(FEMA) DES MOINES, Iowa – If you’ve been affected by flooding, no doubt you’re eager to get back into your house and make it your home again. But before you pick up that nail gun or wield that sledge hammer, make sure you have all the permits you’ll need to begin work.  Officials with FEMA say permits may be required for every part of your home from roofs, walls and siding to plumbing, septic systems and heating/air conditioning systems.

The first thing you should do is to contact your local building official to determine whether there are special considerations for rebuilding. That official can work with you or your contractor to ensure that any permits you need are properly issued and filed, and the necessary inspections are completed.  Permits protect owners, residents, communities and buildings by making sure repairs and/or construction meet current building codes, standards, floodplain ordinances and construction techniques.

Permits also provide a permanent record of compliance with elevation and/or retrofitting requirements, which is useful information when selling the building or obtaining flood insurance coverage.

For more information on the Iowa disaster and a variety of recovery resources, log on to: www.floods2019.iowa.gov or call 2-1-1. Additional information can be found at www.fema.gov/disaster/4421.