HAZUS Help on the FEMA web site ...

Need HAZUS HELP ... HAZUS.org first suggests you read the HAZUS FAQ on the FEMA web site, click here...

You may also obtain HAZUS Software Technical Support from FEMA by calling (877) 283-8789 or by emailing one of the dedicated links below:

HAZUSGenHelp@nibs.org for general questions about HAZUS

HAZUSWindHelp@ara.com for Hurricane Model questions

HAZUSFloodHelp@absconsulting.com for Flood Model questions

HAZUSQuakeHelp@pbsj.com for Earthquake Model questions

HAZUSQuakeHelp@pbsj.com for installation and software questions

Wind field calculations in HAZUS-MH

Shawn Lewers from the FLHUG has a question about the wind field calculations in HAZUS-MH. He reports he can create a scenario based on the provided historic storm data that came with the package and get results that are to be expected for a given storm. This is in terms of say peak gust numbers that can be verified from other sources at NOAA or NHS which would make him have confidence in the model. However, when he creates a scenario by inputting data that approximates what is known about say Hurricane OPAL (1995) or Hurricane Dennis (2005) and give it a similar track, translation speeds, max winds, radius and pressure and the results are radically different. Also when he imports storm data from the .stm files he gets very high numbers. For example, modeled wind speeds of over 300 MPH for Dennis in the Eglin AFB area.

Shawn is asking if anyone has any suggestions or explanations for these obviously spurious results?

Symbology...

Did you know the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Homeland Security Working Group has developed a standard set of symbols for use by the Emergency Management and First Responder communities at all levels of need (i.e. National, State, Local and Incident). MORE

REDAS: Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System

The Philippine Vulcanologist and Seismologist - Department of Science and Technology is developing the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS) for earthquake mitigation and risk assessment and response. MORE

HAZUS.org is looking for more info on REDAS and how/if it can be integrated with HAZUS.MH.

CISN Display V1.0

The California Integrated Seismic Network (CISN) has recently released CISN Display V1.0 as a tool for integrating earthquake information in emergency response. CISN Display is an integrated Web enabled earthquake notification system, designed for emergency management 24/7 operations centers. The application provides users with maps of real-time seismicity, and automatically provides access to Web-related earthquake products such as ShakeMaps. CISN Display also offers an open source GIS mapping tool that allows users to plot freely available layers of public highways, roads and bridges, as well as private layers of organizational-specific infrastructure and facilities information.

CISN Display is designed to provide earthquake information for emergency response. First-responders, organizations with critical lifelines and infrastructure, and emergency responders are invited to register for an account. MORE INFO

A GIS-Based Methodology for Exporting the HAZUS Earthquake Model for Global Applications

HAZUS.org has recently had a couple of inquiries about using HAZUS outside the U.S.

In April 2006 Doug Bausch presented a paper at the Seismicity and Earthquake Engineering in the Extended Mediterranean Region workshop, the 25th meeting of the RELEMR programme (Reduction of Earthquake Losses in the Extended Mediterranean Region) that outlined the process for adapting HAZUS for non-U.S. applications.

To download this presentation (.pdf / 1.7 MB), click here...

Importing Earthquake Shake Maps into HAZUS-MH

The Southern California HAZUS User Group (SoCalHUG) has developed a "how to" instruction sheet for importing shake maps into HAZUS-MH. This was prepared by SoCalHUG member Sharon Wong with support by HAZUS guru Kevin Mickey from the Polis Center.

To download this document (.pdf), click here...