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HAZUS News

HAZUS-MH MR5 Software Release

We are pleased to announce that HAZUS-MH MR5 is now available. The MR5 release includes several improvements to the usability and functionality of the software, including:

Federal, State and local government agencies and the private sector can order the latest version of HAZUS free-of-charge on-line by visiting the FEMA Map Service Center (MSC) Web Store at msc.fema.gov. For more information about how to set up your account with the MSC and place your order please refer to the Ordering HAZUS-MH flyer.

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2010 HAZUS Conference Proceedings Now Available

The 4th Annual HAZUS Conference took place in Indianapolis, Indiana August 23-25, 2010. The 2010 Conference Proceedings are available from the FEMA Library individually or as a complete ZIP file.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 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.

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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.

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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.

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Last Modified: Tuesday, 14-Dec-2010 15:05:47 EST

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.

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