"Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
Goal: Make Homes More Resistant to Natural Disasters
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
What are "smarter and safer" construction practices and home improvements?
"Smarter and safer" construction practices and home improvements incorporate building techniques and structures that make a home more resistant to disasters. These practices include: increasing the structural integrity of roof attachments, creating water barriers and seals to prevent property flooding, safe room construction, elevation of electrical systems, and the addition of storm windows and shutters. [1]
How can state and local governments and organizations promote and support "smarter and safer" construction and improvements?
State and local governments, nonprofit organizations and other entities can provide support and guidance to both builders and households to promote "smarter and safer" measures. Key steps include funding training, licensing and incentive programs to encourage builders, contractors and property managers to incorporate these practices into new construction, rehabilitation and upgrades that help reduce property damage and loss of human life resulting from natural disasters. It is also important to provide funding, incentives and training directly to homeowners for home upgrades that make their homes safer.
What areas can benefit most from these "smarter and safer" measures"?
Natural disasters of one form or another occur in all parts of the country, particularly storm-related disasters. Still, efforts to make home more resilient to these disasters likely have the greatest benefit where these storm-related disasters are most frequent and severe. Most storm-related natural disasters occur in areas of known high risk such as barrier islands, other coastal areas and flood plains. Because of this, the regions most at-risk are the southeast Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and parts of the Great Plains and Midwest.
What are the current and future risks of damage to these disaster-prone areas?
Because of changes in population and national wealth density over the last several decades, more people and infrastructure have become concentrated in disaster-prone areas, increasing the potential for loss of life and property. [2] In 2006, 34.9 million people were seriously threatened by Atlantic hurricanes, compared with 10.2 million people in 1950. Also, the frequency of major storms has been relatively high in recent years. In 2008 alone, there were 16 named tropical storms - eight of which were hurricanes - 1,700 tornadoes, widespread flooding due to winter storms, spring melts, tropical storms and other severe weather events. [3]
Additionally, climate change has increased the level and expanded the areas of risk by affecting weather patterns. This will likely change the nature of storms in the future and increase the potential for property damage, injuries and loss of lives. Storms are expected to become more intense, in terms of wind speeds and precipitation, increasing the potential for wind damage and flooding. In addition, existing storm -related hazards will be further aggravated by other effects of climate change. For example, due to rising sea levels, there will be a greater potential for floods, even if storm characteristics and patterns remain the same. There is also the threat of increased rainfall for inland areas, increasing flood risks there. [4]
[1] SmarterSafer.org
[2] U.S. Vulnerability to Natural Hazards. [PDF] Prepared for the 2009 Congressional Natural Hazards Caucus. By van der Vink et al. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University and New York, NY: IRIS.
[3] DisasterSafety.org
[4] Interview with Craig Tillman, president of WeatherPredict Consulting Inc.
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
What are "smarter and safer" construction practices and home improvements?
"Smarter and safer" construction practices and home improvements incorporate building techniques and structures that make a home more resistant to disasters. These practices include: increasing the structural integrity of roof attachments, creating water barriers and seals to prevent property flooding, safe room construction, elevation of electrical systems, and the addition of storm windows and shutters. [1]
How can state and local governments and organizations promote and support "smarter and safer" construction and improvements?
State and local governments, nonprofit organizations and other entities can provide support and guidance to both builders and households to promote "smarter and safer" measures. Key steps include funding training, licensing and incentive programs to encourage builders, contractors and property managers to incorporate these practices into new construction, rehabilitation and upgrades that help reduce property damage and loss of human life resulting from natural disasters. It is also important to provide funding, incentives and training directly to homeowners for home upgrades that make their homes safer.
What areas can benefit most from these "smarter and safer" measures"?
Natural disasters of one form or another occur in all parts of the country, particularly storm-related disasters. Still, efforts to make home more resilient to these disasters likely have the greatest benefit where these storm-related disasters are most frequent and severe. Most storm-related natural disasters occur in areas of known high risk such as barrier islands, other coastal areas and flood plains. Because of this, the regions most at-risk are the southeast Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and parts of the Great Plains and Midwest.
What are the current and future risks of damage to these disaster-prone areas?
