HAZUS-MH Hurricane Wind Model
The HAZUS-MH Hurricane Wind Model allows users to estimate the economic and social losses from hurricane winds. The information provided by the model can be used by state and local officials in evaluating, planning for, and mitigating 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:
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A building classification system that depends on the characteristics of the building envelope and building frame.
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The capability to compute damage based on building classes and the effects of rain and progressive failure.
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The capability to compute damage to contents and building interior.
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The capability to estimate tree blowdown and structure debris quantities.
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Loss estimates that include direct and indirect economic loss, shelter requirements, and casualties.
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Modules that facilitate future assessment of mitigation, benefit-cost, and building code issues.
New Features in HAZUS-MH MR4 Hurricane Wind Model
- Permits the creation of a study region using a hurricane track.
- Operates on ArcView 9.3 SP1 or ArcGIS 9.2 SP5, and MS Windows XP SP3.
- Corrects the Hawaii datum used in HAZUS.
- Certified to operate with MS Office 2003, but compatible with MS Office 2007.
HAZUS-MH Hurricane Wind Model Applications
The Hurricane Wind Model has been used by FEMA, states and local communities for risk assessments, mitigation planning, and support for disaster operations, including:
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State Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan (Florida, 2007)
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Hurricane evacuation planning in Florida, North Carolina and Hawaii (2006)
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Losses Avoided Analysis, Southwest Florida HAZUS Pilot Project (2006)
Last Modified: Friday, 18-Sep-2009 17:19:12 EDT