FEMA Building Code Adoption Losses Avoided Studies

To demonstrate risk reduction from disaster‐resistant building codes, FEMA assigned AECOM to develop practical losses avoided studies (LAS) using HAZUS, FEMA’s popular GIS‐based community loss modeling platform. HAZUS quantifies impacts to structures, contents, infrastructure systems and economic sectors for flood, wind and seismic hazards. The engineering basis of HAZUS allows simulation of improved disaster performance from strengthened hazard provisions in the International Building Codes (I‐Codes) launched in 2000. Particular structure types and features are modeled for residential, commercial and industrial. HAZUS LAS results quantify how Post‐2000 construction under I‐Codes reduces community, state and regional risk.

This case study is one of a series produced by members of ARISE, the UNISDR Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies.