Building Science Resource Library
The Building Science Resource Library contains all of FEMA’s hazard-specific guidance that focuses on creating disaster-resistance communities.
You can search for a document by its title, or filter the collection to browse by:
- Disaster Type: High winds, flood, earthquake, etc.
- Document Type: Brochure, report, fact sheet, infographic, etc.
- Audience: Building professionals & engineers, individuals & homeowners, teachers & kids, etc.
This Recovery Advisory is intended to provide property owners, designers, and builders with an understanding of natural hazards common to Maui such as flooding, high winds, wildfire, earthquakes, and others to inform mitigation strategies for new residential construction or reconstruction following a hazard event such as the 2023 Lahaina wildfire. Property owners, designers and builders should evaluate building site and structure hazard exposure to ensure a multi-hazard approach to mitigation when possible.
This Technical Bulletin provides guidance on the National Flood Insurance Program floodplain management requirements for the design and construction of wet floodproofed buildings and structures in Special Flood Hazard Areas.
FEMA’s landmark study, “Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study,” shows that modern building codes lead to major reduction in property losses from natural disasters. The FEMA report calculates losses from three types of natural hazard (earthquakes, flooding, and hurricane winds) for each state and Washington, D.C.
Repair of damaged buildings is critical for community recovery after earthquake disasters, and in turn, for overall resilience. NEHRP has had statutory requirements to use research results, new knowledge, and lessons learned evidence to support the preparation, maintenance, and wide dissemination of seismic resistant design guidance for more than 40 years. The 1998 FEMA 306, 307, 308 suite of guidance, Evaluation of Earthquake Damaged Concrete and Masonry Wall Buildings, provided a groundbreaking framework for detailed engineering assessments of residual strength in earthquake damaged concrete wall buildings and set the state of practice for seismic structural engineering in the US for more than 20 years. This new document provides the next-generation methodology for assessing and repairing earthquake-damaged buildings. Findings and research completed in New Zealand after the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake, as well as new information and an evolving understanding of the effects of damage to structural components that have experienced strong shaking and their residual capacities for future earthquakes, prompted a review and update of the original FEMA documents. The result defines more accurate way of determining when only cosmetic repairs are needed, structural repairs are required for safety, and repairs and retrofit are required for safety. This work was conducted by highly respected members of the seismic structural engineering communities in the United States and New Zealand and has the potential to significantly reduce a community’s recovery time and costs after an earthquake disaster.
This fact sheet discusses urban flooding, a type of flooding that occurs in cities due to heavy rainfall and inadequate stormwater drainage systems. It highlights the risks associated with urban flooding, including safety risks and damage to buildings and occupants. The document also provides information on how building owners, tenants, and communities can take actions to minimize damage from urban flooding.
This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) following Hurricane Ian in Florida. The report provides observations on building performance, recommendations for mitigation and resilience, and technical guidance for stakeholders.
This fact sheet explains stormwater runoff and its impact on urbanized areas. It discusses the connection between surface runoff and stormwater drainage systems, and how storms are defined.
This report discusses strategies for reducing the effects of urban flooding in New York City. The report provides an overview of rainfall runoff and urban flooding basics, as well as the current state of stormwater infrastructure and initiatives in NYC. It also highlights the importance of increasing public awareness of urban flooding.
This report presents the findings of a mitigation assessment team (MAT) deployed to Florida in response to Hurricane Michael, which made landfall on October 10, 2018. The report provides observations on building performance during the hurricane, recommendations for improving building resilience, and technical guidance for policymakers and building professionals.
This Recovery Advisory outlines observations from Hurricane Ian in Florida, DR-4673-FL, that provide insights regarding building improvement opportunities. These recommendations are applicable to buildings experiencing similar issues and need not be limited to the state or disaster in which they were observed.