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.

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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.

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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.

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Most Recent Reports

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Charley in Florida (FEMA 488)

This report summarizes the observations, conclusions, and recommendations of the Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) deployed by FEMA on August 19, 2004, in response to Hurricane Charley. The team assessed damage across the width of the storm track, from its landfall near the communities on Sanibel and Captiva Islands to inland areas around Orlando.

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Charley in Florida (FEMA 488) Text Version

This report summarizes the observations, conclusions, and recommendations of the Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) deployed by FEMA on August 19, 2004, in response to Hurricane Charley. The team assessed damage across the width of the storm track, from its landfall near the communities on Sanibel and Captiva Islands to inland areas around Orlando.

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Summary Report on Building Performance 2004 Hurricane Season (FEMA 490)

The purpose of this document is to summarize the observations, conclusions, and recommendations that were obtained during post-disaster assessments sponsored by the FEMA Mitigation Division in response to Florida 2004 hurricane season.

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Summary Report on Building Performance 2004 Hurricane Season (FEMA 490) Text Version

The purpose of this document is to summarize the observations, conclusions, and recommendations that were obtained during post-disaster assessments sponsored by the FEMA Mitigation Division in response to Florida 2004 hurricane season.

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Hurricane Charley Hurricane Recovery Advisories

These three hurricane recovery advisories are part of the Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) report for Hurricane Charley (2004) in Florida.

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Hurricane Charley Hurricane Recovery Advisories (Text Version)

These three hurricane recovery advisories are part of the Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) report for Hurricane Charley (2004) in Florida.

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Building Performance Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Georges in Puerto Rico (FEMA 339)

This report presents FEMA's Building Performance Assessment Team's (BPAT) observations on the success and failure of buildings in Puerto Rico in withstanding the wind and flood forces generated by Hurricane Georges.

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Building Performance Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Georges in Puerto Rico (FEMA 339) Text Version

This report presents FEMA's Building Performance Assessment Team's (BPAT) observations on the success and failure of buildings in Puerto Rico in withstanding the wind and flood forces generated by Hurricane Georges.

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Building Performance Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Georges in the Gulf Coast (FEMA 338)

This report presents FEMA's Building Performance Assessment Team's (BPAT) observations on the success and failure of buildings in the Florida Keys and Gulf Coast areas of the United States to withstand the wind and flood forces generated by Hurricane Georges. Recommendations to improve the building performance in future natural disasters in this area are included as well.

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Building Performance Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Georges in the Gulf Coast (FEMA 338) Text Version

This report presents FEMA's Building Performance Assessment Team's (BPAT) observations on the success and failure of buildings in the Florida Keys and Gulf Coast areas of the United States to withstand the wind and flood forces generated by Hurricane Georges. Recommendations to improve the building performance in future natural disasters in this area are included as well.

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