Friday, June 7, 2013

Announcing the release of Hurricane Sandy Recovery Advisories and Fact Sheets!

Announcing the Release of Hurricane Sandy Recovery Advisories and Fact Sheets!

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Science Branch would like to announce that the remaining two of seven Recovery Advisories (RAs) and two Fact Sheets, written specifically for areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, have been released.  The advisories and Fact Sheets were produced by FEMA to describe mitigation measures that can be used to minimize future flood damage to buildings. These guidance documents are based on field observations conducted by the FEMA Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) deployed to evaluate the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. There will be a total of seven RAs.

The full set of seven RAs that have been released can now be accessed and downloaded for free from the FEMA Library at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=6994.  Links to download each of the Fact Sheets are provided below.

Please see below for a description of the two recently released advisories and Fact Sheets.

RA No. 5, Designing for Flood Levels Above the BFE After Hurricane Sandy

This RA describes the lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy flood damage incurred in New York and New Jersey and how it can be used in repair and reconstruction efforts to make buildings more resistant to future flood damage. The advisory provides information on understanding flood risk and Flood Insurance Rate Maps, describes what happens when floodwaters exceed the level of a building’s lowest floor elevation, and recommends design and construction practices to reduce the likelihood of flood damage in the event that flood levels exceed the base flood elevation (BFE). Information on design and construction in Coastal A Zones is included, along with information on Advisory BFEs, recommendations on how to design for future conditions, and the effect of building elevation on flood insurance premiums, including changes implemented by the recently passed Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.

RA No. 7, Reducing Flood Risk and Flood Insurance Premiums for Existing Residential Buildings

This RA provides information on potential mitigation measures for buildings located in areas subject to coastal flooding that did not incur Substantial Damage during Hurricane Sandy and are not undergoing Substantial Improvement. However, the information in this advisory may also be useful to homes that incurred Substantial Damage. The advisory describes NFIP requirements and numerous mitigation actions to make a home more compliant with the requirements. Homes retrofitted with the measures outlined in this advisory will have a reduced potential for future flood damage and may result in reduced flood insurance premiums for homeowners.

Fact Sheet, Cleaning Flooded Buildings

This Fact Sheet builds on information provided in FEMA’s Recovery Advisory, Initial Restoration for Flooded Buildings (2005), prepared after Hurricane Katrina. It offers information on correctly cleaning and drying buildings that were not adequately cleaned and dried shortly after the Hurricane Sandy flooding. The advisory describes the selection and application of appropriate cleaners as well as the equipment and process needed to properly dry the building prior to any restoration efforts. This Fact Sheet can be downloaded from http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=7128.

Fact Sheet, Foundation Requirements and Recommendations for Elevated Homes

This Fact Sheet is intended to assist architects, buildings, code officials, planners, and engineers with reconstruction and new construction to create elevated flood-resistant homes. This Fact Sheet includes a description of basic NFIP criteria as they relate to flood insurance rates, as well as design guidance for restoration projects involving existing elevated homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The renovation challenges faced by many of these homes due to their location on constrained building lots or need to elevate a closed-foundation home on an open foundation are addressed.  This Fact Sheet can be downloaded from http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=7463.

The Hurricane Sandy MAT Report, currently scheduled for completion in September 2013 will present the MAT’s observations, conclusions, and subsequent recommendations based on its post-disaster damage assessments conducted in New Jersey and New York in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The report will include sections on single- and multi-family residential buildings, mid- and high-rise buildings, commercial and critical facilities, and historic structures.

Should you have any questions or comments related to the Hurricane Sandy RAs, please contact John Ingargiola of the Building Science Branch (john.ingargiola@fema.dhs.gov) or the Building Science Helpline (866)- 927-2104 or FEMA-Buildingsciencehelp@fema.dhs.gov).

Please visit the Building Science Branch homepage for additional multi-hazard mitigation information and resources. Be sure to also visit Hurricane Sandy – Building Science Activities & Resources


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