|
Documents produced by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), and others provide essential information to floodplain managers, engineers, surveyors, and architects involved in mitigation and reconstruction activities in the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi. These documents, linked below, are separated into the following categories:
State Publications
MEMA has produced numerous useful publications, including the following:
- The State Hazard Mitigation Plan provides a statewide perspective on how to address natural hazards (i.e., floods, earthquakes, dam failures, hurricanes/tropical storms, tornados, severe winter weather).
Back to top
Gulf Coast Region Documents
Interested floodplain managers, engineers, surveyors, architects and others may obtain CD-ROM and printed paper copies of the documents described and linked below by contacting the call center in Biloxi from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday at 1-866-816-2804 (toll-free number).
This Fact Sheet, in question-and-answer format, provides an overview on how to use the ABFEs for floodplain management purposes.
- Chapter 9,“Mitigation Successes and Best Practices,” FEMA 549, Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Building Performance Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, July 2006. PDF [9.46MB] TXT [14.6K]
This chapter from FEMA 549 provides examples of successful mitigation projects and best practices, including acquisition, elevation, and wind retrofit projects; higher regulatory standards issued by local jurisdictions; and other best practices.
- Appendix E,“FEMA Hurricane Katrina Recovery Advisories,” FEMA 549, Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Building Performance Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, July 2006. PDF [14.2MB] TXT [94.7K]
This Appendix from FEMA 549 includes a series of Recovery Advisories intended to guide design, construction, and restoration of buildings in areas that were subject to coastal flooding and high winds from Hurricane Katrina.
- Appendix J, “Pre- and Post-Disaster Mitigation of Historic Buildings,” FEMA 549, Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Building Performance Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, July 2006.
PDF [664K] TXT [15.1K]
Throughout the Gulf Coast region, old buildings can be further weakened from storms, which can have a long-term toll beyond the immediate wreckage. Pre-hazard mitigation techniques that can benefit building owners and the community in various ways and to varying degrees are discussed in Appendix J from FEMA 549. Appendix J also discusses post-event mitigation measures that can be taken to lessen the primary damage to historic buildings caused by immersion
of building materials in floodwaters, the moving force of which can cause structural collapse; storm and sanitary sewer backup during flooding; and fire due to ruptured utility lines; growth of mold and mildew; and swelling, warping, and disintegration of materials because of prolonged presence of moisture.
- FEMA 550, Recommended Residential Construction for the Gulf Coast: Building on Strong and Safe Foundations, July 2006. PDF [85.5MB] TXT [283K]
This design manual provides recommended foundation designs and guidance for rebuilding homes destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast. This manual also provides guidance in designing and building safer and less vulnerable homes to reduce the risk to life and property.
Back to top
Coastal Construction Fact Sheets
The Fact Sheets linked below are available in CD form as FEMA 499-CD, Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series, dated August 2005, and may be ordered by calling the call center in Biloxi from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central time Monday through Friday at 1-866-816-2804 (toll-free number).
- Fact Sheet No. 1,“Coastal Building Successes and Failures”— This Fact Sheet explains how coastal construction requirements differ from those for inland construction, and discusses the characteristics that make for a successful coastal residential building. It also includes design and construction recommendations for achieving building success. PDF [1.77MB] TXT [8.63K]
- Fact Sheet No. 2, “Summary of Coastal Construction Requirements and Recommendations”— This Fact Sheet summarizes NFIP regulatory requirements for new construction and for repairs, remodeling, and additions, and presents recommendations for exceeding those requirements in some instances.
