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HAZUS Overview:
What is HAZUS?
Program Overview
Hardware, Software & Data Requirements
Ongoing Development
Current Projects & User Groups
FAQs
Publications
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What is HAZUS?
HAZUS-MH MR3, the third maintenance release of the HAZUS-MH (HAZUS Multihazard) software program, is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). HAZUS-MH MR3 is a revised and updated version of HAZUS-MH, a nationally-applicable software for estimating potential losses from earthquakes, floods and hurricanes.
FEMA developed HAZUS-MH MR3, under a contract with the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), to produce loss estimates based on state-of-the-art scientific and engineering knowledge and software architecture. These estimates are essential for decision-making at all levels of government, and are a basis for developing mitigation plans and policies, emergency preparedness, and response and recovery planning.
HAZUS-MH MR3 will continue to provide support to state and local agencies in implementing programs for Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA2000). As occurred with HAZUS-MH during Hurricane Isabelle and the four 2004 Florida hurricanes (Charlie, Frances, Ivan & Jeanne), and HAZUS-MH MR1 during Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005, HAZUS-MH MR3 will be used for first response before and following disaster events. Over 5,000 copies of HAZUS-MH, HAZUS-MH MR1 and HAZUS-MH MR2 have been distributed and hundreds of emergency managers have received HAZUS training since its first release in February 2004.
HAZUS-MH MR3 is expected to build upon these trends. Emergency managers will use HAZUS-MH MR3 to support preparedness exercise scenarios and planning for response operations by calculating necessary levels of shelter, hospital beds, fire and rescue personnel and other supporting elements.
HAZUS-MH MR3 uses the latest version of ESRI’s geographic information system software (ArcGIS9.2 SP4) to map and display hazard data, the results of damage and economic loss estimates for buildings and infrastructure, and the effects on populations. HAZUS-MH MR3 data is managed with a relational database using Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. This configuration provides HAZUS-MH MR3 with the means to utilize data interchangeably from a variety of sources, to communicate with other emergency management tools and to be potentially operable from the Internet. The software is fast running to facilitate real-time use for response and recovery following a natural disaster and has been certified to work with Windows XP SP2.
Additionally, HAZUS-MH MR3 is capable of multi-hazard analysis that combines annualized loss analyses from the hurricane, flood and earthquake models and provides integrated multi-hazard reports and graphs. Each hazard model contains the capability to link to specific third party models including ALOHA, a plume model and FLDWAV a daylight dam break model.
The earthquake, flood and hurricane hazard models operate at several levels depending on the nature of data available to users. At Level 1, national level data sets with updated valuations for the general building stock are used for analysis. At Level 2, the national data may be modified with local data for more site-specific results. At Level 3, users may supply their own techniques to study special conditions such as dam break and tsunami, although engineering and other expertise is typically needed at this level.
A new comprehensive data management system (CDMS) permits HAZUS-MH MR3 users to update and manage the statewide datasets that support analysis in HAZUS-MH. Previously, incorporating new data into a statewide dataset required considerable effort. The new CDMS simplifies this task by streamlining data conversion from external sources into HAZUS-MH-compliant data and data transfer into and out of a statewide dataset. Once new data are added to a statewide dataset, the CDMS allows users to query, sort, export, and print information. The CDMS also includes a backwards-compatibility utility that will convert HAZUS-MH datasets created with earlier versions of the software into MR3 datasets. The new CDMS replaces the Inventory Collection and Survey Tool (InCAST). The Building Inventory Tool (BIT) may be used to import and manage large datasets such as local tax assessor’s data.
The HAZUS-MH MR3 Hurricane Model allows users in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions and Hawaii to estimate hurricane winds and potential damage and loss to residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. It also estimates direct economic loss, post-storm shelter needs, and building and tree debris quantities and allows assessment of specific structural changes to buildings to strengthen them for mitigation. The model has the capability to define hurricane scenarios using NWS forecasts/advisories and the software is optimized for rapid loss assessment. New MR3 features for the Hurricane Model include mitigation analysis options for all of the building classes and thousands of new damage and loss functions in the database. Tree debris can be estimated by weight or volume likely to be collected and disposed of using public funds. An “Automatic Outputs” tool added to the Hurricane Analysis Options dialog allows users to specify a standard set of results that will be automatically generated after each scenario or probabilistic analysis. A new rapid loss feature has been added that generates a range of potential damage and loss estimates for a given hurricane forecast that are included in the rapid loss summary report.
In HAZUS-MH MR3, the Flood Model can be used to assess both riverine and coastal flooding and estimates potential damage to buildings, essential facilities, transportation lifelines, utility lifelines, vehicles, and agricultural crops. The model addresses building debris generation and shelter requirements. Direct losses are estimated based on physical damage to structures, contents, and building interiors. The effects of flood warning are taken into account, as are flow velocity effects. New MR3 features include improved integration with the underlying ArcGIS platform and an option to create study regions larger than four counties using the full version of SQL Server.
The HAZUS-MH MR3 Earthquake Model provides estimates of damage and loss to buildings, essential facilities, transportation lifelines, utility lifelines, and population based on scenario or probabilistic earthquakes. The model estimates debris generation, fire-following damage, casualties and shelter requirements. Direct economic losses are estimated based on physical damage to structures, contents, inventory, and building interiors. Specialized capabilities include adding new custom building types, and importing USGS Shake Maps and optimized software for faster performance duringrapid loss assessment. The Advanced Engineering Building Module (AEBM) may be used for single and group building mitigation analysis. In MR3, new capabilities include an optimized Building Damage Module that uses seven combinations of design levels and building quality levels (reduced from nine) and guidance in Chapter 4 of the Technical Manual for filtering the attenuation functions at the time of scenario definition.
Ensuring the prevention of injury and the security of the nation's buildings, infrastructure and communities from natural disasters requires a comprehensive computer-based disaster planning and analysis tool like HAZUS-MH MR3. The software provides information on risks posed by disasters and the extent and location of potential damage that can be readily obtained and interactively shared among program officers at Federal, state and local levels. HAZUS-MH MR3 is available on DVD. Further Information on HAZUS-MH MR3 and its availability can be found on the FEMA website at
www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/index.shtm.
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