Communities located in areas prone to hurricanes are at risk of extreme winds and flooding. FEMA Building Science has developed publications and guidance to assist building owners and occupants in taking the proper precautions to stay safe when a hurricane strikes. Implementing the guidance provided by FEMA will allow for your building or structure to withstand the harsh impacts of hurricanes, thus reducing damages and keeping building occupants safe.
ASCE 24: Improving the Performance of Buildings and Structures in Flood Hazard Areas
This paper provides and introduction and history of ASCE 24, Flood Resistant Design and Construction, and presents information on the relationship between ASCE 24 and the NFIP requirements. The published version may be found at http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/9780784412626.006.
Flood Provisions in the International Code Series and 2010 Florida Building Code
This paper provides an introduction and history of the flood provisions in the International Codes, and describes the flood provisions of the 2010 Florida Building Code. The published version may be found at https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/9780784412626.007.
FEMA Building Science Training and Workshops for Hurricanes
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Science Branch has developed numerous training courses and workshops to provide information to communities and homeowners on how to build stronger and minimize damage from natural disasters. A few FEMA training courses and workshops may be useful as communities begin to rebuild after a hurricane. Most of these courses use a published manual as their basis. For more information or to inquire about one of these training sessions, please contact us at FEMA-BuildingScienceHelp@fema.dhs.gov or 866-927-2104. The published manuals can be obtained from http://www.fema.gov/building-science.
FEMA L-781, Building Science for Disaster-Resistant Communities: Hurricane Hazard Publications
This brochure provides readers with a quick summary of publications that will help them prepare for and mitigate against hurricane hazards. The Building Science Branch develops and produces technical guidance and tools focused on fostering a disaster-resistant built environment. Located within FEMA’s Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration’s (FIMA’s) Risk Reduction Division, the Building Science Branch supports the directorate’s mission to reduce risk to life and property by providing state-of-the-art technical hazard mitigation solutions for buildings.
FEMA P-782, Building Science for Disaster-Resistant Communities: Flood Hazard Publications
This brochure provides readers with a quick summary of publications that will help them prepare for and mitigate against flood hazards. The Building Science Branch develops and produces technical guidance and tools focused on fostering a disaster-resistant built environment. Located within FEMA’s Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration’s (FIMA’s) Risk Reduction Division, the Building Science Branch supports the directorate’s mission to reduce risk to life and property by providing state-of-the-art technical hazard mitigation solutions for buildings.
FEMA P-499, Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction
FEMA produced this series of 37 fact sheets to provide technical guidance and recommendations concerning the construction of coastal residential buildings. The fact sheets present information aimed at improving the performance of buildings subject to flood and wind forces in coastal environments. Photographs and drawings illustrate the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulatory requirements, the proper siting of coastal buildings, and recommended design and construction practices for building components, including structural connections, the building envelope, and utilities.
FEMA P-85, Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards
FEMA P-85 (Second Edition, November 2009) has been updated to reflect the requirements of the most current codes and standards and to provide the best practices approach in reducing damages from natural hazards. While the original version of FEMA 85 concentrated on flood and wind events, this version also addresses seismic hazards and recommends several multi-hazard resistant foundation designs. Designs are included for wood-framed foundations, conventional concrete and masonry pier foundations, and ground anchors. The ground anchor foundations are based on results from a series of first-of-its-kind saturated and dry soil anchor tests.
FEMA P-85, Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards (Text Version)
FEMA P-85 has been updated to reflect the requirements of the most current codes and standards and to provide a best practices approach in reducing damages from natural hazards. While the original version of FEMA 85 concentrated on flood and wind events, this version also addresses seismic hazards and recommends several multi-hazard resistant foundation designs. Designs are included for wood-framed foundations, conventional concrete and masonry pier foundations, and ground anchors. The ground anchor foundations are based on results from a series of first-of-its-kind saturated and dry soil anchor tests.
FEMA 551, Selecting Appropriate Mitigation Measures for Floodprone Structures
This manual is intended to provide guidance to community officials for developing mitigation projects that reduce or eliminate identified risks for floodprone structures.
FEMA P-55, Coastal Construction Manual: Principles and Practices of Planning, Siting, Designing, Constructing, and Maintaining Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, 4th Edition Volume 1
The 2011 CCM, 4th Ed. (FEMA P-55), is a 2-volume publication that provides a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, designing, constructing, and maintaining homes in the coastal environment. Volume I provides information about hazard identification, siting decisions, regulatory requirements, economic implications, and risk management. The primary audience for Volume I is design professionals, officials, and those involved in the decision-making process. Volume II contains in-depth descriptions of design, construction, and maintenance practices that, when followed, will increase the durability of residential buildings in the harsh coastal environment and reduce economic losses associated with coastal natural disasters. The primary audience for Volume II is the design professional who is familiar with building codes and standards and; has a basic understanding of engineering principles.
FEMA P-55, Coastal Construction Manual: Principles and Practices of Planning, Siting, Designing, Constructing, and Maintaining Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, 4th Edition Volume II
The 2011 CCM, 4th Ed. (FEMA P-55), is a 2-volume publication that provides a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, designing, constructing, and maintaining homes in the coastal environment. Volume I provides information about hazard identification, siting decisions, regulatory requirements, economic implications, and risk management. The primary audience for Volume I is design professionals, officials, and those involved in the decision-making process. Volume II contains in-depth descriptions of design, construction, and maintenance practices that, when followed, will increase the durability of residential buildings in the harsh coastal environment and reduce economic losses associated with coastal natural disasters. The primary audience for Volume II is the design professional who is familiar with building codes and standards and; has a basic understanding of engineering principles.