Because of changes in population and national wealth density over the last several decades, more people and infrastructure have become concentrated in disaster-prone areas, increasing the potential for loss of life and property. [2] In 2006, 34.9 million people were seriously threatened by Atlantic hurricanes, compared with 10.2 million people in 1950. Also, the frequency of major storms has been relatively high in recent years. In 2008 alone, there were 16 named tropical storms - eight of which were hurricanes - 1,700 tornadoes, widespread flooding due to winter storms, spring melts, tropical storms and other severe weather events. [3]
Additionally, climate change has increased the level and expanded the areas of risk by affecting weather patterns. This will likely change the nature of storms in the future and increase the potential for property damage, injuries and loss of lives. Storms are expected to become more intense, in terms of wind speeds and precipitation, increasing the potential for wind damage and flooding. In addition, existing storm -related hazards will be further aggravated by other effects of climate change. For example, due to rising sea levels, there will be a greater potential for floods, even if storm characteristics and patterns remain the same. There is also the threat of increased rainfall for inland areas, increasing flood risks there. [4]
 Learn more about "smarter and safer" building and rehabilitation practices. Go back to learn about other policies that make homes more resistant to natural disasters. |
[1] SmarterSafer.org
[2] U.S. Vulnerability to Natural Hazards. [PDF] Prepared for the 2009 Congressional Natural Hazards Caucus. By van der Vink et al. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University and New York, NY: IRIS.
[3] DisasterSafety.org
[4] Interview with Craig Tillman, president of WeatherPredict Consulting Inc.
Goal: Make Homes more Resistant to Natural Disasters
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
What technologies and other practices can help working families protect their lives and homes from disasters?
For existing homes or homes being built in areas vulnerable to weather-related hazards, sound building or rehabilitation practices and effective retrofits and upgrades can provide substantial resistance to the damaging effects of natural disasters. There are a range of building, rehabilitation and retrofitting options that can make homes more resilient to high winds, heavy rains and floods. This includes strengthening roofs and windows for wind resistance; raising homes that lie in the floodplain or other vulnerable areas; creating mechanisms that help divert or mitigate the damage of flood waters; making homes more water resistance to rain and floods.
It is not enough for builders and homeowners to know about these building practices and measures. State and local governments must educate, encourage and set requirements for such practices among builders and homeowners. State and local entities can do so through public outreach, support of educational initiatives, and development and enforcement of better building codes and zoning/planning requirements.
This policy section focuses on the construction techniques, technologies and measures that can be implemented at the household level to improve a home's resilience to natural disasters. The section also provides some insight into the role state and local governments can play in promoting and supporting such measures.
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
What technologies and other practices can help working families protect their lives and homes from disasters?
For existing homes or homes being built in areas vulnerable to weather-related hazards, sound building or rehabilitation practices and effective retrofits and upgrades can provide substantial resistance to the damaging effects of natural disasters. There are a range of building, rehabilitation and retrofitting options that can make homes more resilient to high winds, heavy rains and floods. This includes strengthening roofs and windows for wind resistance; raising homes that lie in the floodplain or other vulnerable areas; creating mechanisms that help divert or mitigate the damage of flood waters; making homes more water resistance to rain and floods.
It is not enough for builders and homeowners to know about these building practices and measures. State and local governments must educate, encourage and set requirements for such practices among builders and homeowners. State and local entities can do so through public outreach, support of educational initiatives, and development and enforcement of better building codes and zoning/planning requirements.
This policy section focuses on the construction techniques, technologies and measures that can be implemented at the household level to improve a home's resilience to natural disasters. The section also provides some insight into the role state and local governments can play in promoting and supporting such measures.
Click on the links below to learn more about "smarter and safer" building and rehabilitation practices: Measures for mitigating flood damages Measures for mitigating severe wind and rain damageProviding education and training for making homes more resistant to disasters Click here to view other resources on making homes more resistant to natural disasters. |
Goal: Make Homes More Resistant to Natural Disasters
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
Measures for Mitigating Flood Damages
For areas where moderate floods occur, with low flows and no more than a few feet of water, techniques to "floodproof" a home are generally the most useful and cost effective measures. [1] There are two general types of floodproofing - "dry" and "wet."
