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PROTECTING COMMUNITIES and SAVING MONEY the Case for Adopting Building Codes

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PROTECTING COMMUNITIES and SAVING MONEY the Case for Adopting Building Codes PROTECTING COMMUNITIES AND SAVING MONEY The Case for Adopting Building Codes November 2020 ADOPT MODERN BUILDING CODES! One of the most cost-effective ways to safeguard The Results Are In our communities against natural disasters is FEMA has released its landmark study, to adopt and follow hazard-resistant building “Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study,” codes. Not only are casualties reduced, but which shows that modern building codes* the cost of building damage is also reduced lead to major reductions in property losses during a natural disaster. Building codes also from natural disasters. The analysis, which help communities get back on their feet faster was based on a database of 18 million actual by minimizing indirect costs such as business buildings, the frequency of hazard events in interruptions and lost income. each locality, and the type of building code in effect, showed that over a 20-year period cities and counties with modern building codes would of counties, cities, and avoid at least $32 billion in losses from natural towns across the U.S. today disasters, when compared to jurisdictions still have not adopted without modern building codes. The actual 65% modern building codes savings would be higher, when you consider that: the study focused only on buildings constructed since 2000, which $132 BILLION represent only 20% of the 100+ Estimated reduction in property losses based on million buildings in the country, forecasted consistent growth associated with use and it did not include “indirect losses” of modern building codes from 2000-2040.* such as business interruptions, time off the job to rebuild, and tax revenues lost With hazard-resistant codes, buildings are by local jurisdictions. constructed to withstand high winds, flooding The FEMA report calculates losses from three and earthquakes. The additional cost of the types of natural hazards (earthquakes, flooding, building features (roof tie-downs, window and wind) for each state and Washington, D.C. protection, strengthened walls and roof For details, see coverings, etc.) is on average less than 2% www.fema.gov/building-codes-save. of total construction costs.** A new FEMA study has made the impact of *Such as the International Building Code (IBC), building codes on sustainability clear. The cost International Residential Code (IRC), or similar code of not adopting building codes is too high. **NIBS 2019, refer to page 8 2 PROTECTING COMMUNITIES & SAVING MONEY The Good, the Bad National Investment Strategy and the Avoidable To achieve our mission, we must address Modern building codes address many underserved communities most often suffering concerns, including public health and safety, disproportionally during and after a disaster resiliency, and affordability. and proactively consider the impacts of future conditions. While local government officials, construction industry professionals, and many citizens are aware of this fact, currently, in the U.S. 65% of counties, cities, and towns across the country have not adopted modern building codes. The people living in those places are bearing a dangerous, costly, and unnecessarily high level of risk in the face of natural disasters. Many state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions across the country can break the cycle of destruction by adopting modern, hazard-resistant building codes. This will buy down risk, which benefits local residents, communities, and leaders. Above-ground residential safe room that was in the garage of a home hit by an EF5 tornado in Joplin, MO (2011) PROTECTING COMMUNITIES & SAVING MONEY 3 THE ESCALATING THREAT OF NATURAL DISASTERS REGIONAL THREATS* SIGNIFICANT EVENTS** FUTURE OUTLOOK From the San Andreas fault in 2020 Salt Lake City, UT The probability of another major earthquake California to the Cascadia zone in M5.7 on the Richter scale $48.5M in at EQ M6.7 or greater within the next 30 Oregon and Washington states, the losses years has been estimated at 99% chance entire Pacific Coast faces a constant 2006 Kiholo Bay, HI of somewhere in CA. The other states vary, risk of seismic activity. The Wasatch M6.7 on the Richter scale having a significant but smaller exposure, $200M in losses fault, which extends along most of the except for Alaska which is comparable. populated areas of Utah, has also been 1994 Northridge, CA Many localities still do not have earthquake- M6.7 on the Richter scale active recently. 57 dead resistant codes. California, EARTHQUAKE EARTHQUAKE $49B in losses Source: https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2015/3009/ The central plains and the states 2019 North Texas Recent data suggest that tornadoes will fronting the Gulf of Mexico are exposed $2B in losses continue to threaten the center of the to windstorms and tornadoes. While 2011 Super Outbreak country... if not with increased frequency, mandatory “safe rooms” are saving (16 states) then with increased power. lives in some localities, many people 321 dead $11B in losses remain exposed to these deadly hazards. 