Building Science Resource Library
The Building Science Resource Library contains all of FEMA’s hazard-specific guidance that focuses on creating hazard-resistant communities.
You can search for a document by its title, or filter the collection to browse by:
- Topic: High winds, flood, earthquake, etc.
- Document Type: Brochure, report, fact sheet, infographic, etc.
- Audience: Building professionals & engineers, individuals & homeowners, teachers & kids, etc.
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The focus of this manual is the retrofitting of one- to four-family residences subject to flooding situations without wave action. The manual presents various retrofitting measures that provide both active and passive efforts and employ both dry and wet floodproofing measures. These include elevation of the structure in place, relocation of the structure, construction of barriers (floodwalls and levees), dry floodproofing (sealants, closures, sump pumps, and backflow valves), and wet floodproofing (flood damage-resistant materials and protection of utilities and contents).
This guide was prepared specifically for homeowners who want to know how to protect their homes from flooding. As a homeowner, you need clear information about the options available to you and straightforward guidance that will help you make decision. This guide gives you both, in a form designed for readers who have little or no experience with flood protection methods or building construction techniques.
This timeline shows the history of FEMA’s participation in the building code and standards development process from its inception until the present day. It highlights key building code regulations and events.
The MAT worked with local agencies to assess damage to buildings and learn how buildings performed during the fires. After conclusion of the field investigation, the MAT analyzed the field data as well as damage reports and studies conducted by others. The MAT prepared conclusions and developed recommendations based on these findings. This information was presented in two topic-based summary reports and five recovery advisories reports that are included in this compendium publication to offer one comprehensive source for these materials.
This design guide provides instructional guidance for design professionals for designing buildings or other structures for flood loads in accordance with the requirements of ASCE 7-22-S2. The design guide is intended to support the use of ASCE 7-22 and ASCE 7-22-S2. Design professionals will need a copy of ASCE 7-22 and ASCE 7-22-S2 in addition to this design guide to complete the ASCE 7-22 design calculations.
The Hurricane and Flood Mitigation Handbook for Public Facilities presents an introduction and 30 fact sheets that provide technical guidance and recommendations for applying mitigation best practices.
This Recovery Advisory is intended to provide property owners, designers, and builders with an understanding of natural hazards common to Maui such as flooding, high winds, wildfire, earthquakes, and others to inform mitigation strategies for new residential construction or reconstruction following a hazard event such as the 2023 Lahaina wildfire. Property owners, designers and builders should evaluate building site and structure hazard exposure to ensure a multi-hazard approach to mitigation when possible.
This Technical Bulletin provides guidance on the National Flood Insurance Program floodplain management requirements for the design and construction of wet floodproofed buildings and structures in Special Flood Hazard Areas.
FEMA’s landmark study, “Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study,” shows that modern building codes lead to major reduction in property losses from natural disasters. The FEMA report calculates losses from three types of natural hazard (earthquakes, flooding, and hurricane winds) for each state and Washington, D.C.