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FEMA P-424, Design Guide for School Safety Against Earthquakes, Floods, and High Winds

This manual is the updated version of the original FEMA 424 published in January 2004. The original manual was the first of a series of publications (FEMA 577 – Design Guide for Improving Hospital Safety in Earthquakes, Floods, and High Winds: Providing Protection to People and Building and FEMA 543 – Design Guide for Improving Critical Facility Safety from Flooding and High Winds,) to provide guidance for the protection of various types of structures from natural disasters. FEMA P-424 addresses the protection of schools and their occupants against natural hazards (earthquakes, floods, and high winds.) Its intended audience is design professionals and school officials involved in the technical and financial decisions of school construction, repair, and renovations.

This manual introduces two core concepts: multihazard design and performance-based design. Neither of these is revolutionary, but represent an evolution in design thinking that is in tune with the increasing complexity of today's buildings and also takes advantage of developments and innovations in building technology. It also outlines the steps necessary in the creation of a specific risk management plan for protection against earthquakes, floods, and high winds.

The focus of this manual is on the safety of school buildings and their occupants, and the economic losses and social disruption caused by building damage and destruction.

You can download FEMA P-424 from the FEMA Library, or order a copy from the FEMA Distribution Center. To order FEMA P-424 or other publications, please call 1-800-480-2520 or fax 1-240-599-0525 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST. You may also email your request to FEMA-Publications-Warehouse@dhs.gov. Please provide the title, item number, short number, and quantity of each publication, along with your name, address, zip code, and daytime telephone number.

 

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Last Modified: Monday, 14-Feb-2011 08:25:07 EST