Hurricane and Flood Mitigation Handbook for Public Facilities

The Hurricane and Flood Mitigation Handbook for Public Facilities (referred to as the Handbook) presents 30 fact sheets in addition to this introductory fact sheet that provide technical guidance and recommendations for applying mitigation best practices. The fact sheets contain information aimed at improving public facilities and other infrastructure vulnerable to damage caused by flood and wind. This Handbook presents best practices developed from decades of hurricane and flood disaster evaluations. The work of Mitigation Assessment Teams, which analyze damaged structures after a disaster to identify ways to increase resilience, enhances the material presented here.

FEMA P-2181, Hurricane and Flood Mitigation Handbook for Public Facilities

The Hurricane and Flood Mitigation Handbook for Public Facilities presents an introduction and 30 fact sheets that provide technical guidance and recommendations for applying mitigation best practices.

Fact Sheet 1-0 Roads

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to introduce mitigation strategies for roadways, bridges and associated support infrastructure needed for transportation and societal lifelines to reduce their vulnerability to flooding, storm surge and wind hazards.

1-2: Road Shoulders

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to protect the roadway by stabilizing the road shoulder or the road embankment to reduce the likelihood of damage from erosion and scour during or after a flood. Road shoulders provide side support to the traveled section of the roadway and prevent the road edge from washing out. A loss of side support can result in a washout and make it impossible for the roadway to support traffic. These techniques also can help improve the stability of slopes on the sides of roadways.

1-3: Drainage and Culverts

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to reduce roadway flooding and erosion that occur when the capacity, alignment or operation of roadway drainage structures become overwhelmed or fail.

1-4: Bridges

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to prevent or minimize damage to bridges from flooding, erosion and scour, and debris strikes resulting from floods and hurricanes.

1-5: Roadway Lights, Poles and Signage

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to keep critical transportation networks working that are needed to move public safety resources and supplies during and after a disaster by reducing damage to roadway lights, poles, traffic signals, and signs, all of which help to control traffic on roadways

Fact Sheet 2-0 Water Control Facilities

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet series is to protect lives and property by effectively controlling the flow of water retained in impoundments and flowing through channels.

2-1: Channels, Aqueducts, and Canals

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to ensure that channels, aqueducts and canals can meet their purpose in flooded conditions and maintain the movement of water for flood protection, drainage, irrigation, and water supply

2-2: Basins

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to reduce flooding and contamination below stormwater management facilities due to flood conditions.

2-3: Mitigation of Dams and Reservoirs

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to improve safety and resilience by rehabilitating dams and reservoirs to improve issues with stability, water control and erosion.

Fact Sheet 3-0: Buildings, Systems, and Equipment

The Fact Sheets in this section present mitigation methods for public buildings and internal systems to make them more resilient to floods and hurricanes so that critical community lifelines can be maintained.

3-1: Foundations

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to decrease the likelihood of foundation damage or failure from a flood or hurricane that could restrict using the building or parts of the building for extended periods.

3-2: Wall Openings

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to decrease the likelihood of building damage or failure from the pressure of floodwaters or wind forces or wind infiltration and wind-driven rain.

3-3-1: Sloped Roofs

3-3-2: Low-Slope Roofs

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to improve the resilience of low-slope roof systems to allow a building to continue to be used or quickly repaired following a hurricane, with an end goal of rapidly returning the building to full functionality.

3-4-1: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to improve the resilience of the components of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to allow a building to retain partial functionality or to be quickly repaired following a flood, with an end goal of rapidly returning the building to full use.

3-4-2: Electrical

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to improve the resilience of the components of electrical systems to allow a building to continue to be used or quickly repaired following a hurricane, with an end goal of rapidly returning the building to full functionality.

3-4-3: Plumbing

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to improve the resilience of the components of plumbing systems to allow a building to continue to be used or quickly repaired following a hurricane, with an end goal of rapidly returning the building to full functionality.

3-4-4: Conveyances

The mitigation objective of this Fact Sheet is to improve the resilience of building conveyance systems and their components to allow a building to continue to be used or quickly repaired following a hurricane or flood, with an end goal of rapidly returning the building to full functionality.

Fact Sheet 4-0: Public Utilities

The fact sheets in this section present mitigation approaches used to maintain or quickly recover from the disruption of drinking water, wastewater, electric power and communications services during and immediately after hurricanes or floods.

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