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WEB-BASED HANDBOOK (Legacy Edition). CLICK HERE to submit comments.
Because of staff changes and Randolph Langenbach's retirement from FEMA, these handbooks were never published on the FEMA website.  These are the only copies available.

 FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION
 HANDBOOK SERIES

-----HOME PAGE-----

 

 EARTHQUAKE HANDBOOK
________________________________ 
 
    Introduction
 
     Symbols and Keywords
 
 I.       BUILDING STRUCTURES
     A.    Introduction

    B.    Intro to Seismic Upgrading

    C.    Structural Concepts  

        C1. Technical Commentary (1)

        C2. Technical Commentary (2)

    D.    Step 1: Risk Assessment

        D1. Upgrade Priority

        D2. Geographical Risk

        D3. Building Structural Types

        D4. Year of Construction

        D5. Load-path Assets+Debits

        D6. Rapid Visual Survey Sheet
     E.    Step 2: Mitigation Measures

 

II.      UTILITY SYSTEMS

    A.     Introduction

    B.     Utility Mitigation Measures

 

 Appendices
     A.      Regulations
     B.      Glossary
     C.      Acronyms
     D.      References
     E.      List of Contributors

Chapter 1: Buildings

1B: RISK ASSESSMENT - Seismic Hazard

National and Local Geological Seismic Risk Screen

i. Seismic Hazard Screen-See national map (FEMA 154)

ii. Soil Site Clasification

FEMA 310 [replacement of FEMA 178] and FEMA 368 NEHRP Recommended Provisions for Seismic Regulations for New Buildings and Other Structures, 2000 Edition define the following [abbreviated version soil classifications - full descriptions in FEMA 310 Section 3.5.2.3.1 and in FEMA 368 Section 4.1.2.1].  Seismic hazard due to ground shaking can be estimated by analyzing the location of the building with respect to causative faults, the regional and site-specific geologic characteristics, and a selected Earthquake Hazard Level.  However, other seismic hazards could exist at the building site that could damage the building regardless of its ability to resist ground shaking. These hazards include fault rupture, liquefaction or other shaking-induced soil failures, landslides, and inundation from offsite effects such as dam failure or tsunami.

  • Site class A - Hard rock with measured shear wave velocity greater than 5,000 ft/sec.

  • Site class B - Rock with shear wave velocity between 2,500 and 5,000 ft/sec

  • Site class C - Very dense soil or soft rock [velocity between 1,200 and 2,500 ft/sec]

  • Site class D - Stiff soil [velocity between 600 and 1,200 ft/sec]

  • Site class E - Soil profile with velocity less than 600 ft/sec

  • Site class F - Soils require site-specific evaluations [liquefiable, peats, high plasticity, or very thick soft/medium clays.

Return to RISK ASSESSMENT list
 

NOTE:  None of the mitigation measures in these Handbooks should be considered ‘pre-approved’ or otherwise automatically eligible for FEMA funding. Only FEMA staff can determine eligibility, once they have determined that an applicant is eligible and they have reviewed a project proposal.

FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION HANDBOOKS                                                                        Updated: June 13, 2002