You are not on the FEMA website.  TOUCH FEMA home to go to the FEMA official website.

[CONSERVATIONTECH.COM-Home]     [ FEMA home (www.FEMA.gov) | FEMA Library (www.fema.gov/library/index.jsp)]

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

Reinforce Cripple Walls

If a cripple wall is not braced adequately, it can shift during an earthquake. To brace a cripple wall, add horizontal or diagonal blocking between the vertical studs at the top and bottom of the cripple wall. Plywood can also be anchored to the interior face of the cripple wall, as well as to the sill plate below the foundation to increase its strength. 

Effectiveness:

  • Somewhat effective.

Limitations:

  • Confinement in the crawl space may limit ability to perform this mitigation.

 

 

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