PDF [3.65MB] TXT [6.29K]
- Fact Sheet No. 3, “Using a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) ”— This Fact Sheet explains the purpose of FIRMs; highlights features of a FIRM that are important to coastal builders, including flood insurance risk zones and flood elevations; and explains how to obtain FIRMs. PDF [2.58MB] TXT [6.86K]
- Fact Sheet No. 4, “Lowest Floor Elevation”— This Fact Sheet defines “lowest floor,” discusses benefits of exceeding the NFIP minimum building elevation requirements, points out common construction practices that are violations of NFIP regulations, and discusses the NFIP Elevation Certificate. PDF [3.09MB] TXT [5.51K]
- Fact Sheet No. 5, “V-Zone Design and Construction Certification” ”— This Fact Sheet explains the certification requirements for structural design and construction in V zones, including instructions for completing a sample certificate. PDF [2.88MB] TXT [3.76K]
- Fact Sheet No. 6, “How Do Siting and Design Decisions Affect the Owner’s Costs?” ”— This Fact Sheet discusses the effects of planning, siting, and design decisions on coastal home costs. Topics include initial, operating, and long-term costs; risk determination; and the effect of meeting and exceeding code and NFIP design and construction requirements. PDF [1.40MB] TXT [3.11K]
- Fact Sheet No. 7, “Selecting a Lot and Siting the Building” ”— This Fact Sheet presents guidance concerning lot selection and building siting considerations for coastal residential buildings. Topics include factors that constrain siting decisions, coastal setback lines, common siting problems, and suggestions for builders, designers, and owners. PDF [858K] TXT [5.47K]
- Fact Sheet No. 8, “Coastal Building Materials”—This Fact Sheet provides guidance on the selection of building materials used for coastal construction. Flood, wind, corrosion, and decay resistance are discussed, including protection recommendations. PDF [4.85MB] TXT [10.4K]
- Fact Sheet No. 9, “Moisture Barrier Systems”— This Fact Sheet describes moisture barrier systems, explains how typical wall moisture barrier systems work, and discusses common problems associated with moisture barrier systems.
PDF [2.30MB] TXT [2.36K]
- Fact Sheet No. 10, “Load Paths”— This Fact Sheet illustrates the concept of load paths and highlights important connections in a typical wind uplift load path.
PDF [753K] TXT [1.81K]
- Fact Sheet No. 11, “Foundations in Coastal Areas”— This Fact Sheet explains foundation design criteria and describes foundation types suitable for coastal environments. PDF [6.01MB] TXT [8.42K]
- Fact Sheet No. 12, “Pile Installation”— This Fact Sheet presents basic information about pile design and installation, including pile types, sizes and lengths, layout, installation methods, bracing, and capacities. PDF [450K] TXT [5.17K]
- Fact Sheet No. 13, “Wood-Pile-to-Beam Connections”— This Fact Sheet illustrates typical wood-pile-to-beam connections; presents basic construction guidance for various connection methods, including connections for misaligned piles; and illustrates pile bracing connection techniques. PDF [1.46MB] TXT [3.63K]
- Fact Sheet No. 14, “Reinforced Masonry Pier Construction”— This Fact Sheet provides an alternative to piles in V zones and A zones in coastal areas where soil properties preclude pile installation, but the need for an “open foundation system” still exists. PDF [3.50MB] TXT [3.05K]
- Fact Sheet No. 15, “Foundation Walls,”— This Fact Sheet discusses and illustrates the use of foundation walls in coastal buildings. Topics include footing embedment, wall height, materials and workmanship, lateral support, flood openings and ventilation requirements, and interior grade elevations for crawlspaces. PDF [8.61K] TXT [6.56K]
- Fact Sheet No. 16, “Masonry Details”— This Fact Sheet illustrates important roof-to-wall and wall-to-foundation connection details for masonry construction in coastal areas. Topics include load paths, building materials, and reinforcement. PDF [1.4MB] TXT [3.22K]
- Fact Sheet No. 17, “Use of Connectors and Brackets”— This Fact Sheet illustrates important building connections and the proper use of connection hardware throughout a building. PDF [1.92MB] TXT [4.53K]
- Fact Sheet No. 18, “Roof Sheathing Installation”— This Fact Sheet presents information about proper roof sheathing installation and its importance in coastal construction and discusses fastening methods that will enhance the durability of a building in a high-wind area. PDF [1.33MB] TXT [5.02K]
- Fact Sheet No. 19, “Roof Underlayment for Asphalt Shingle Roofs”— This Fact Sheet presents recommended practices for the use of roofing underlayment as an enhanced secondary water barrier in coastal environments. PDF [487K] TXT [5.07K]
- Fact Sheet No. 20, “Asphalt Shingle Roofing for High-Wind Regions”— This Fact Sheet recommends practices for installing asphalt roof shingles that will enhance the wind resistance of roof coverings in high-wind coastal regions. PDF [804K] TXT [3.75K]
- Fact Sheet No. 21, “Tile Roofing for High-Wind Areas”— This Fact Sheet presents design and construction guidance for tile roofing attachment methods. PDF [968K] TXT [9.07K]
- Fact Sheet No. 22, “Window and Door Installation”— This Fact Sheet presents flashing detail concepts for window and door openings that provide adequate resistance to water intrusion in coastal environments, do not depend solely on sealants, are integral with secondary weather barriers (e.g., housewrap), and are adequately attached to the wall. PDF [.98MB] TXT [5.56K]