Dry floodproofing involves procedures to help create waterproof or water-resistant seals around the exterior of home to prevent water from entering. These measures can include the installation of new brick veneer over asphalt coating or by applying polyethylene film over existing walls. Homeowners can also use sandbags outside their homes to divert minor storm water and debris flows. [2]
Wet floodproofing serves to make uninhabited parts of the home (i.e., garages, unfinished basements) resistant to flood damage. These measures allow water to enter during flooding. Flood vents, which create permanent openings in a home's foundation walls, are one example of wet floodproofing. Wet floodproofing procedures have a particular advantage in that they are often less costly than other retrofits and do not significantly affect the appearance of a home.
States and localities can both require and financially support major mitigation techniques, like elevation, in residential areas highly prone to major flooding. The city of Mandeville, Louisiana enforces strict residential building codes that require homeowners who have suffered severe flood damage to elevate their homes, but provides support to do so. Click here to leave this section and learn more about Mandeville's residential building codes and how improving residential building codes can help make homes more resistant to disasters.
[1] Interview with Jim Schwab, senior research associate at the American Planning Association.
[2] Federal Alliance for Safe Homes website
[3] Interview with Jim Schwab.
[4] Federal Alliance for Safe Homes website
[5] Interview with Jim Schwab.
[6] In Action -- The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program. [PDF] 2006. Washington, DC: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
Measures for Mitigating Flood Damages
For areas where moderate floods occur, with low flows and no more than a few feet of water, techniques to "floodproof" a home are generally the most useful and cost effective measures. [1] There are two general types of floodproofing - "dry" and "wet."
Dry floodproofing involves procedures to help create waterproof or water-resistant seals around the exterior of home to prevent water from entering. These measures can include the installation of new brick veneer over asphalt coating or by applying polyethylene film over existing walls. Homeowners can also use sandbags outside their homes to divert minor storm water and debris flows. [2]
Wet floodproofing serves to make uninhabited parts of the home (i.e., garages, unfinished basements) resistant to flood damage. These measures allow water to enter during flooding. Flood vents, which create permanent openings in a home's foundation walls, are one example of wet floodproofing. Wet floodproofing procedures have a particular advantage in that they are often less costly than other retrofits and do not significantly affect the appearance of a home.
| In areas where more serious flooding tends to occur, elevation is generally the most effective measure. [3] Elevation involves raising major home appliances (washer, dryer, furnace, water heater, air conditioning fans and compressors) and the electrical system (electric panel board, service lines, wiring, outlets) above the base flood elevation (or BFE - see box for an explanation). In areas that are prone to extreme flooding, elevation may involve raising the whole existing home or building a new home above the BFE. This type of overall elevation involves raising the lowest floor (including basement) to or above the BFE. Common techniques for this include elevation on file, elevation on piles, piers or columns, and elevation on extended foundation walls such as on a crawl space. [4] In order to provide a greater margin of safety, state and local flood management authorities often employ a practice called "freeboard." This is a required or recommended level of elevation for residential structures, expressed in a designated amount of feet above projected flood levels. This creates a margin of safety to compensate for the many unknown factors that could increase the height of floods above the BFE. | Base Flood Elevation The base flood elevation (BFE) refers to the estimated level of water associated with the "100-year flood." The "100-year flood" is a severe flood reaching or surpassing a certain water level that has a 1-percent chance of occurrence in any given year. Designated "100-year flood" areas form the basis for the National Flood Insurance Program rates and regulatory floodplain management. Click here to learn more about the "100-year flood" and the National Flood Insurance Program. |
States and localities can both require and financially support major mitigation techniques, like elevation, in residential areas highly prone to major flooding. The city of Mandeville, Louisiana enforces strict residential building codes that require homeowners who have suffered severe flood damage to elevate their homes, but provides support to do so. Click here to leave this section and learn more about Mandeville's residential building codes and how improving residential building codes can help make homes more resistant to disasters.
