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MAT News and Updates

Tornado MAT Daily Reports - Joplin, MO

In May 2011, the tornado outbreaks continued in the midwest. A massive tornado rapidly intensified and struck the town of Joplin, MO, on May 22, 2011. The 6-mile swath devastated the heart of the town. FEMA deployed a MAT to tornado-damaged areas in and around Joplin. Preliminary field investigations occurred from May 26 - 28, 2011, with a full MAT deploying to the field on June 1, 2011, for 5 days of additional field investigations.

Click here to view the daily reports from the MAT. 

The team’s goals are: (1) investigate and assess the performance of safe rooms and shelters, and document damages observed; (2) investigate and assess residential building performance, focusing on newer construction where possible; (3) investigate and assess the performance of critical and essential facilities (e.g., hospitals, schools, emergency operations centers, fire stations, etc.); (4) evaluate the performance of large commercial facilities that were directly impacted by this event; and (5) evaluate and provide field evidence to determine the tornado ratings on the EF Scale for the evaluated locations.

The MAT consists of FEMA personnel and contractor subject matter experts. The members are represented by architects, engineers, and meteorologists.

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Tornado MATs for Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia - Daily Reports

A massive tornado outbreak affected the Southern, Midwestern, and Eastern United States from April 25–28, 2011. FEMA has deployed three MATs to tornado-damaged areas of AL, MS, TN, and GA. The MATs headed into the field on Friday, May 6, 2011, for a 7 to 8-day deployment.

Click here to view the daily reports from the MAT Team. 

The team's goals are: (1) investigate and assess the performance of safe rooms and shelters, and document damages observed; (2) investigate and assess residential building performance, focusing on newer construction where possible; (3) investigate and assess the performance of critical and essential facilities (e.g., hospitals, schools, emergency operation centers, fire stations, communication towers, etc.); (4) evaluate operational issues resulting from damage of critical facilities (e.g., the effect of damage on response and recovery); and (5) evaluate and provide field evidence to determine the tornado ratings on the EF Scale for the evaluated locations.

Each MAT consists of FEMA personnel and contractor subject matter experts. All teams start by working together in the most severely affected areas in Alabama to draw upon each member’s technical expertise. The teams then branch out to other areas across the states of MS, AL, TN, and GA to assess building damage there. The three MATs will provide the following geographic coverage:

MAT 1: Alabama areas in and around Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Cullman, and northern cities including Huntsville

MAT 2: Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Hackleburg); Georgia (Ringgold); and Tennessee sites around Chattanooga

MAT 3: Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Birmingham); Mississippi sites

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New Recovery Advisories from the Tornado MATs for Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia

Eight (8) new Recovery Advisories (RAs) are now available for download from the FEMA Library: 

Click here to view/download the Recovery Advisories.

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Above-Average Storm Activity Predicted for 2011

The Atlantic Hurricane Season officially occurs between June 1 and November 30 annually. For 2011, research scientist Dr. Philip Klotzbach and fellow researcher Dr. William Gray of Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric Science anticipate an above-average probability of major hurricane landfall in the United States and Caribbean.

Information obtained through July 2011 indicates that the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season will have significantly more activity than the average for 1950-2000. Dr. Klotzbach and Dr. Gray estimate that 2011 will have about 9 hurricanes (average is 5.9), 16 named storms (average is 9.6), 80 named storm days (average is 49.1), 35 hurricane days (average is 24.5), 5 major (Category 3-4-5) hurricanes (average is 2.3), and 10 major hurricane days (average is 5.0). The probability of U.S. and Caribbean major hurricane landfall is estimated to be about 140 percent of the long-period average. They expect Atlantic basin net tropical cyclone activity in 2011 to be approximately 175 percent of the long-term average. Read the latest forecast as of August 3, 2011.

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Highlights of ASCE 24-05 Flood Resistant Design and Construction

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 24 is a referenced standard in the International Building Code®. Any building or structure that falls within the scope of the IBC that is proposed in a flood hazard area is to be designed in accordance with ASCE 24. The International Residential Code® requires that dwellings in floodways be designed in accordance with ASCE 24, and the 2009 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC) will include an alternative that allows communities to require homes in V Zones to be designed in accordance with ASCE 24. Highlights of ASCE 24 that complement the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum requirements include: Building Performance; Flood-Damage Resistant Materials; Utilities and Service Equipment; and Siting Considerations. Click here to read more about the highlights.

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Last Modified: Thursday, 01-Sep-2011 13:07:33 EDT