- Fact Sheet No. 23, “Housewrap”— This Fact Sheet explains the function of housewrap, examines its attributes, and addresses common problems associated with its use. PDF [1.44MB] TXT [5.86K]
- Fact Sheet No. 24, “Roof-to-Wall and Deck-to-Wall Flashing”— This Fact Sheet emphasizes the importance of proper roof and deck flashing, and presents typical and enhanced flashing techniques for coastal homes. PDF [620K] TXT[1.88K]
- Fact Sheet No. 25, “Siding Installation and Connectors”— This Fact Sheet provides basic installation tips for various types of siding, including vinyl, wood, and fiber cement. PDF [482K] TXT [3.45K]
- Fact Sheet No. 26, “Shutter Alternatives”— This Fact Sheet presents general information about the installation and use of storm shutters in coastal environments, including temporary plywood panels; temporary manufactured panels; permanent, manual-closing shutters; and permanent, motor-driven shutters. PDF [4.02MB] TXT [7.29K]
- Fact Sheet No. 27, “Enclosures and Breakaway Walls”— This Fact Sheet defines enclosures and breakaway walls, and discusses requirements and recommendations for their use below the Base Flood Elevation. PDF [1.64MB] TXT [8.51K]
- Fact Sheet No. 28, “Decks, Pools, and Accessory Structures”— This Fact Sheet summarizes NFIP requirements, general guidelines, and recommendations concerning the construction and installation of decks, access stairs and elevators, swimming pools, and accessory buildings under or near coastal residential buildings. PDF [2.88MB] TXT [10.1K]
- Fact Sheet No. 29, “Protecting Utilities”— This Fact Sheet identifies the special considerations that must be made when installing utility equipment, such as fuel, sewage, and water/sewage lines in a coastal home, and presents recommendations for utility protection. PDF [2.24MB] TXT [5.21K]
- Fact Sheet No. 30, “Repairs, Remodeling, Additions, and Retrofitting”— This Fact Sheet outlines NFIP requirements for repairs, remodeling, and additions; discusses opportunities for retrofitting in coastal flood hazard areas; and provides recommendations for exceeding the minimum NFIP requirements. PDF [6.39MB] TXT [17.9K]
Back to top
FEMA Forms
The forms below will help map change requesters gather the information that is necessary for a given submittal to FEMA.
- The Elevation Certificate is to be used to provide elevation information necessary to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances, to determine the proper insurance premium rate, and to support a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-F) request.
- The Flood Proofing Certificate must be used for a flood proofing design certification. The flood proofing of non-residential buildings may be permitted as an alternative to elevating to or above the Base Flood Elevation.
- The MT-2 application forms and instructions package is to be used by individual and community requesters of revisions to effective Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, FIRMs, Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps, or Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs).
Back to top
Technical Bulletins
FEMA has developed 10 technical bulletins for reference by floodplain managers. A list of the available technical bulletins, a key word/subject reference index for the bulletins, and information about how to obtain copies of the bulletins is provided in the User's Guide to Technical Bulletins (May2001).
Back to top
Other Useful Resources
FEMA has developed an array of floodplain management publications and other resources, including those listed below. To view or download other publications, interested parties should visit the Floodplain Management Publications page on the FEMA Web site.
- Mississippi Coastal Mapping Project Video — This video, prepared in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, explains the coastal engineering analyses and how the flood elevations and flood hazard boundaries shown on the DFIRMs for Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties were determined.
- Map Change Options - To explain the choices that exist for those that disagree with the information presented on the Preliminary and final versions of the DFIRMS and FIS reports, we have created a page to explain the map change options that exist and the data required to support each option.
- Floodplain Management Bulletin 1-98, “Use of Flood Insurance Study
(FIS) Data as Best Available Data,” provides vital information for the use of preliminary FIS data, including DFIRMs and FIS reports.
- FEMA 265, “The Zone A Manual: Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas,” provides engineering guidelines for determining Base Flood Elevations in Special Flood Hazard Areas that were determined using approximate study methods only.
- Publications from the Association of Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) can be ordered from the ASFPM publication list.
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) also has produced a wealth of publications that could serve as useful references during the recovery and reconstruction efforts. To view a complete list of publications, visit the Publications page on the USACE Web site.
Back to top
|
