Storm & Security

SEASON FORECAST On May 22, the one-year anniversary of the Joplin, MO, tornado, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) report assessing building performance observations and including recommendations and technical guidance. The report sets forth the MAT performance assessments of structures affected by the tornadoes, investigations of safe room and storm shelter performance, and documented lessons learned to help mitigate the loss of life and damage to buildings from future tornado events. The MAT report is a com- pilation of input from a team of more than 200 design and construction experts from various industry groups, academic institutions, non-profit associa- tions, government agencies, and small businesses. The report presents the MAT observations with 47 conclusions, and 49 recommendations directed at improving public safety and building performance during tornado events. The report's conclusions include: • Failure to adopt a current version of code, or hav- ing no uniform code, leaves residential buildings vulnerable to wind damage. • Failure to adhere to the structural provisions of the model building code… can result in buildings that are vulnerable. continued WHAT STORMS TEACH US • Many of the critical facilities observed lacked safe rooms and/or storm shelters. • Voluntary implementation of better design and construction practices could mitigate damage. • Connections between primary structural members were often the initial point of failure. • Above-ground safe rooms performed as well as those below ground. • Safe rooms and storm shelters lacked tools to open or dismantle door if blocked. The report's recommendations include: • Adopt and enforce current model building codes. • Increase emphasis on code compliance. • Coordinate standards and guidance for storm shelters and safe room design. • Perform a vulnerability assessment for existing critical facilities. • Include safe rooms in design of new critical facilities. • Enhance building designs to beter withstand tornadoes, use design strategies and building materials that are used in hurricane-prone areas. The complete report can be downloaded at www.fema.gov/library.viewRecord.do?id=5633. 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Forecasts WRC CSU TWC AW NOAA Named Storms 8 10 11 12 Hurricanes 546 5 Major Hurricanes 22 2 9-15 4-8 1-3 Sources: WRC: Weather Research Center, issued March 26, 2012; CSU: Colorado State University forecast team, issued April 4, 2012; TWC: The Weather Channel, issued April 24, 2012; AW: Ac- cuWeather.com, issued April 2012; NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, issued May 24, 2012 12 STORM&SecURITy PROTecTION / 2012 FORECAST

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