| Relocating Vulnerable Households For areas that are especially vulnerable to the effects of severe storms, particularly floods, relocating a home to or rebuilding a family's home in a safer location may be the only viable option. This is often the case when an existing home lies in an area that has been subject to frequent, severe storm hazards, and in some cases, rendered uninhabitable. Relocation usually involves two options. The first is the buyout of property owner. A federal, state or local government agency can either demolish the homes and pay residents to move or physically relocate home if feasible. After relocation, the former home site must be deeded over to the respective public entity to be converted into open space. [5] Several state and localities have used pre-disaster funding to institute such relocation programs. In 2003, the city of Birmingham, Alabama received a Predisaster Mitigation Grant grant through the state to purchase 65 flood vulnerable properties. Through the resulting effort, the city relocated 55 families. Following relocation, the city redeveloped the hazardous area where the homes were formerly located into permanent recreational parkland. [6] |
| You are currently reading: Measures for mitigating flood damages Other pages in this section: Measures for mitigating severe wind and rain damageProviding education and training for making homes more resistant to disasters Click here to view a list of key resources related to "smarter and safer" building and rehabilitation practices. |
[1] Interview with Jim Schwab, senior research associate at the American Planning Association.
[2] Federal Alliance for Safe Homes website
[3] Interview with Jim Schwab.
[4] Federal Alliance for Safe Homes website
[5] Interview with Jim Schwab.
[6] In Action -- The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program. [PDF] 2006. Washington, DC: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Goal: Make Homes More Resistant to Natural Disasters
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
Measures for Mitigating Severe Wind and Rain Damage
Severe winds are another storm-related hazard that can cause significant damage to homes. The wind itself can damage components of the home, particularly roofs, porches and other structures extending from the home. In addition, high winds can transform storm debris into missiles that can damage homes -- windows are particularly vulnerable to this kind of storm hazard.
There are several simpler, less expensive solutions that homeowners can do themselves. Namely, they can improve the connection between the roof deck/sheathing and roof framing and walls of the home. Homeowners can access this area of the roof through their attics. They can use relatively inexpensive connection hardware, such as metal connectors and clips, and adhesives to strengthen this vital connection in the roof. These simple techniques can improve the wind resistance of roofs by up to three times. These procedures can be especially useful for low- and moderate-income families who may not have the financial resources to pay for more expensive solutions.
Extremely high winds and flying debris can cause damage to windows. Just as with a damaged roof, damaged windows can leave the interior of the home more susceptible to wind and water damage. This can lead to destabilization and potentially total destruction of the house.
The most common and effective protection for windows is the installation of storm shutters. There are multiple types of storm shutters, including plywood shutters, metal panels, accordion shutters, colonial/swing shutters and electric roll down shutters. The appropriate type for a household depends on many factors including location of the home (which determines potential wind load/damage potential) and available budget of the household (due to the variable cost of the different shutter types. Another option is to install windows with wind-resistance glass. This solution may be done as an alternative to shutters or in addition to the use of shutters.
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
Measures for Mitigating Severe Wind and Rain Damage
Severe winds are another storm-related hazard that can cause significant damage to homes. The wind itself can damage components of the home, particularly roofs, porches and other structures extending from the home. In addition, high winds can transform storm debris into missiles that can damage homes -- windows are particularly vulnerable to this kind of storm hazard.
The roof is the structure often most susceptible to severe winds. Furthermore, major damage to the roof of the home makes the whole home more vulnerable to storm hazards, mainly in that it exposes the interior of the home to wind and rain. Generally, the most effective solutions to properly protecting the roof from extreme weather are expensive procedures that have to be done by professionals. This includes the installation of thicker, sturdier roof decks (also known as roof sheathing - the layer of the roof immediately beneath the roof covering) that are properly fastened to the roof framing (the rafters and trusses). In addition, the installation of secondary water barriers, beneath the roof covering (i.e., shingles, tiles, metal panels) and on top of the roof decking, helps keep rain water from entering the home if the roof covering is blown off. |
There are several simpler, less expensive solutions that homeowners can do themselves. Namely, they can improve the connection between the roof deck/sheathing and roof framing and walls of the home. Homeowners can access this area of the roof through their attics. They can use relatively inexpensive connection hardware, such as metal connectors and clips, and adhesives to strengthen this vital connection in the roof. These simple techniques can improve the wind resistance of roofs by up to three times. These procedures can be especially useful for low- and moderate-income families who may not have the financial resources to pay for more expensive solutions.
| State and Local Support for Disaster-Resistant Home Improvements States and localities can develop educational efforts to inform and encourage lower income families to make low-cost upgrades. State and local entities can also provide small grant programs or arrange programs in which other citizens can provide volunteer labor and materials to help these homeowners with upgrades and retrofits. State and local governments can also fund and encourage more substantial loan programs that aid low and moderate income homeowners in making more substantial disaster-resistant improvements to their homes. The state of Florida's My Safe Florida Home program provides grants to individual households to cover or defray the costs of retrofits. Click here to leave this site and learn more about the My Safe Florida Home program. |
Extremely high winds and flying debris can cause damage to windows. Just as with a damaged roof, damaged windows can leave the interior of the home more susceptible to wind and water damage. This can lead to destabilization and potentially total destruction of the house.
