Skip to content

HAZUS News

2009 HAZUS Conference Proceedings Now Available

The 3rd Annual HAZUS Conference took place in Raleigh, North Carolina August 10-12, 2009. You can preview the Proceedings Contents before downloading the ZIP file.

After you have downloaded and extracted the files, click on "ClickHere.swf" if you have Flash Player installed on your machine. Otherwise, click on "Index.html" to open the main page.

Back To Top

FEMA Region IX Sponsors Pilot Project to Perform Risk Assessment of Essential Facilities Using HAZUS-MH

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sponsored a pilot project to perform a risk assessment of essential facilities using its HAZUS-MH. The objective of the pilot project was to demonstrate the synergy between HAZUS-MH and FEMA’s Map Modernization program to update Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs) for three Southern California counties (Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino) and to illustrate the types of information HAZUS-MH can generate for hazard mitigation planning. In the pilot, HAZUS-MH was used to estimate the impact of two different earthquakes and three different riverine floods on each county’s infrastructure, including both regional building inventories (referred to within HAZUS-MH as the “general building stock”) and essential facilities. In addition, the impacts of a tsunami hitting the Orange County coastline were examined. The results of these risk assessments were documented in three separate reports. Click here to download the reports.

Back To Top

HAZUS-MH MR4 (Version 1.4) is Now Available!

Image of MR4 DVD sleeve

The latest version fo the HAZUS-MH MR4 is now available. Features include updated schools and transportation data. Improvements to the Flood model now provides dam/levee analysis capability, the ability to distinguish Pre-FIRM and Post-FIRM census blocks, as well as many other upgrades. The Earthquake model includes the latest version of probabilisitc maps from USGS and the Hurricane Wind model now permits the creation of a study region using a hurricane track.

Order HAZUS-MH MR4
Download the handout What’s New in HAZUS-MH MR4?
Click here for the HAZUS-MH MR4 Hardware and Software Requirements

Back To Top

HAZUS Hot Zone July 2009 Issue

July 2009 cover of HAZUS Hot Zone newsletter

The latest issue FEMA’s HAZUS Hot Zone newsletter contains new success stories: Proving HAZUS Capabilities for Mitigation and Business Continuity Planning and NCHUG: Incorporating HAZUS-MH Methodologies to Assist with Mitigation Planning and Hurricane Operations. The issue also contains a look at the new HAZUS User Group Logos; HAZUS-MH Third Quarter User of the Year: Mike Scott; HAZUS Trained Professionals; and HAZUS User Group News. Download the HAZUS Hot Zone July 2009 Issue.

Back To Top

ESRI Features HAZUS in Summer 2009 Issue of HealthyGIS

“Hospitals Get a Jolt of Reality with HAZUS-MH Earthquake Analysis Results”
After an earthquake, injured victims will look for help at local hospitals, but will the hospitals be in shape to offer assistance? In Southern California, hospitals are getting prepared for a “big one” with a system that uses GIS technology to estimate hospital building damage and related effects on hospital services... Read full story. Download ESRI Summer 2009 Healthy GIS Newsletter.

Back To Top

Arkansas Tech University Uses HAZUS-MH for Mitigation and Business Continuity Planning

Arkansas Tech University’s use of HAZUS shows the benefits that the HAZUS data offers in microanalysis situations. This research was conducted simultaneously to the formation of the Arkansas HAZUS User Group. The purpose of the Arkansas HAZUS User Group (ARHUG) is to facilitate the use of the HAZUS-MH models for flooding and earthquake risk assessment in Arkansas and to form the basis for both pre- and post-disaster decision-making. By bringing together technical, policy, and emergency management specialists, the ARHUG will establish a solid risk assessment resource base for Arkansas. Click here for more information.  Click here to Download the Story Handout.

Back To Top

Incorporating HAZUS-MH Methodologies to Assist with Mitigation Planning and Hurricane Operations

Dare County, North Carolina uses HAZUS in their updated mitigation plan to show the potential damages to infrastructure and buildings as well as potential economic impacts during wind events. Using HAZUS-MH proved to have benefits beyond the update to the mitigation plan. HAZUS-MH was used to demonstrate benefits before and during a disaster event such as a hurricane. Click here for more information. Click here to Download the Story Handout.

Back To Top

Using HAZUS for Flood Loss Estimates and CRS Flood Mitigation Planning

The City of Savannah, Georgia embarked on a mission to prepare a comprehensive upgrade to their existing Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan. The principal goals of the project were: (1) to assess and quantify current flood hazard risks using new geospatial data and best available technology; (2) to increase public and stakeholder involvement in the City’s mitigation planning efforts; and (3) to maximize potential credit points under FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) through quality plan development and implementation. These goals were achieved in large part due to the use of HAZUS. Click here to Read the full story. Click here to Download the Story Handout.