2007 Greensburg, KS TORNADO 11 dead $153M in losses Kansas, TORNADO The Midwest -- including the states 2019 Mississippi River Floods The water levels of the Great Lakes, the bordering the Mississippi River and its 12 dead Mississippi River, and its tributaries are tributaries -- is among many regions $20B in losses expected to remain high for the next few highly exposed to flooding. Causes 2008 Midwest Floods years, exacerbating flooding. Rain events will include rising water levels, spring (12 states) be more frequent and more intense. 11 dead snowpack, and increasingly frequent $6B in losses including $5.4B in and intense storms. Lost topsoil is Cedar Rapids, IA FLOODING threatening the viability of farming. Illinois, FLOODING The East Coast and the Gulf Coast take 2017 Hurricane Harvey (TX, LA) Hurricanes and tropical storms are the brunt of hurricanes and tropical 89 dead becoming more frequent and more intense. storms affecting the continental U.S. $126.3B in losses Sea level rise will increase vulnerability to Over the past 20 years, damage from 2012 Superstorm Sandy (NJ, NY) storm events. hurricanes has surpassed all other 233 dead $88.4B in losses types of damage combined. 2005 Hurricane Katrina (FL, LA, MS) HURRICANE 1,833 dead South Carolina, HURRICANE $160B in losses *Regional examples **Sources on page 12 4 PROTECTING COMMUNITIES & SAVING MONEY THREATS BY LOCATION REGIONAL THREATS* SIGNIFICANT EVENTS** FUTURE OUTLOOK From the San Andreas fault in 2020 Salt Lake City, UT The probability of another major earthquake California to the Cascadia zone in M5.7 on the Richter scale $48.5M in at EQ M6.7 or greater within the next 30 Oregon and Washington states, the losses years has been estimated at 99% chance entire Pacific Coast faces a constant 2006 Kiholo Bay, HI of somewhere in CA. The other states vary, risk of seismic activity. The Wasatch M6.7 on the Richter scale having a significant but smaller exposure, $200M in losses fault, which extends along most of the except for Alaska which is comparable. populated areas of Utah, has also been 1994 Northridge, CA Many localities still do not have earthquake- M6.7 on the Richter scale active recently. 57 dead resistant codes. EARTHQUAKE $49B in losses Source: https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2015/3009/ The central plains and the states 2019 North Texas Recent data suggest that tornadoes will fronting the Gulf of Mexico are exposed $2B in losses continue to threaten the center of the to windstorms and tornadoes. While 2011 Super Outbreak country... if not with increased frequency, mandatory “safe rooms” are saving (16 states) then with increased power. lives in some localities, many people 321 dead $11B in losses remain exposed to these deadly hazards. 2007 Greensburg, KS TORNADO 11 dead $153M in losses Adopting building codes is the single most effective thing The Midwest -- including the states 2019 Mississippi River Floods The water levels of the Great Lakes, the we can do! One change in bordering the Mississippi River and its 12 dead Mississippi River, and its tributaries are $20B in losses building codes can save lives tributaries -- is among many regions expected to remain high for the next few and protect property for highly exposed to flooding. Causes 2008 Midwest Floods years, exacerbating flooding. Rain events will include rising water levels, spring (12 states) be more frequent and more intense. generations to come. 11 dead snowpack, and increasingly frequent $6B in losses including $5.4B in and intense storms. Lost topsoil is Cedar Rapids, IA FLOODING threatening the viability of farming. Increasing Risk Since 1980, the average The East Coast and the Gulf Coast take 2017 Hurricane Harvey (TX, LA) Hurricanes and tropical storms are number of billion- the brunt of hurricanes and tropical 89 dead becoming more frequent and more intense. dollar disasters has been $126.3B in losses storms affecting the continental U.S. Sea level rise will increase vulnerability to six per year. From 2016 2012 Superstorm Sandy (NJ, NY) Over the past 20 years, damage from storm events. to 2018, the number hurricanes has surpassed all other 233 dead $88.4B in losses types of damage combined. jumped to 15 per year. 2005 Hurricane Katrina (FL, LA, MS) HURRICANE 1,833 dead $160B in losses *Regional examples **Sources on page 12 PROTECTING COMMUNITIES & SAVING MONEY 5 BREAKING THE CHAIN OF DESTRUCTION Some states have broken the chain of destruction modern code updates, most recently the ICC 2018 by adopting modern building codes that protect International Building Code. Other local jurisdictions property and people during natural disasters. in Texas can provide a higher level of protection to Florida and California, pioneers in this field, have their citizens and adopt modern building codes, too. had modern hazard-resistant building codes in Many states still lack a state-wide modern building place since the 1990s.
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