Transcript FEMA Building Science

Flood Insurance & Mitigation Administration’s
Risk Reduction Showcase
Edward Laatsch, P.E.
Chief, Building Science Branch
Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration
Building Science
for Disaster Resilient Communities
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Agenda
• Building Sciences Branch - Who We Are
• Building Science Process - What We Do
• Promoting Effective Mitigation
• Technical Support
• Conclusion
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Building Science Branch
Who we are:
• Technical services bureau made up of subject matter experts
• Develop and produce mitigation guidance that focuses on
creating disaster-resilient communities to reduce loss of life and
property
• Conduct Post-disaster forensic engineering (MAT)
• Work with partners to make Nation’s model building codes and
standards disaster resilient
• Provide support and input for NFIP and many other groups
through the development of technical bulletins, advisories, fact
sheets, etc.
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Research/New Knowledge/Lessoned Learned
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Research/New Knowledge/Lessons Learned
Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT)
• A quickly deployed team of investigators assembled by FEMA
through its combined resources of federal, state, local, and private
sector partnerships
• Assesses the vulnerability of buildings and make recommendations
to address improvements in building design and construction, code
development and enforcement, and mitigation activities leading to
greater hazard event resistance
• Conduct trainings and educational programs on disaster-specific
mitigation
Recovery Advisories
• Summarizes facts about the specific disaster.
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Research/New Knowledge/Lessons Learned
Available Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) Reports
and Recovery Advisories
• Floods
• Midwest Floods of 2008 in Iowa and Wisconsin
(includes Recovery Advisories)
• Hurricanes
• 11 MAT Reports and 4 sets of Recovery Advisories
• Ike 2008 is most recent
• Tornadoes
• 2 MAT Reports and 2 sets of Recovery Advisories
• Currently investigating April 2011 outbreak
• Terrorism
• Murrah Building (Oklahoma City)
• World Trade Center
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Guidance and Tool Development
• The Building Science branch
develops mitigation guidance that
focuses on creating disasterresilient communities.
• Mitigation efforts provide value to
the American people by creating
safer communities and reducing
loss of life and property.
• These guidance and tools are
designed to address identified
design and construction needs and
provide the tools to accomplish
disaster resilience.
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Guidance and Tool Development
Recently Updated Publications
• Home Builders Guide to Coastal
Construction Technical Fact
sheet Series (499)
• Recommended Residential
Construction for Coastal Areas
(550)
New Publications
• Natural Hazards and
Sustainability for Residential
Buildings (798)
• Wind Retrofit Guide for
Residential Buildings (804)
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Guidance and Tool Development
Upcoming Publication Updates
• Coastal Construction Manual (55)
• Engineering Principles and
Practices for Retrofitting Floodprone Structures (259)
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Guidance and Tool Development
Risk MAP
• Active integration of Building Science
resources with Risk MAP Outreach
program begins at the Headquarters
level
• Regional Building Science Point of
Contacts attend Risk MAP Resilience
meetings
Velocity grids
• Enable Building Science branch to better
communicate flood risk for the building
environment
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Building Codes and Standards
• Incorporate lessons learned, MAT results,
tools and guidance and apply them to
disaster-resistant building codes and
standards
• Work with partners to advocate for the
development and adoption of disasterresistant model building codes and
standards
• Attend code development hearings to
advocate FEMA’s position to incorporate
disaster resiliency into the codes and
standards
Denise Joselyn, Manager, Coakley Bay
Condominiums, rebuilt her rental property to
exceed building codes
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Building Codes and Standards
Partnerships with Code and Policy Groups:
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Building Codes and Standards
Monitor and Participate in Code Hearing and Meetings:
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Outreach and Implementation
• In the past year Building Science Branch has provided training to
over 1,000 engineers, architects, local officials, and subapplicants
• Sample of courses taught at EMI, FEMA Headquarters and Regional
offices, through distant learning and in partnerships with trade
organizations:
Building Design for Homeland Security
NC Resilient Home Program Webinars
Coastal Foundation Design
Residential Coastal Construction
Critical Facility Safety in Flooding and High Winds
Retrofitting Flood-prone Residential Buildings
Designing for Earthquakes
Safe Room Design
Flood Provisions of the I-Codes
Substantial Damage Estimator Training
Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction
Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage Desk
Reference Course
Local Officials Guide to Coastal Construction
Wind Retrofit Guide Course
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Outreach and Implementation
Continued presence and
presentations at conferences
• State ASFPM Conferences
• National Hurricane Conference
• ASCE Conference on Forensic
Engineering
• International Builders Show
• ICC Annual Conference
• FLASH Annual Meeting
• HMA Summit
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Outreach and Implementation
Strategic Outreach to
Meet Customer Needs
• National Building Museum’s
upcoming “Designing for
Disaster” Exhibit
• Disney World’s Storm Struck
Experience
• Technology Transfer
• Publications available on
Google Books and eReeders
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Reduction of Disaster Losses
• Post-disaster evidence of
increased hazard
resistance
• Elevation of homes in
Mandeville, Louisiana
Examples of structures that were elevated, which protected these buildings
from major flood damage. Note the estimated flood depth in relation to the
first floor (red line).
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Reduction of Disaster Losses
• Safe Rooms Saving Lives
• EF 4 in the Forest Lake area of
Tuscaloosa, AL
• EF 5 in Smithville, MS
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Promoting Effective Mitigation
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Promoting Effective Mitigation
• Provide technical support to
Floodplain Management and
Mitigation Grants on the engineering
and building science related issues
• Building Science publications are
referenced as supplements to the
Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified
Guidance
• Updated codes and standards to
incorporate additional hazard
resistance
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Technical Support
• Helplines are available for both public and private stakeholders
• Subject Matter Experts working together with officials to provide
communities with technical support and resources
[email protected]
(866) 927-2104
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Conclusion
• Ongoing, Cyclical Process
• If We Don’t Learn the Past, We Will Repeat It.
• Technical Guidance and Support
• Disaster-Resistant Codes are the Cornerstone of
Effective Mitigation
• Must Communicate and Translate What We Learn
• Reduction in Disaster Impact and Losses
• Leads to Hazard Resilient Communities
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Conclusion
Success Stories/Best Practices
• http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/bestpractices
/index.shtm
• Tell Us Your Stories!
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FEMA Building Science
Flood/Wind Building Science Helpline:
[email protected]
(866) 927-2104
http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/buildingscience
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