Congress established the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP):
“…to achieve major measurable reductions in the losses of life and property from windstorms through a coordinated federal effort, in cooperation with other levels of government, academia, and the private sector, aimed at improving the understanding of windstorms and their impacts and developing and encouraging the implementation of cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce those impacts.”
FEMA plays a crucial role within NWIRP by supporting:
- The development of risk assessment tools and effective mitigation techniques
- Windstorm related data collection and analysis
- Public outreach and information dissemination
- Promotion of the adoption of windstorm preparedness and mitigation measures
Along with those support functions, FEMA is also obligated to work closely with national standards and model building code organizations, in conjunction with NIST, to promote the implementation of research results and promote better building practices within the building design and construction industry.
Visit our Building Science Wind Publications Library for free access to resources related to NWIRP, hazard-resistant building codes, and more.
Program Agencies
Designated program agencies of NWIRP include the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) as the Lead Agency, National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
NWIRP also has had participation from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the Department of Energy (DoE).
Visit NIST.gov to Learn More
