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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Hurricane Charley Hurricane Recovery Advisories (Text Version)

These three hurricane recovery advisories are part of the Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) report for Hurricane Charley (2004) in Florida.

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Building Performance Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Georges in Puerto Rico (FEMA 339)

This report presents FEMA's Building Performance Assessment Team's (BPAT) observations on the success and failure of buildings in Puerto Rico in withstanding the wind and flood forces generated by Hurricane Georges.

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Building Performance Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Georges in Puerto Rico (FEMA 339) Text Version

This report presents FEMA's Building Performance Assessment Team's (BPAT) observations on the success and failure of buildings in Puerto Rico in withstanding the wind and flood forces generated by Hurricane Georges.

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Building Performance Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Georges in the Gulf Coast (FEMA 338)

This report presents FEMA's Building Performance Assessment Team's (BPAT) observations on the success and failure of buildings in the Florida Keys and Gulf Coast areas of the United States to withstand the wind and flood forces generated by Hurricane Georges. Recommendations to improve the building performance in future natural disasters in this area are included as well.

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Building Performance Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Georges in the Gulf Coast (FEMA 338) Text Version

This report presents FEMA's Building Performance Assessment Team's (BPAT) observations on the success and failure of buildings in the Florida Keys and Gulf Coast areas of the United States to withstand the wind and flood forces generated by Hurricane Georges. Recommendations to improve the building performance in future natural disasters in this area are included as well.

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Opal in Florida (FEMA 281)

Hurricane Opal made landfall on October 4, 1995, as a Category 3 storm. Fifteen counties in the Florida Panhandle were declared Federal disaster areas. Field inspections were concentrated along a 200-mile stretch of Florida's Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Most of the structural damage associated with the storm was caused by coastal flood forces: storm surge, wind-generated waves, storm-induced erosion, and floodborne debris.

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Opal in Florida (FEMA 281) Text Version

Hurricane Opal made landfall on October 4, 1995, as a Category 3 storm. Fifteen counties in the Florida Panhandle were declared Federal disaster areas. Field inspections were concentrated along a 200-mile stretch of Florida's Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Most of the structural damage associated with the storm was caused by coastal flood forces: storm surge, wind-generated waves, storm-induced erosion, and floodborne debris.

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii (FIA-23)

On September 11, 1992, Hurricane Iniki struck the island of Kauai, Hawaii. With wind speeds exceeding those of Hurricanes Iwa (1982) and Dot (1959), Iniki was the strongest and most destructive hurricane to strike the Hawaiian Islands in recent memory. The MATinvestigated primary structural systems (i.e., systems in a building that resist lateral and vertical forces).

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii (FIA-23) Text Version

On September 11, 1992, Hurricane Iniki struck the island of Kauai, Hawaii. With wind speeds exceeding those of Hurricanes Iwa (1982) and Dot (1959), Iniki was the strongest and most destructive hurricane to strike the Hawaiian Islands in recent memory. The MATinvestigated primary structural systems (i.e., systems in a building that resist lateral and vertical forces).

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Andrew in Florida (FIA 22) Text Version

On August 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck southern Dade County, Florida. In conducting its survey, the MAT investigated primary structural systems of buildings (i.e.; systems that support the building against all lateral and vertical loads experienced during a hurricane).

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