Offerings

PB Online Services provides a variety of preparedness resources for registered inspectors.

The PB eLearning Center offers an online catalog to sixty comprehensive eLearning modules which cover the entire scope of the FEMA Individual Household Program (IHP) inspection process and specifications.  Credit for the eLearning module is awarded to inspectors upon successful completion of an eLearning assessment.  Inspectors that are registered with PB Disaster Services can access the eLearning Center through the Inspector Webpage > Preparedness Tab > eLearning Center.

The PB AM I READY? Drills

The AM I READY? drills challenge inspectors with disaster specific readiness questions and scenarios.  The AM I READY? drills test inspector knowledge on how to apply the FEMA IHP Guidelines to realistic in-the-field situations.  The AM I READY? drills improve inspector readiness and inspection quality.  Inspectors are encouraged to retake these drills as often as they like until they have mastered each one. Inspectors that are registered with PB Disaster Services can access the AM I READY? drills through the Inspector Webpage > Reference Materials > AM I READY?> AM I READY?.doc.

The PB Webinar Hub provides inspector’s access to live interactive and recorded webinars presented by field experienced staff from the Winchester headquarters.

• Live Webinars: Interactive live webinars are attended daily by inspectors from across the country via personal computers at home.  Inspectors can access the webinar schedule and register to participate in a webinar through the Inspector Webpage > Preparedness Tab.
• Recorded webinars:  These sessions are recorded and can be easily accessed and viewed by unlimited inspectors 24/7 through the Webinar Hub which is accessed via the Inspector Webpage > Reference Materials > WEBINARS Recorded >  Webinar Recordings.  Webinar topics vary from month to month.  Credit for the webinar is awarded to inspectors upon successful completion of a webinar assessment. 

The PB Virtual Inspection Program (VIP)

The PB VIP provides independent contractor inspectors with the opportunity to practice disaster specific readiness exercises prior to deployment.  Using panoramas shot from the interiors and exteriors of real disaster damaged homes, virtual tours are created.  Inspectors use the PB VIP to explore these “virtual" houses, room by room, from their home computers. As the inspectors tour these damaged dwellings, they practice data entry and record the viewed damages using the FEMA Automated Construction Estimation (ACE3) software which is used by inspectors to record disaster damages while in the field.

The PB VIP offers 3 different levels of use …

• Level 1 … Inspectors may use the VIP to merely explore the FEMA ACE3 software
• Level 2  …Inspectors may practice data entry into the FEMA ACE3 software from a written disaster inspection scenario
• Level 3 … Inspectors may explore, room by room, a virtual three-dimensional (3D) house and record into the FEMA ACE3 software the viewed personal and real property damages along with ownership/occupancy verifications and unmet needs.

In order to be eligible for the Virtual Inspection exercise, you must have completed the following webinars, assessments, and/or eLearning:

• ACE3 Overview on eLearning (within the past 2 years)
• Inspector Depot (webinar and/or eLearning)
• Virtual Software Webinar

After all requirements are met, please call 866-317-9422 to sign up for a session.  

The PB Inspector Development Center … The success of the field inspector’s performance is an essential key for ensuring FEMA’s satisfaction. In keeping with PB’s commitment to continual improvement and for developing innovative approaches to enhance inspector capabilities, PB Disaster Services has four regional Inspector Development Centers (IDCs).  PB Disaster Services recognizes that the online services e-Learning, webinars and virtual inspections alone are not able to replace the experience gained from performing disaster inspections on actual damaged dwellings. PB has opened four new IDC’s to bridge the gap between the virtual and actual experience.  Each center consists of a fully furnished dwelling where inspectors can perform a complete disaster housing inspection using the FEMA ACE3 software  and hand held computer.  Each fixed facility has been designed and furnished to replicate different dwelling types and the typical disaster conditions which inspectors will encounter in the field.

The four IDCs are strategically located in Daytona, Atlanta, Fort Worth, and at the PB Disaster Services headquarters in Winchester, VA.  Highly experienced PB field staff mentor and share proven best field practices as inspectors conduct these exercises.

Inspectors that are registered with PB Disaster Services can access Information to register for IDC workshops through the Inspector Webpage > Preparedness or by calling Inspector Services at 800-411-1177.

The Inspector Resource Center provides all inspectors with readily available printable inspections guidelines, specifications and administrative documents.  Inspectors that are registered with PB Disaster Services can access the Inspector Resource Center through the Inspector Webpage > Reference Materials.

If you are a registered inspector, you can login and access the Inspector Webpage from the link here.