Whole-Building Design Strategies -

Disaster Resistance

Guide describing different types of gas shutoff valves that prevent gas spills and can stop the flow of natural gas into a home during an accident or natural disaster.

Guide describing how to provide a strong continuous load path from the roof through the wall to the foundation to ensure a structurally sound building and increase racking resistance in hurricanes, high winds, tornados, and earthquakes.

Guide describing how to design or retrofit a crawlspace to reduce the risk of damage during a flood event.

Guide describing how to construct flood-resistant homes using pier, pile, post, or column foundations.

Guide describing ways to construct a raised-slab foundation to increase a home's resistance to floods.

Guide describing fuel tank anchoring practices for disaster resistance.

Guide describing how to select the siding materials best suited to withstand hazards the home is likely to face within its lifetime.

A guide describing how to elevate and secure HVAC equipment for protection against floods, earthquakes, and high winds.

Guide describing how to correctly slope solid surfaces outside a home so rainwater flows away from the home.

Guide describing how to provide a continuous load path with appropriate connectors to improve the wind resistance of attached porches, carports, and decks during high-wind events.

Guide describing options for providing access to the roof via openable skylights, dormer windows, or roof hatches, for occupants of homes in areas prone to severe flooding.

Guide describing how to elevate a water heater above the base flood elevation to protect it from flood damage.