The Impacts of Natural Disasters: A FRAMEWORK FOR LOSS ESTIMATION by National Research Council

Author:National Research Council
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Earth Sciences : Earthquakes, Floods and Natural Disasters
Publisher: NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Published: 1999-04-06T00:00:00+00:00

BOX 2-1 Description of the HAZUS Loss Estimation Methodology

FEMA and the National Institute of Building Safety (NIBS) have developed an earthquake loss estimation methodology entitled HAZUS (Hazards, U.S.). This software program was developed to help provide a standardized methodology for estimating the losses associated with earthquakes. FEMA began work on HAZUS in October 1992 and released the program in the spring of 1997.

HAZUS uses mathematical formulas and information about building stock, local geology and the location and size of potential earthquakes, economic data, and other information to estimate losses from potential earthquakes. HAZUS a geographic information system (GIS) to map and display ground shaking the patterns of building damage, and local demographic information. Given a hypothetical earthquake event, HAZUS estimates (among other things) the violence of ground shaking, the number of buildings damaged, the number of casualties, and the estimated cost of repairing projected damage and other effects. Not only can HAZUS be used to estimate local impacts, it can be used to compare seismic risks across regions throughout the continental United States.

HAZUS aims to provide local, state, and regional officials information to plan for earthquakes, mitigate against future losses, and prepare for emergency response and recovery. In addition, HAZUS may be used to prepare a quick loss estimate following an earthquake or to provide the basis to assess the nationwide risk of losses from earthquakes.

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