Storm & Security

IN/BOX Coastal Construction Course Added to FEMA Emergency Management Institute The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute for engineers, architects and building code and floodplain management officials will present Course EO386, Residential Coastal Construction, August 18 to 21 at its National Emergency Training Center, Emmitsburg, MD. The four-day course is designed to train participants on FEMA's Coastal Construction Manual, the primary reference for planning, designing and constructing residential struc- tures in various coastal environments. The goal of the course is to help those taking it to understand the differences in design requirements and expected performance between coastal construction and inland construction, understand the significance and lessons of historical coastal events, and be able to describe minimum requirements and best practices for coastal construction. Those interested in taking the course must complete a FEMA general admissions application and submit it by July 21. More information on applying for Emergency Management Institute courses can be found at http://training.fema.gov/Apply/ 2015 I-Codes Available The 2015 International Codes (I-Codes) is available from the International Code Council (ICC). Many 2015 I-Code sections have been reworded or reorganized to clarify requirements so they can be applied consistently, ICC states. The 2015 I-Codes address design and installation of innovative materials and encourage the use of new and smarter technological advances, it adds. "The 2015 International Codes reflect the most ad- vanced building science construction methods and practices available," says ICC CEO Dominic Sims, CBO. "The I-Codes are a comprehensive and coordinated family of codes that support the construction industry to achieve resiliency, safety, innovation and affordability in the built environment." Code users can select from soft cover, loose leaf, eBook or PDF download formats. A new feature added to the 2015 I-Codes in PDF is the Redline version. This new component, included with every 2015 I-Code download purchase, displays deletions and revisions in red and blue type allowing the reader to quickly spot changes and determine the specifics of each change. This option requires a PDF reader and can be used on mobile devices. FEMA Mitigation Funds Offered The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering $112 million in grant funds through its Hazard Mitigation Assistance program. The grants provide money to states, tribes, territories and local governments for eligible mitigation activities to reduce disaster losses and protect lives and property from future disaster damages. Part of the money will be available through the Pre- Disaster Mitigation program. This grant provides funds on an annual basis for hazard mitigation planning and the imple- mentation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster. The goal is to reduce overall risk to the population and structures, while also reducing reliance on federal funding from actual disaster declarations. The 2014 Pre-Disaster Mitigation grants focus on implementing sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation. ICC's Building Safety Month a Success The International Code Council (ICC) reports its Building Safety Month, a public awareness campaign offered each year to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create and sustain safe and sustainable structures, was a success. This year's campaign resulted in a large number of news clips in local consumer media that highlighted areas celebrating Building Safety Month by issuing proclamations and holding public outreach events. Building Safety Month news releases are reaching more than 90,000 consumers a week, ICC states. It estimates that Building Safety Month made more than one million impressions, raising the profile of code officials and telling the story of the importance of code compliance. For the last 34 years the 50,000 worldwide members of the ICC have celebrated advances in constructing safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient buildings and homes. The ongoing support of Building Safety Month and the important role code officials play in public safety in the built environment comes from the president of the United States, governors, mayors, county executives and other government officials and construction industry professionals. ICC Board President Stephen D. Jones, CBO, states, "Recognizing building officials and design professionals for their commitment to public safety raises the profile of building safety professionals everywhere and helps us realize our goal of creating safe, sustainable, resilient and more affordable communities." 6 STORM & SECURITY PROTECTION / FORECAST 2014

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