Disaster-Smart About Us

Darius H. Grimes, CRC,CSI,CDT,CWMS
President

Darius experience combines a diverse 25+ year career in manufacturing, distribution and construction with a talent for complex design and innovative solutions. His many contributions to the construction industry are based on a well developed consultative approach reflecting years of hands-on experience, engineering understanding, and development of installation techniques and products earning him national recognition.

He specializes in the development and implementation of practical long term solutions to natual and man made risks through strengthening of building codes implementation of common sense mitigation programs. Darius creation of Disaster Smart is a more recent focus on the the utilization of inspections services to define and catlaog data to develop a better process for communicating with consumers and underwriters. Darius is working with likeminded state, local, regional, national, and international organizations to promote long term economic sustainability and implement new mitigation programs based on the successes of the My Safe Florida Home, SC Safe Home, and Rebuild NW FL programs.

"One of the biggest challenges facing coastal markets are the displaced low to moderate income populations that have become trapped in areas of rapid economic development. The resulting increases in property ownership costs, especially insurance, are an issue affecting not only the local community but also increase the need for massive federal response following a disaster. Building stronger, safer, and more resilient homes is the first step towards building stronger, safer, and more resilient communities."

Darius H Grimes- President

"Mitigation is not secondary to economic develoment; in coastal states it is elementary to economic survival."

Lt. Gen. Russell Honor'e

Disaster Smart is the largest inspections company on the North Gulf Coast. We are based in the Pensacola, FL area and service the coastal counties of NW FLorida, Alabama, and Mississippi

David Hankins, Vice President Florida Certified Home Inspector, FORTIFIED FEH Evlaluator, Certified Wind Mitigation Inspector. My Safe Florida Home Mitigation Surveyor

David brings over 15 years experience in running his own remodeling company in NW Florida. Panhandle Rennovations provided remodeling services including instllation of exterior siding, hurricane shutters, windows, doors, garage doors, and more.

Davids experience in installation of hurricane shutters is valuable since many older shutter systems are not labeled and need to be identified for potential mitigation credits.

Tam Landis, CBO Florida LIcensed Building Official, Florida Licensed Building Inspector, Florida Licensed PLans Examiner, Building Code Administrative Board Certified,

Tam Landis, CBO, brings over 25 years experience in enforcing, writing, amending, interpreting, and teaching building codes to the construction industry.

Tam is DSCI Consultant and provides expert advice to Architects, designers, and contractors engaged in commercial construction.

Tam also provides construction and code consulting to our commercial wind mitigation division and helps with outreach and training to building officials, contractors, and engineers in coastal areas outside Florida.

Brandy Hankins- Scheduling, Inspector Logistics, and Customer Service. Certified Wind Mitigation Inspector

Brandy has over 7 years of management experience and heads up our scheduling and customer service team. Brandy works with agents and consumers to coordinate scheduling of our 30 different types of inspections to make sure inspectors are on time and have the information they need to complete the work.

Brandy is alos part of our in-house QA/QC team that reveiws inspectors reports prior to release.

Heather Armstrong - Florida Certified Building Contractor, Florida Certified Home Inspector, IBHS Certified FORTIFIED FEH Evaluator, Certified Wind Mitigation Inspector

Heather has over 13 years of construction and construction management experience. She graduted from Auburn University with BA in Arts and has a Masters from Troy State  in Human Resources Management.

Heather is our qualified commercial wind mitigation inspector. And is currently performing FORTIFIED And Underwriting inspections in AL and MS.

Ricky M. Nelson - Florida Certified Home Inspector, IBHS Certified FORTIFIED FEH Evaluator, Certified Wind Mitigation Inspector

Bob M Glaze- DSCI Consultant; Florida Certified Home Inspector, ARA/IntraRisk QA Inspector, Certified Wind Mitigation Inspector, Certified Wind Mitigation Instructor.

Bob has so much experience it is hard to document and he brings over 50 years of manufacturing, construction, inspection knowledge to our team.

Bob is an instructor for the DBPR/FAIA Approved Florida WH York Consulting Wind Mitigation OIR B1-1802 courses. These courses are recognized by every major carrier in Florida as one of the most comprehensive training courses for properly documenting features needed to complete the OIR B1-1802 (UMVI) form.

Bob also provides Disaster Smart with additional specialized inspector training for several other types of inspections as an independent consultant.

Beginning as a Helper directly out of the US Navy; Jason quickly moved up the ladder and continued his education from apprentice through Journeyman, to Foreman, Estimator, Project Manager, Superintendant, General Superintendent and finally on to Operations Management. This has provided Jason with a uniquely valuable and diverse experience in the industry.

Jason has currently volunteered over 1800 hours with Habitat for Humanity and received Habitat for Humanity’s“Golden Hammer” award. award. Jason dedicated a full year as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity’s AmeriCorps program to develop and manage a neighborhood revitalization project called "A Brush with Kindness." Jason currently serves as an active member of Habitat for Humanity’s Construction Committee Board and is the neighborhood revitalization consultant for Habitat.

Joe Tillman- Florida Certified Home Inspector, Florida Certified Specialty Contractor, IBHS FORTIFIED Evaluator, Certified Wind Mitigation Inspector

Joe has over 40 years experience in building materials, construction management, and remodeling. He has lived in Escambia county for over 38 years and graduated from the University of South Alabama with a degree in business management. Joe co-owned a construction comapny for 14 years and joind the Disaster Smart Team in 2010.

Clyde "Buddy" Choat Jr- Florida Certified Home Inspector, Florida Registered Roofing Contractor, Florida Certified Specialty Contractor, IBHS FORTIFIED Evaluator, Certified Wind Mitigation Inspector

Buddy graduated from Auburn University with a BA in BUsiness and Finance, Buddy worked for and co-owned one of the nations largest remodeling companies for over 38 years. Buddy is a Pensacola native and provides inspections along the HWY 98 and I-10 cooridor between Navarre and Panama City.

Doug Choat- Florida Certified Home Inspector, IBHS FORTIFIED Evaluator, Certified Wind Mitigation Inspector

Brian E Metcalf- Florida Certified Home Inspector, Certified Wind Mitigation Inspector, Certified SBCCI Building Inspector, FLorida Certified Instructor Vocatoinal Carpentry, Cabinet Making, and Building Maintenance. Navy Enlisted Calssification BUC, My Safe Florida Home Mitigation Surveyor.

Brian has over 30 years expeience and hands on training in construction involving military and civilian Project Management for both Commercial and Residential construction. Brian is a part itme inspector with Disaster Smart and has a full time job training the carpenters, cabinet makers, masons, and trades of tomorrow as a Florida Licensed Instructor at the George Stone Technical Center in Pensacola. Brian also has completed over 2500 hours of specialized construction education and training programs including Leadership, Management, Instructor, Inspector, Facilities Maintenance, and Job Safety.