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October 2, 2008

Hatch could be answer to flooding problems

By David Ball

BEAUMONT — BEAUMONT — One local contractor has one possible answer for dangerous flood waters.

Paul Kotlarich developed an escape hatch that’s literally through the roof. Called the Katrina Hatch, the creation is designed for access through the attic to escape rising waters when the roof is the last resort, or it can serve as a built-in safe room.

“It was born out of necessity,” Kotlarich said. “I was talking to people (who experienced flood waters from Hurricane Katrina) at Ford Park before Hurricane Rita and I was inspired by them. I used my years of building experience to develop this. It’s weather resistant, user friendly and a concealed emergency attic egress system. Every house should have one.”

Kotlarich said flooding may occur rapidly without warning and anyone can be a potential flooding victim.

“We had flooding this spring in West Texas. We had flooding in Hardin County a couple of years ago,” he said. “There were no evacuation orders for Tropical Storm Allison, but it still flooded. There’s not always enough time to issue evacuation orders. You go out, and the water is knee-deep. What do you do with your kids? What if it’s raining outside with high winds and you have no ladder? Are you going to drive in the water? Seventy percent of deaths result trying to escape a flood. There’s no way it can leak and you don’t have to open it to be safe in the attic.”

The average price for the Katrina Hatch is $300, but the finishing price is ultimately up to the homeowner and the roofing contractor. Kotlarich currently has a patent pending and he would like to license the hatch one day.

For more information on the Katrina Hatch, go http://www.paultenterprises.com/hatch.html, or via e-mail at paul@paultenterprises.com.

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