IntraRisk continues the development of HAZUS, a nationally
applicable standardized methodology and software program for estimating potential
losses from earthquakes, floods, and wind. It now has the capability to estimate
earthquake losses, and flood and wind models are being developed. NIBS has established
a committee of wind engineering experts to provide technical oversight and guidance
to the project.
Preview Model
A hurricane Preview Model is being developed for release in 2002 to communities
in Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions. This initial version will allow assessment
of hurricane winds and computation of basic estimates of potential damage to
residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. It will also allow estimating
direct economic losses. Development of the full wind model will continue after
2002, to increase the capability of the model to estimate indirect economic
losses and impacts to lifelines and to add the capability to assess the effects
of extra- tropical cyclones, tornadoes, thunderstorms and hail.
Hurricane Loss Estimation Model
The hazard component of the HAZUS hurricane model will make use of an existing
state-of-the-art windfield model, which has been calibrated and validated using
full-scale hurricane data. The model incorporates sea surface temperature in
the boundary layer analysis, and calculates wind speed as a function of central
pressure, translation speed, and surface roughness.
The HAZUS wind model will be an improvement over existing loss estimation models
by using a wind hazard-load-damage-loss framework. The model will address wind
pressure, wind borne debris, surge and waves, atmospheric pressure change, duration/fatigue,
and rain. It will have the following features:
· A building classification system that depends
on the characteristics of the building envelope, and building frame.
· The capability to compute damages based on building classes and the
effects of rain, progressive failure.
· The capability to compute damage to contents and building interior.
· The capability to estimate tree blowdown and structure debris quantities.
· Loss estimates will include direct and indirect economic loss, shelter
requirements, and casualties.
· Modules will be included to facilitate future assessment of mitigation,
benefit-cost, and building code issues.
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