The most common and effective protection for windows is the installation of storm shutters. There are multiple types of storm shutters, including plywood shutters, metal panels, accordion shutters, colonial/swing shutters and electric roll down shutters. The appropriate type for a household depends on many factors including location of the home (which determines potential wind load/damage potential) and available budget of the household (due to the variable cost of the different shutter types. Another option is to install windows with wind-resistance glass. This solution may be done as an alternative to shutters or in addition to the use of shutters.
| Solutions in Action |
| There are some notable online resources to provide information and instruction to homeowners looking to make their homes more resistant to disaster. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) provides online guide for homeowners with instructional videos and interactive guides. FLASH's Blueprint for Safety educational program provides advanced training courses for builders, engineers, architects and other residential construction professionals in addition to an online construction, renovation and rehab guide. The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) provides safe building resources for homeowners and construction professionals through its website DisasterSafety.org. The website includes a guide for specific home upgrades called the Fortified...for safer living program, which offers a package of upgrades and retrofits that greatly increase a new home's resistance to hurricanes and other disasters. |
| You are currently reading: Measures for mitigating severe wind and rain damage Other pages in this section: Measures for mitigating flood damagesProvide education and training for making homes more resistant to disasters Click here to view a list of key resources related to "smarter and safer" building and rehabilitation practices. |
Goal: Make Homes More Resistant to Natural Disasters
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
Provide Education and Training for Making Homes More Resistant to Disasters
State and local governments, nonprofit organizations and other entities can provide support and guidance to both builders and households to promote "smarter and safer" measures. Key steps include funding training, licensing and incentive programs to encourage builders, contractors and property managers to incorporate these practices into new construction, rehabilitation and upgrades that help reduce property damage and loss of human life resulting from natural disasters. It is also important to provide funding, incentives and training directly to homeowners for home upgrades that make their homes safer.
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
Provide Education and Training for Making Homes More Resistant to Disasters
State and local governments, nonprofit organizations and other entities can provide support and guidance to both builders and households to promote "smarter and safer" measures. Key steps include funding training, licensing and incentive programs to encourage builders, contractors and property managers to incorporate these practices into new construction, rehabilitation and upgrades that help reduce property damage and loss of human life resulting from natural disasters. It is also important to provide funding, incentives and training directly to homeowners for home upgrades that make their homes safer.
| State and local governments can be directly involved in training and education for making homes safer. The South Carolina Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program, also known as the SC Safe Home Program, provides home disaster mitigation training sessions as well as free symposia that educate builders, contractors, homeowners and property managers on construction, retrofitting and other measures to help make homes more resilient to natural disasters. In addition, these sessions provide information on state income tax credits and other financial benefits that are available to homeowners who upgrade their homes. These sessions also provide continuing education opportunities for other professionals involved with housing, such as realtors, insurance agents, building code enforcement officers and floodplain managers. In addition to providing and supporting education and training, it is also important for state and local governments to provide financing and incentives for homeowners and developers to actually implement these smarter and safer building practices and measures. Funding and incentives are particularly important for lower income families and developers of housing for these lower income families. There are many funding tools available at the federal, state and local levels in the form of grants, tax credits and low-cost loans. Click here to learn more about financing efforts to make homes resistant to disasters. | Funding Education and Training States and localities governments can also fund organizations that provide home disaster mitigation training and education. The Florida Department of Community Affairs provided grants to the Federal Alliance for Safer Homes (FLASH) to develop the Blueprint for Safety program which provides extensive online resources as well formal training sessions for builders, contractors and other residential construction professionals. Click here to learn more about Blueprint for Safety. |
| You are currently reading: Provide education and training for making homes more resistant to disasters Other pages in this section: Measures for mitigating flood damagesMeasures for mitigating severe wind and rain damageClick here to view a list of key resources related to "smarter and safer" building and rehabilitation practices. |
Goal: Make Homes More Resistant to Natural Disasters
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
Key Resources
The following is a list of key resources on topics related to making homes more resistant to natural disasters. If you're aware of other resources that should be added, please contact us.
