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Hazus-MH Hurricane Wind Model

• New Features in Hazus-MH 2.0 Hurricane Wind Model
• Hazus-MH Hurricane Wind Model Applications

The Hazus-MH Hurricane Wind Model allows users to estimate the economic and social losses from hurricane winds. State and local officials, can use the information provided by the hurricane model to evaluate, plan for and mitigate the effects of hurricane winds.

The Hazus-MH Hurricane Wind Model makes use of an existing state-of-the-art windfield model, which has been calibrated and validated using full-scale hurricane data. The model incorporates sea surface temperature in the boundary layer analysis, and calculates wind speed as a function of central pressure, translation speed, and surface roughness.

The Hazus-MH Hurricane Wind Model is an improvement over existing loss estimation models because it uses a wind hazard-load-damage-loss framework. The model addresses wind pressure, windborne debris, duration/fatigue, and rain. It includes the following features:

• A building classification system that depends on the characteristics of the building envelope and building frame. 
• The capability to compute damage based on building classes and the effects of rain and progressive failure. 
• The capability to compute damage to contents and building interior. 
• The capability to estimate tree blowdown and structure debris quantities. 
• Loss estimates that include direct and indirect economic loss, shelter requirements, and casualties. 
• Modules that facilitate future assessment of mitigation, benefit-cost, and building code issues.

New Features in Hazus-MH 2.0 Hurricane Wind Model

• The terrain roughness and tree coverage data sets have been updated in the Hurricane module to use the latest available data from the Multi-Resolution Land-Use Consortium (MRLC) at both the census block and census tract levels, resulting in more accurate loss estimates.
• Editing of tree parameters at the census block level is now possible in the Hurricane module.
• Issues with direct economic losses to single family homes and manufactured housing due to tree fall have been addressed in the Hurricane module.
• Updates to the historical storms data for the Northeast U.S. region have been made to the Hurricane module.

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Hazus-MH Hurricane Wind Model Applications

FEMA, states, and local communities have used the Hurricane Wind Model for risk assessments, mitigation planning, and support for disaster operations, including:

• Hazus-MH Methodologies to Assist with Mitigation Planning and Hurricane Operations in Dare County, North Carolina (2009)
• Scenario development for the Florida Catastrophic Hurricane Planning Initiative (2007)
• State Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan (Florida, 2007) 
• Hurricane Risk Assessment for Harris County, Texas (2006)
• Support for Hurricane Disaster Operations Since 2004 
• Hurricane evacuation planning in Florida, North Carolina and Hawaii (2006)
• Losses Avoided Analysis, Southwest Florida Hazus Pilot Project (2006)
• Hazus-MH Hurricane Wind Model Validation Study
• Use of Hazus-MH to Support Individual Assistance Program (IAP)

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Last Modified: Tuesday, 31-May-2011 13:51:36 EDT