for occupancy, some jurisdictions might allow occupancy if the opening iswaterproofed with a tarp or other covering. The RESTRICTED USE placard would be writtenup to convey this per the local jurisdiction‟s guidance.Figure 3-8 shows a heavily damaged mobile home that would be posted RESTRICTED USE forpossession retrieval only. Again, the home is now open to the elements and not a suitableshelter, and with this level of damage, may have other issues as well.86