In an effort to have victims of Chinese drywall contact the state and notify them of the toxic wallboard in their home, the Louisiana Recovery Authority has initiated a hotline specifically dedicated to the problem. The hotline, set up to help the state get a better idea of just how many people are being affected by Chinese drywall, is part of a national effort across 32 states to find out how many people have been affected. Paul Rainwater, executive director of the Recovery Authority, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission has urged states to get residents active in an effort to get official counts regarding the problem.
The Times-Picayune reports
“We will use the data we gather on homes to continue to make the case for direct federal aid to homeowners, including the possibility of using existing disaster programs for temporary housing and rebuilding assistance,” Rainwater said.
People can register online at www.lra.louisiana.gov/drywallform or by calling 1.866.684.1713 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday , 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Anyone who hasn’t already registered with the recovery authority is encouraged to do so, regardless of whether they were a Road Home Program applicant or whether they have already called the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Rainwater said.
As of Dec. 3, only 415 Louisianans had reported their situations to the safety commission. “We believe that’s under-reporting. That’s why we’re doing this outreach. We think the number is in the thousands,” Rainwater said.
Because the deadline for the count is December 14th, it is crucial for individuals with Chinese drywall in their home to call the number above or visit their website. Doing so will help bring attention to the plight thousands of families in Louisiana are facing with the toxic wallboard and will hopefully help get the ball rolling even faster on a recovery effort that makes a difference. Our firm urges anyone with Chinese drywall to register using the information above immediately because by doing so they are not only helping the government find out how bad the situation is in this state, they are also creating a sense of urgency around the matter.