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Technology Transfer

Successful hazard mitigation depends in part on the application of MAT findings and recommendations to new construction and post-disaster repair and recovery. MAT findings and recommendations are used to establish improved disaster-resistant construction codes and standards, designs, methods, and materials. The transfer of information by FEMA to state and local governments, and the private sector is critical to this process. FEMA employs a variety of methods to disseminate this information.

FEMA sponsors and produces:

You can download the publications described below and other FEMA publications from the FEMA Library, or order a copy from the FEMA Distribution Center. To order publications please call 1-800-480-2520 or fax 1-240-699-0525 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.

Protecting Your House and Property

The FEMA website has an extensive collection of How-to Fact Sheets. These fact sheets provide easy step-by-step instructions, making it easy for you to take protective steps to minimize damage to your home and property during a hazard event. See the How-to Series Index for more information.

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Coastal Construction Manual

The 2011 Coastal Construction Manual, Fourth Edition (FEMA P-55), is a two-volume publication that provides a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, designing, constructing, and maintaining homes in the coastal environment. Volume I provides information about hazard identification, siting decisions, regulatory requirements, economic implications, and risk management. The primary audience for Volume I is design professionals, officials, and those involved in the decision-making process.

Volume II contains in-depth descriptions of design, construction, and maintenance practices that, when followed, will increase the durability of residential buildings in the harsh coastal environment and reduce economic losses associated with coastal natural disasters. The primary audience for Volume II is the design professional who is familiar with building codes and standards and has a basic understanding of engineering principles.

The Manual and addition resources related to coastal construction are available for download from the FEMA Libary.

For additional information on residential coastal construction, see the FEMA Residential Coastal Construction Web site.

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Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting (December 2009)

If your house has been flooded, or if you know that your house is in a flood hazard area, you should take action to avoid future flood damage. As a homeowner, you need clear information about methods you can use to reduce flood damage to your home, and you need straightforward guidance on selecting the method that is best for you. FEMA’s Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting (FEMA 312) explains the damage-reduction methods that are available, discusses the degree to which they work, and helps you decide whether they meet your needs. This publication is for readers who have little or no knowledge of flood protection methods or building construction techniques. The brochure (L-235) contains an overview of the publication FEMA 312.

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Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction Fact Sheets (December 2010)

FEMA has produced Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction (FEMA P-499), a series of 37 fact sheets that provide technical guidance and recom­mendations concerning the construction of coastal residential buildings. The fact sheets present information aimed at improving the performance of buildings subject to flood and wind forces in coastal environments. The fact sheets make extensive use of photographs and drawings to il­lustrate National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulatory requirements, the proper siting of coastal buildings, and recommended design and construction practices for building components, including structural connections, the building envelope, utilities, and accessory structures. Many of the fact sheets also include lists of additional resources that provide more information about the topics discussed.

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Last Modified: Thursday, 01-Sep-2011 14:54:58 EDT

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