HAZUS-MH Model Development

Problem Statement and Objectives

The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) needed to continue development of the nationally-applicable hurricane wind loss estimation tool, HAZUS-MH. HAZUS-MH is a geographical information system that includes extensive databases of populations and the built environment in the United States.

The ARA team will continue the development of the Hurricane Model to provide a Rapid loss analysis capability for landfalling storms with track and intensity uncertainties. The development included Hurricane mode updates using data from storms since 1995 and Hurricane models for U.S. territories.

Objectives:

• Continue storm surge modeling.
  
• Develop rapid loss estimates uncertainties and improved reporting.
  
• Account for the effects of storm duration.
  
• Initiate island territories modeling.
  
• Update hurricane windfield model.
  
• Enhance tree blow down model.
  
• Continue development of mitigation options for additional building types.
  
• Support software build development.
  
• Ensure backward compatibility.

Results and Benefits
The ARA-developed HAZUS-MH hurricane model predicts physical damage, social losses, and economic losses due to hurricane winds for emergency response planners and managers.