Assessing Disaster Impacts with the Building Science Disaster Support Program

Main Functions

Resource Library

The Building Science Disaster Support (BSDS) Program sends experts to assess the performance of buildings, structures and Community Lifelines after disasters like extreme wind, floods, wildfires, earthquakes and more.

alert - info

The Building Science Disaster Support Program has been around for over 30 years. However, it hasn’t always gone by that title – in the past it’s been referred to as the Building Performance Assessment Team Program and the Mitigation Assessment Team Program.

Main Functions

Disaster Readiness (Steady State)

During disaster readiness, the program gathers information about natural hazard events and locations to determine if disaster support is needed.

Disaster Support Operations

Depending on the analysis of the events, the BSDS program can provide Disaster Support Operations by assembling and deploying Mitigation Assessment Teams (MAT) to evaluate the performance of buildings, other structures, and associated community lifelines.

Working closely with federal and state, local, tribal and territorial officials, academia and private sector partners, the MAT develop conclusions and recommendations to improve building, utility and community resilience on the local and state levels.

Technical Assistance

The Building Science Disaster Support Program can also provide Technical Assistance and subject matter expert support for the disaster.

You Have Questions

“How do we build back better?”

“What can we do differently to prevent future damage?"

BSDS Has Answers

Learning from the disaster damage, the BSDS program provides expert support and technical assistance throughout the recovery process.

An email icon.

Connect With Us

Subscribe to our emails to stay informed on the latest happenings in the world of building science.

Resource Library: Search for Reports and Advisories

This collection contains all available resources produced as a result of the Building Science Disaster Support Program’s recommendations.

These reports, fact sheets and advisories are based on their observation of the impact of natural hazards on the built environment and otherwise.

Illustration of a Document in a Folder

Most Recent Reports

file icon
Flood Protection for Critical and Essential Facilities (Iowa Floods of 2016 Recovery Advisory 3)

This Recovery Advisory provides flood mitigation information and recommendations to improve the functionality of critical facilities by reducing the vulnerability of essential systems and equipment to flooding.

file icon
Hurricane Sandy Issue Paper"- Guidance for Turning the Power Back On (Spanish Version)

file icon
Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey and New York MAT Report, Recovery Advisories & Fact Sheets (FEMA P-942)

This ZIP file contains the Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) report and appendices, the recovery advisories, and two fact sheets regarding Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey and New York.

file icon
Tornado: Moore, Oklahoma, May 20, 2013 (FEMA P-1020)

This formal observation report presents the observations, conclusions, and recommendations in response to field investigations conducted after the EF-5 tornado that impacted Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013. The post-storm investigation team focused its efforts on safe rooms and storm shelters in the path of the tornado in order to analyze their performance, functionality, and use.

file icon
Critical Facilities Located in Tornado-Prone Regions: Recommendations for Architects and Engineers (Tornado Recovery Advisory 6)

Critical facilities are emergency operations centers (EOCs), fire and police stations, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other buildings that are essential for the delivery of vital services or protection of a community.

file icon
Critical Facilities Located in Tornado-Prone Regions: Recommendations for Facility Owners (Tornado Recovery Advisory 5)

The purpose of this advisory is to inform critical facility owners of enhancements that can be made both to existing facilities and those still in the planning stage. With this awareness, facility owners can budget for desired enhancements and request that these enhancements be incorporated into the construction documents.

file icon
Rebuilding and Repairing Your Home After a Tornado (Tornado Recovery Advisory 7)

The advisory explains how to determine which building code is appropriate, describes how to incorporate best practices into construction, and lists resources for installing residential safe rooms.

file icon
Reconstructing Non-Residential Buildings After a Tornado (Tornado Recovery Advisory 8)

The purpose of this advisory is to identify which standard of construction should be considered for repairing buildings damaged in high-wind events.

file icon
Residential Sheltering: In-Residence and Stand-Alone Safe Rooms (Tornado Recovery Advisory 3)

The purpose of this advisory is to inform homeowners, renters, apartment building owners, and manufactured home park owners about in-residence and stand-alone safe rooms.

file icon
Safe Rooms and Refuge Areas in the Home (Tornado Recovery Advisory 4)

The purpose of this advisory is to identify the different types of safe rooms and provide a brief overview of areas of refuge.

Displaying 41 - 50 of 86
Last updated
Return to top