Assessing Disaster Impacts with the Building Science Disaster Support Program

Main Functions

Resource Library

The Building Science Disaster Support (BSDS) Program sends experts to assess the performance of buildings, structures and Community Lifelines after disasters like extreme wind, floods, wildfires, earthquakes and more.

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The Building Science Disaster Support Program has been around for over 30 years. However, it hasn’t always gone by that title – in the past it’s been referred to as the Building Performance Assessment Team Program and the Mitigation Assessment Team Program.

Main Functions

Disaster Readiness (Steady State)

During disaster readiness, the program gathers information about natural hazard events and locations to determine if disaster support is needed.

Disaster Support Operations

Depending on the analysis of the events, the BSDS program can provide Disaster Support Operations by assembling and deploying Mitigation Assessment Teams (MAT) to evaluate the performance of buildings, other structures, and associated community lifelines.

Working closely with federal and state, local, tribal and territorial officials, academia and private sector partners, the MAT develop conclusions and recommendations to improve building, utility and community resilience on the local and state levels.

Technical Assistance

The Building Science Disaster Support Program can also provide Technical Assistance and subject matter expert support for the disaster.

You Have Questions

“How do we build back better?”

“What can we do differently to prevent future damage?"

BSDS Has Answers

Learning from the disaster damage, the BSDS program provides expert support and technical assistance throughout the recovery process.

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Resource Library: Search for Reports and Advisories

This collection contains all available resources produced as a result of the Building Science Disaster Support Program’s recommendations.

These reports, fact sheets and advisories are based on their observation of the impact of natural hazards on the built environment and otherwise.

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Most Recent Reports

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Safe Rooms and Refuge Areas in the Home (Tornado Recovery Advisory 4)

The purpose of this advisory is to identify the different types of safe rooms and provide a brief overview of areas of refuge.

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Safe Rooms: Selecting Design Criteria (Tornado Recovery Advisory 2)

The purpose of this advisory is to identify the design guidance, code requirements, and other criteria that pertain to the design and construction of safe rooms for tornadoes and hurricanes.

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Tornado Risks and Hazards in the Southeastern United States (Tornado Recovery Advisory 1)

The purpose of this Tornado Recovery Advisory is to provide background on the tornado hazard in the Southeast.

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Mississippi Tornado Outbreak, April 23rd-24th Pre-Mitigation Assessment Team Report

In response to the April 23rd–April 24th, 2010 tornado outbreak in Mississippi, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed a Pre-Mitigation Assessment Team (PMAT) to survey the general structural damage and the performance of the residential and community safe rooms located along the path of the Tallulah-Yazoo City-Durant tornado.

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Mississippi Tornado Outbreak, April 23rd-24th Pre-Mitigation Assessment Team Report (Text Version)

In response to the April 23rd–April 24th, 2010 tornado outbreak in Mississippi, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed a Pre-Mitigation Assessment Team (PMAT) to survey the general structural damage and the performance of the residential and community safe rooms located along the path of the Tallulah-Yazoo City-Durant tornado.

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2008 Midwest Flood Recovery Advisories (Text Version)

These three Recovery Advisories are part of the Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) report for Midwest Floods of 2008 in Iowa and Wisconsin. They deal with design considerations for improving critical facility functionality during flood events, and considerations for rebuilding your flood-damaged house.

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2008 Midwest Floods Recovery Advisories

These three Recovery Advisories are part of the Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) report for Midwest Floods of 2008 in Iowa and Wisconsin. They deal with design considerations for improving critical facility functionality during flood events, and considerations for rebuilding your flood-damaged house.

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Midwest Floods of 2008 in Iowa and Wisconsin (FEMA P-765)

In response to the 2008 Midwest floods, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed a Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) to evaluate and assess the damages caused by the riverine flooding in Iowa and southern Wisconsin.

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Hurricane Ike in Texas and Louisiana: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Building Performance Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance (FEMA P-757)

In response to Hurricane Ike, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed a Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) to evaluate and assess damage from the hurricane and provide observations, conclusions, and recommendations on the performance of buildings and other structures impacted by wind and flood forces. The MAT included FEMA Headquarters and Regional Office engineers, representatives from other Federal agencies and academia, and experts from the design and construction industry. The conclusions and recommendations of this report are intended to provide decision-makers with information and technical guidance that can be used to reduce future hurricane damage.

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Hurricane Ike in Texas and Louisiana: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Building Performance Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance (FEMA P-757) Text Version

In response to Hurricane Ike, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed a Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) to evaluate and assess damage from the hurricane and provide observations, conclusions, and recommendations on the performance of buildings and other structures impacted by wind and flood forces. The MAT included FEMA Headquarters and Regional Office engineers, representatives from other Federal agencies and academia, and experts from the design and construction industry. The conclusions and recommendations of this Report are intended to provide decision-makers with information and technical guidance that can be used to reduce future hurricane damage.

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