The third edition of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Codes Toolkit for Homeowners and Occupants has been released.

The toolkit offers basic guidance and tools for homeowners and occupants to learn about building codes and how they can make homes more resilient against earthquakes, flooding, hurricanes and other natural hazards.

This edition of the FEMA Building Codes Toolkit updates previous editions and includes new documents to help readers better understand building codes and how they work.

Sections of the toolkit include “Building Codes Basics,” a planning template, contractor and building permit checklists, information on the role insurance plays, as well as FAQs, which answer questions on subjects including building code types to financial assistance and mitigation assistance grants, that provide funding for activities that reduce future losses and protect life and property from potential damage.

The toolkit may be downloaded at fema.gov.