Issue Briefs
Making Homes More Resistant to Natural Disasters
This issue brief provides an overview of the measures households, builders and contractors can take to construct, renovate or retrofit homes to make them more resistant to natural disasters. In addition the brief gives an overview of community-level planning strategies and regulatory enhancements that can help protect homes and residents from disasters.
Financing Efforts to Make Homes More Resistant to Natural Disasters
This issue brief describes federal and state programs and resources available for making homes more resistant to natural disasters. There is a particular focus on new programs geared toward financing disaster resistance for multifamily properties and the homes of lower income families.
Linking Efforts to Improve Disaster Resistance and Energy Efficiency of Homes
Measures that promote disaster resistance in homes have close links to those that promote energy efficiency. Therefore, home construction and retrofits serving both purposes can be installed at the same time. This issue brief explores new and potential future funding and incentives programs that enhance both the energy efficiency and disaster resistance of homes.
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Websites
Blueprint for Safety
An educational program of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, the mission of Blueprint for Safety is to provide residential builders and citizens with accurate, current and reliable information about how to make homes more disaster-resistant.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - Disaster Resources
This site is the landing page for information on HUD's disaster-related programs and resources. It also provides information and links to the programs and resources of its partners related to home disaster resistance for low- and moderate-income families.
Disaster Recovery Working Group
A collaborative chaired by the Secretaries of Homeland Security (DHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), composed of the Secretaries and Administrators of more than 20 departments, agencies and offices. This strategic initiative, initiated by the President, will provide operational guidance for recovery organizations as well as make suggestions for future improvement.
Federal Alliance for Safe for Safe Homes (FLASH)
A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting disaster safety and property loss mitigation. FLASH focuses on safety, property protection and economic well-being by strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA is the federal government agency in charge of helping communities across the country prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.FEMA works in partnership with other organizations that are part of the nation's emergency management system, including state and local emergency management agencies, 27 federal agencies and the American Red Cross.
Institute for Business and Home Safety
An organization that conducts research and advocates for improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices for hazards affecting homes and businesses. IBHS' website, DisasterSafety.org, is a service to homeowners and small business owners to help disseminate information on reducing property losses and improving safety.
My Safe Florida Home
A program created in 2006 by the state of Florida to provide free hurricane mitigation inspections for single-family homes and grants to households to fund mitigation retrofits. The program generally targets low- and moderate-income households.
SC Safe Home
Formally known as the South Carolina Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program, the program offers grants for state residents to strengthen their homes against the damaging effects of high winds from hurricanes and severe storms. The Program was established by the Omnibus Insurance Reform Act of 2007.
SmarterSafer
A national coalition of consumer advocacy, taxpayer, environmental and insurance industry groups in favor of environmentally responsible, fiscally sound approaches to natural catastrophe policy that promote public safety. The coalition advocates legislation that gives homeowners incentives for, and assistance in, protecting their homes.
WeatherPredict
This organization focuses on modeling atmospheric hazards and vulnerability. WeatherPredict provides intelligence on weather-related catastrophic events to a range of different entities.
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Reports
Potential Cost Savings from the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program. [PDF] 2007. Washington, DC: Congressional Budget Office.
Building for Disaster Mitigation. January/February 2000. By Christina B. Farnsworth. Home Energy Magazine Online.
In Action -- The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program. [PDF] 2006. Washington, DC: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Benefits of Modern Wind Resistant Building Codes on Hurricane Claim Frequency. [PDF] 2004. Tampa, FL: Institute for Business & Home Safety.
FEMA's Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program: Overview and Issues. [PDF] 2009. By Francis X. McCarthy and Natalie Keegan. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Office.
Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: An Independent Study to Assess the Future Savings from Mitigation Activities, Volume 1 -- Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations. [PDF] 2005. Multihazard Mitigation Council. Washington, DC: National Institute of Building Sciences.
Resilient Coasts: A Blueprint for Action. [PDF]. 2009. Washington, DC: The Heinz Center and Boston, MA: Ceres.
Back to top
Return to the Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices main page.
