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How can new technology help keep homes safe from major disaster risks: earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, flooding, or extreme weather?
The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters over the past decade underscores the need for actions that reduce the threat hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms, floods, and fires impose on America's economy and the safety of its citizens. By combining new building technologies with quality construction practices, the threat of loss of life and property due to natural disasters can be greatly reduced.
PATH's vision includes the goal of reducing by at least 10% the risk of loss of life, injury, and property from natural hazards in the future. Working with other government agencies and insurance professionals, PATH explores strategies for solving critical issues facing the housing industry by promoting stronger, quality housing that can withstand natural disasters.
PATH partner Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)has many activities and information to help users make appropriate disaster risk mitigation choices.
PATH Tools
*NEW* Flood Recovery Recommendations
*NEW* PATH Technologies for Hurricane Resistance and Reconstruction
Assessment of Damage to Single-Family Homes Caused by Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki , 1993
This document identifies measures for improving the wind-resistant qualities of the single-family housing stock. Note: This technical document is most relevant to housing researchers. Because of the file size, a fast internet connection is recommended.
Field Evaluations
Builder sites where PATH assesses and evaluates technologies being used in housing.
Homeowner's Insurance as a Tool for the Adoption of Innovation January 2001
Evaluates whether the decision to construct a home that uses technology to mitigate damage from insured events can result in discounted insurance premiums for homeowners.
In-Plane Shear Resistance of Insulating Concrete Form Walls
The efficient use of shear walls in residential construction subjected to wind and seismic loading is of great interest to designers and builders of homes in high hazard areas of the United States. The purpose of this research program was to evaluate the performance and predictability of concrete shear walls constructed with the three major ICFs used in residential construction: flat, waffle-grid, and screen-grid.
Northridge Earthquake Effect on Manufactured Housing in California June 1994
This report describes the results of an investigation into the nature of manufactured home failures caused by the January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake.
PATH Technologies that Benefit Fire Reconstruction Efforts in California
Technologies to increase the fire resistance of the home or development, reduce the time it will take to redevelop and rebuild, reduce the cost of rebuilding. Some of these technologies even increase earthquake resistance.
Reliability of Conventional Residential Construction: An Assessment of Roof Component Performance in Hurricane Andrew and Typical Wind Regions of the United States January 1999
In this study, the experience of conventional residential construction is evaluated with respect to the performance of roof components and the risks associated with the actions of wind.
The Guideline on Fire Ratings of Archaic Materials and Assemblies February 2000
Compilation of fire ratings from earlier sources for a wide variety of materials and assemblies found in buildings from the nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries.
ToolBase
ToolBase is the housing industry's resource for technical information on building products, materials, new technologies, business management, and housing systems.
Wind-Borne Debris: Impact Resistance of Residential Glazing January 2002
The objective of this research was to provide needed data on the fragility (i.e., impact magnitude vs. glass breakage probability) of typical residential glass using field-observed and standardized missile types representing wind-borne debris.
Content updated on 10/29/2004