“Developing Disaster Resilient Communities”

Presented at ICC’s Global Connections Day

October 19, 2016

By Guest Speaker, James(Tim) T. Ryan, CBO

Agenda

What is resilience?

Building Codes’ role in providing resilient communities – Minimum Codes

“Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: an independent study to Assess the Future Savings from Mitigation Activities”

Code Development And Enforcement

Incentivization -“Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization”

What is resilience?

“Resilience is the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, or more successfully adapt to actual or potential adverse events”

As defined by the National Academies 2012 Publication, Disaster Resilience: A National Imperative.

“Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization” – Introduction – National Institute of Building Sciences

Hurricane Katrina

The population of New Orleans was 484,674 in 2000

Post Katrina in 2006 the Population of New Orleans was 231,172

As of 2014 the recorded population of New Orleans is 384,320 (79% of pre Katrina population-100,000+)

Total Economic Impact estimated at $250 billion

Approximately 1,833 deaths

Greensburg, Kansas

Eleven Fatalities

Damages equaled $153 million

2000 Census showed population of 1,574

2010 Census, three years after the tornado, showed a population of 777.

No new construction starts in over a year

Green initiative may have become an obstacle.

Achieving Resilience “The most cost effective manner to

achieve resilience is through a holistic and integrated set of public, private and hybrid programs based on capturing opportunities available through mortgages and loans; insurance; finance; tax incentives and credits; grants; regulations; and enhanced building codes and their application”

“Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization” – Introduction – National Institute of Building Sciences

Building Codes

The United States has the most sophisticated Building Construction Codes and Standards development system in the world.

The nation will always be vulnerable to natural hazards and therefore it is prudent to invest in mitigation

Building Codes

Mitigation should be considered in the broadest sense to encompass mitigation projects and processes that relate to enforcing strong building codes and land use and zoning measures that will limit disaster-caused damage and promote reduced losses from such things as disruption of utilities and transportation lifelines.

Building Codes

“A dollar spent on mitigation saves society an average of $4.”

Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: An Independent Study To Assess the Future Savings from Mitigation Activities – NIBS

Adoption of Model Codes should be incorporated in any Emergency Management Plan for the Community.

Building Codes

Contemporary Codes address resiliency of our buildings – requirements such as:

The work of the Building Seismic Safety Council translates seismic research into recommended updates to the building standards and codes.

Task force on braced wall panels has increased the resiliency of single family homes.

Portal frame construction requirements addressed a major weakness in residential construction which made homes vulnerable when subjected to high wind conditions.

Building Codes for Resilient Communities

Must have the political will and backing

Code Adoption task force – Stakeholder collaboration and “build-in”

Adoption of the most current codes – within 2-3 cycles

What about amendments?

Remember they are called model codes. One size doesn’t fit all

Supported by data or lack of data/do your research

Building Codes for Resilient Communities

Enforcement – The most critical link in the code administration process

“Natural Disasters are the best quality control for code enforcers”

Political will and backing

Proper Resources

Education and Training

Building Codes for a Resilient Community

Existing Buildings

Do the policies and procedures within a community promote strong maintenance, alterations and renovations to existing building stock, or provide obstacles to owners?

Adoption of the Existing building Code

Resiliency upgrades without penalty, i.e., seismic

Land use regulations that promote re-development

Incentives

Building Codes for a Resilient Community

Concerns with total reliance on building codes and standards:

Model codes are still considered minimum requirements

Opposition to adoptions due to increase in costs of construction, proprietary interests

Political intervention

Cost increases to re-build following a disaster to meet new codes. Not covered by insurance

“101.3 Intent. The purpose of this code is to establish minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment and to provide safety to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.”

Incentivization

There is growing reluctance to continue to fund pre and post-disaster mitigation efforts by both federal and state agencies even though resiliency is being included in public policy and programs.

A new approach has become essential rather than just mandatory construction codes and standards.

Incentivization

“The most cost effective manner to achieve resilience is through a holistic and integrated set of public, private and hybrid programs based on capturing opportunities available through mortgages and loans; insurance; finance; tax incentives and credits; grants; regulations; enhanced building codes and their application. This focus on private/public-sector opportunities to induce corrective action is called incentivization.”

Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization – the MMC and CFIRE Councils of the National Institute of Building Sciences

Incentivization

White Paper created by the MMC and CFIRE councils of the National Institute of Building Sciences

Based on the possible programs identified in this white paper, a summary blueprint for public-private incentives for supporting resilience falls into seven categories:

Incentivization

1. Develop Technical Support for Incentivization

2. Develop supporting insurance, loan and investment processes

3. Develop community based incentives

4. Develop programs tailored to utilities

5. Enhance building codes based on political will or willingness of public to pay for a higher level of security

6. Develop incentives program

7. Support incentivizing activities with tax incentives, tax credits and grants

Incentivization

Enhance building codes based on political will or willingness of public to pay for a higher level of security

White House session on Building Codes and Resiliency-May 10, 2016

Judge Alice C. Hill: Senior Advisor for Preparedness and Resilience to the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counter terrorism, National Security Council Staff, White House

“Above Code” Codes/Guidelines

Use data based on climate change vs historical weather data to develop future codes.

Going Forward Resiliency has to be embedded into the

community development fabric of our nation

Incentivization has to become part of the nation’s economic fabric

Collaboration of public and private stakeholders during development, design and construction

Including Resilience within academic curriculums of post secondary education

Going Forward

Conduct Follow-on study to update “Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: An independent study to Assess the Future Savings from Mitigation Activities”

Advance the concepts identified within the white paper “Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization”

Continue to Develop, Adopt and Enforce Contemporary Codes and Standards

Thank you for your interest and participation; Are they any questions?