Multiple federal agencies this month initiated new policies to make buildings in the U.S. more resilient to natural disasters.
Among the initiatives announced by the Obama Administration were:
- Incorporation of resilient building codes into U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Agriculture housing programs
- Updates to the 2005 Multihazard Mitigation Council Mitigation Saves study by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Institute of Building Sciences
- A disaster deductible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance program
- Climate change risk screening for the General Services Administration's capital investment leasing program
- Tornado-resilient codes and standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Resilient building codes from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Related Stories
Seismic Design | Jul 28, 2016
Risk of man-made earthquakes now factor in seismic hazard analysis
Significant risk increases seen in some areas of the U.S.
Resiliency | Jul 27, 2016
New York’s resilience plans not taking long-term view, critics charge
Continued waterfront development may be regretted later this century.
Resiliency | Jul 18, 2016
Impact fees on development proposed to fund Miami’s rising sea level resiliency plans
$400 million flood plan includes new valves, pumps, and raised roadways.
Green | May 31, 2016
Miami Beach requires developers to meet green standards or pay a fee
Applies to structures larger than 7,000 sf.
Resiliency | May 12, 2016
Resilience Building Coalition releases progress report
The coalition released a set of guiding principles to help the building industry adopt resilient design and policies. Since the initial signing, the coalition has added 19 new signatories.
Architects | May 11, 2016
AIA to create a resilience curriculum for architects
The program will teach resilient design and decision-making on hazard mitigation, climate adaptation and community resilience.
Legislation | May 11, 2016
Two bills seek to expand flood insurance policy writing to private carriers
Thanks to new floodplain maps, this market, previously the sole province of a federal program, looks more profitable.
Resiliency | May 2, 2016
Connecticut to develop new code standards for resiliency
Expected more frequent severe weather events due to climate change prompts review.
Resiliency | Apr 6, 2016
Houston at high risk for major damage from hurricanes
After a decade of study, little has been done to improve resiliency.
Resiliency | Mar 24, 2016
HGA and Perkins+Will join National Resilience Initiative Network
The Minneapolis offices of the two firms will partner with the University of Minnesota College of Design in the Upper Midwest hub of the NRI network.
