Building Science Resource Library

The Building Science Resource Library contains all of FEMA’s hazard-specific guidance that focuses on creating hazard-resistant communities.

You can search for a document by its title, or filter the collection to browse by:

  • Topic: High winds, flood, earthquake, etc.
  • Document Type: Brochure, report, fact sheet, infographic, etc.
  • Audience: Building professionals & engineers, individuals & homeowners, teachers & kids, etc.
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FEMA P-784, Substantial Damage Estimator (SDE) Tool

FEMA developed the SDE tool to assist State and local officials in estimating Substantial Damage for residential and non-residential structures in accordance with the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as adopted by the communities. The tool can be used to assess flood, wind, wildfire, seismic, and other forms of damage. It helps communities provide timely Substantial Damage determinations so that reconstruction can begin quickly following a disaster.

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Announcing Version 3.0 of the Substantial Damage Estimator (SDE) Tool Flyer

The Substantial Damage Estimator (SDE) Tool was: Developed to assist State and local officials in determining substantial damage in accordance with a local floodplain management ordinance meeting the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Can be used to assess flood, wind, wildfire, seismic, and other forms of damage, Helps communities to provide timely substantial damage determinations so that reconstruction can begin following a disaster.

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FEMA P-784, Substantial Damage Estimator Forms Combined

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FEMA P-784, Substantial Damage Estimator (SDE) 3.0 User Manual and Field Workbook

FEMA P-784, Substantial Damage Estimator (SDE) User Manual and Field Workbook: Using the SDE Tool to Perform Substantial Damage Determinations (August 2017) document have been updated to reflect the enhanced tool.

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Hurricane Sandy Issue Paper - Guidance for Turning the Power Back On

This document contains guidance on the steps that should be taken during and after a power outage.

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2016 Fall Flooding in Iowas Recovery Advisories (1-5)

Flooding in Iowa in the fall of 2016 extended beyond mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) and exceeded base flood elevations (BFEs) by several feet in some areas, though the flooding was not as widespread as the Midwest Floods of 2008. Lessons learned from those floods were incorporated into mitigation efforts since that time and successfully guided the repair and reconstruction efforts and design of new buildings to reduce susceptibility to future flood damage.

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FEMA P-348, Protect Your Property from Flooding: Protecting Building Utility Systems From Flood Damage Flyer

This flyer announces FEMA Building Science Branch's release of the second edition of Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage, FEMA P-348. The overall objective of this updated publication is to assist in the repair, reconstruction, and new construction of buildings with building utility systems and equipment that are designed and built for maximum flood resiliency.

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FEMA P-348, Protect Your Property from Flooding: Protecting Building Utility Systems From Flood Damage

This publication illustrates the design and construction of utility systems that comply with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements for the construction of new residential and non-residential structures in flood-prone areas. It is also useful when evaluating structures that will undergo Substantial Improvement, guiding users to meet floodplain management regulations and building code requirements. Even if compliance is not required, many building owners may find that applying mitigation measures described in this publication will not only reduce future flood damage but also facilitate recovery after flooding.

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Building Science Branch Brochures

Every year, natural disasters and man-made hazard events cause fatalities and injuries and cost billions of dollars in property damage throughout the United States. The FEMA Building Science Branch (BSB) studies these hazards and provides technical services within FEMA, to the rest of the federal government, and to our private sector partners. With a focus on earthquake, wind, flood, and other natural and man-made hazards, BSB takes a lead role in developing state-of-the-art publications, guidance materials, tools, training, technical bulletins, and recovery advisories that incorporate the most up-to-date building codes, flood damage-resistant requirements, seismic design guidelines, and wind design requirements for new and existing buildings. To help create disaster-resilient communities, key BSB activities include deploying Mitigation Assessment Teams to conduct post-disaster engineering investigations for a wide range of hazard events. BSB is also one of four agencies that make up the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP).

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Resources for Reconstruction after 2016 Louisiana Flooding

Louisiana 2016 Flooding Fact Sheet