Back To Top

Newly Trained Professionals and Practitioners under the HAZUS-MH curriculum

FEMA has launched a new initiative that recognizes emergency managers, GIS professionals and others who complete a structured HAZUS curriculum that has two tracks: HAZUS-MH Trained Professional – that provides a foundation of basic HAZUS-MH skills plus focused instruction on at least one hazard; and HAZUS-MH Practitioner Track – that expands on the HAZUS Trained Professional Track by incorporating specialized training FEMA is pleased to congratulate the the following individuals for completing the HAZUS-MH Trained Professional and Practitioner curriculum.

For more information about the HAZUS-MH Trained Professional and Practitioner Curriculum, visit: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/hz_training09.shtm.

Back To Top

Johnson County, Iowa Wins Honorable Mention for Initiative Using HAZUS to Speed Disaster Recovery From 2008 Iowa Floods

Image of Award for Excellence

The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) presented the Johnson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) with an Honorable Mention for the national 2009 James Lee Witt Local Award for Excellence in Floodplain Management at their Annual Conference, June 11 in Orlando, FL. This award recognizes outstanding programs at the front lines of floodplain management —where “the rubber meets the road” to support, enhance and encourage local floodplain management capabilities.

HAZUS-MH was used to estimate the potential flood impacts to learn what would likely happen when the water reaches 28 feet. The Johnson County EMA along with emergency support functions coordinated risk assessment data compilations which helped map a quick road to recovery during the Iowa Floods.

Read the report.

Download the report.

Back To Top

HAZUS Posters Selected for the 2009 ESRI Map Book

Published annually since 1984, the ESRI Map Book series is dedicated to acknowledging the important and innovative accomplishments of Geographic Information System (GIS) users around the world. Each volume of the ESRI Map Book showcases a small portion of the work presented at the Map Gallery exhibition at the annual ESRI International User Conference. For 2009, two HAZUS posters have been chosen for Volume 24 of the book: “HAZUS evaluation of 1906 magnitude earthquake in today's environment: Displaced Households” and “HAZUS valuation of 1906 magnitude earthquake in today's environment: Economic Loss.” 

View additional HAZUS maps and posters here:  http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/hz_maps.shtm.

Back To Top

HAZUS for the International Community

In response to the growing interest in HAZUS in the international community, a new link has been added to this web site that highlights key issues and steps that interested nations would have to take as part of a feasibility study for the international application of HAZUS. Click here for more information.

Back To Top

Florida Implements CDMS Web Portal Project

Screenshot of CDMS page

Florida became the second state, following South Carolina, to take training and implement the Comprehensive Data Management System (CDMS) Web Portal.  The CDMS is a tool developed by FEMA to support the integration of locally developed inventory data into the HAZUS-MH loss estimation process. Specifically, the CDMS has three interrelated functions: 

The functionality of the Web Portal is the same as the desktop version.  By requiring very little software and no physical installation, the Web Portal will enable the user-base to grow at a steady pace. Read more about this story.

Back To Top

University of Utah Implements Sugar House Community Earthquake Loss Project

Image of Sugar House poster

Stuart Moffatt from the University of Utah led a team of colleagues in the development of the Sugar House Community Earthquake Loss Estimation Project, an innovative initiative to estimate losses to this historic community on the Wasatch Front from a magnitude 7.0 earthquake.  As stated by Moffatt, "We live on top of a fault in an area where a large percentage of the building stock is post-war brick-on-brick….we wanted to prepare a detailed map to help people see the potential loss we could suffer in our neighborhood."  This was accomplished by using the HAZUS-MH Advanced Engineering Building Module (AEBM) to perform a Level 3 analysis of Sugar House parcels.  The product of this project is a very detailed map that shows the vulnerability of the community at the parcel level, which is being used to promote seismic safety. View larger image of poster.

Back To Top

HAZUS-MH Used to Support Hurricane Ike Operations

Image of Hurricane Ike cover story

As Hurricane Ike approached landfall in southeast Texas on September 13, 2008, officials at FEMA’s Mapping and Analysis Center (MAC) were in daily contact with HAZUS subject matter experts. FEMA’s HAZUS-MH team generated a suite of map-based products following each National Hurricane Center (NHC) advisory. For planning purposes, a key HAZUS-MH output is Estimated Maximum Sustained Wind Speeds. When used in conjunction with surge analysis, this template presents a useful snapshot of the exposure of the population and essential facilities to high winds and storm surge from Hurricane Ike. The ability to depict estimated damages on a regional (multi-county) scale is an added advantage.  Find out how HAZUS-MH was used to support the Ike response operations. Read the full story. Download this story in PDF format.

Back To Top

Last Modified: Thursday, 29-Oct-2009 13:22:21 EDT

Fast Facts

Since the late 1990s, HAZUS has been used to support analysis of shelter requirements, displaced households, and residential losses from earthquakes, hurricane winds, and floods. This analysis has important potential applications for FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) applications include determining the exposure of population to hazard impacts (hurricane winds, storm surge, ground shaking); and estimations such as the number of IA Preliminary Damage Assessment Teams required for a disaster, residential damage, short-term shelter requirements, or number of displaced households.

References

Solutions

Online Tools

Training

Related Topics