Policy: Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices
Key Resources
The following is a list of key resources on topics related to making homes more resistant to natural disasters. If you're aware of other resources that should be added, please contact us.
Issue Briefs
Making Homes More Resistant to Natural Disasters
This issue brief provides an overview of the measures households, builders and contractors can take to construct, renovate or retrofit homes to make them more resistant to natural disasters. In addition the brief gives an overview of community-level planning strategies and regulatory enhancements that can help protect homes and residents from disasters.
Financing Efforts to Make Homes More Resistant to Natural Disasters
This issue brief describes federal and state programs and resources available for making homes more resistant to natural disasters. There is a particular focus on new programs geared toward financing disaster resistance for multifamily properties and the homes of lower income families.
Linking Efforts to Improve Disaster Resistance and Energy Efficiency of Homes
Measures that promote disaster resistance in homes have close links to those that promote energy efficiency. Therefore, home construction and retrofits serving both purposes can be installed at the same time. This issue brief explores new and potential future funding and incentives programs that enhance both the energy efficiency and disaster resistance of homes.
Back to top
Websites
Blueprint for Safety
An educational program of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, the mission of Blueprint for Safety is to provide residential builders and citizens with accurate, current and reliable information about how to make homes more disaster-resistant.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - Disaster Resources
This site is the landing page for information on HUD's disaster-related programs and resources. It also provides information and links to the programs and resources of its partners related to home disaster resistance for low- and moderate-income families.
Disaster Recovery Working Group
A collaborative chaired by the Secretaries of Homeland Security (DHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), composed of the Secretaries and Administrators of more than 20 departments, agencies and offices. This strategic initiative, initiated by the President, will provide operational guidance for recovery organizations as well as make suggestions for future improvement.
Federal Alliance for Safe for Safe Homes (FLASH)
A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting disaster safety and property loss mitigation. FLASH focuses on safety, property protection and economic well-being by strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA is the federal government agency in charge of helping communities across the country prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.FEMA works in partnership with other organizations that are part of the nation's emergency management system, including state and local emergency management agencies, 27 federal agencies and the American Red Cross.
Institute for Business and Home Safety
An organization that conducts research and advocates for improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices for hazards affecting homes and businesses. IBHS' website, DisasterSafety.org, is a service to homeowners and small business owners to help disseminate information on reducing property losses and improving safety.
My Safe Florida Home
A program created in 2006 by the state of Florida to provide free hurricane mitigation inspections for single-family homes and grants to households to fund mitigation retrofits. The program generally targets low- and moderate-income households.
SC Safe Home
Formally known as the South Carolina Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program, the program offers grants for state residents to strengthen their homes against the damaging effects of high winds from hurricanes and severe storms. The Program was established by the Omnibus Insurance Reform Act of 2007.
SmarterSafer
A national coalition of consumer advocacy, taxpayer, environmental and insurance industry groups in favor of environmentally responsible, fiscally sound approaches to natural catastrophe policy that promote public safety. The coalition advocates legislation that gives homeowners incentives for, and assistance in, protecting their homes.
WeatherPredict
This organization focuses on modeling atmospheric hazards and vulnerability. WeatherPredict provides intelligence on weather-related catastrophic events to a range of different entities.
Back to top
Reports
Potential Cost Savings from the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program. [PDF] 2007. Washington, DC: Congressional Budget Office.
Building for Disaster Mitigation. January/February 2000. By Christina B. Farnsworth. Home Energy Magazine Online.
In Action -- The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program. [PDF] 2006. Washington, DC: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Benefits of Modern Wind Resistant Building Codes on Hurricane Claim Frequency. [PDF] 2004. Tampa, FL: Institute for Business & Home Safety.
FEMA's Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program: Overview and Issues. [PDF] 2009. By Francis X. McCarthy and Natalie Keegan. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Office.
Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: An Independent Study to Assess the Future Savings from Mitigation Activities, Volume 1 -- Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations. [PDF] 2005. Multihazard Mitigation Council. Washington, DC: National Institute of Building Sciences.
Resilient Coasts: A Blueprint for Action. [PDF]. 2009. Washington, DC: The Heinz Center and Boston, MA: Ceres.
Back to top
Return to the Promote "Smarter and Safer" Building and Rehabilitation Practices main page.