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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

APPENDIX A:

REGULATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS

Significant regulations and issues, identified by symbols that should be considered when developing one of the projects identified in this Handbook are identified below. It is solely the project proponent's responsibility to ensure that all applicable codes and standards are met, regardless if they are identified in this Handbook.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

All federal agencies must consider the effects of federally-funded projects upon the environment as required by NEPA. Some projects may have an impact on the environment and may require further investigation to determine the extent of any impacts.

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)

NHPA strives to protect our nation's heritage, and requires the review of any project that affects a structure 50 years or older that may be on (or eligible for) the Federal Register of Historic Places, or that affects a site which may contain artifacts of archaeological or cultural significance. For certain projects affecting historic properties, FEMA may need to consult with the State or Tribal Historic Preservation Office to determine whether any additional action or mitigation is necessary.

Project May be Cost-Prohibitive

Before an mitigation measure is undertaken, it is important to determine its likely cost, as some measures, particularly for earthquake hazard mitigation, can be of large cost relative to the replacement cost of a building because of the need for work on structural elements that must be exposed, requiring much demolition and reconstruction.

Maintenance Required to Maintain Effectiveness
Actions may require significant and/or continuous maintenance. This consideration applies particularly to such items as base-isolation and superstructure damping that use engineered devices which are designed to move in an earthquake, more than it does to static elements such as steel braces, or reinforced concrete shear walls.

Professional Engineer Required for Design
An engineer should be consulted or hired to develop and/or approve the actions identified by this symbol. This consideration applies to almost all work that will affect a facility's structure.

Structure's Aesthetics Could be Impacted
Actions identified by this symbol may affect the structure's appearance and/or aesthetic value. This issue should be considered for all facilities, particularly those of historical and architectural significance.

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