The Disaster Center Contact the Disaster Center The Rothstein Cataloge on Disaster Recovery What Code Do You Need?
 Administration Plan Review Residential Code Fire Code Building Code Plumbing Code Mechanical Code
Electrical Code Fuel Gas Code Private Sewage Code Energy Conservation Code
 Existing Building Code
Performance Code Wildland-Urban Code Property Maintenance Code State and International Codes
Masonry and Steel Codes Alternative Construction Storm Shelters Building for Disasters Green Home
Legacy Codes: Southern Building Congress International Conference of Building Officials Building Officials and Code Administrators International
The Code
The Residential and Building Codes are prescriptive standards based upon the soil type, estimated wind speed, flood zone and seismic classification of the ground the structure may be subject to.
Consult your local jurisdiction forthe specific standard that governs, and remember all standards are minimal standards.
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 Flooding

Homeowner's insurance generally does not cover flooding. However, flood insurance may be available through a Federal National Flood Insurance Program Currently over 20,100 communities voluntarily adopt and enforce local floodplain management ordinances that provide flood loss reduction building standards for new and existing development. FEMA provides a varity of Flood related publications. Floodplain Management Publications

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Earthquake

FEMA has a number of great Earthquake related publications


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 Hurricane

The greatest threat from hurricanes is the storm surge.  A combination of low air pressure and wind driven water can produce a surge of water over 30 feet high that can travel far inland up rivers and creeks.  Tornadoes that can form within hurricanes can generate issolated areas within the hurricane where wind speed can exceed 200 MPH. No commercial or residential structure is designed to withstand such a force.
FEMA makes a variety of publications available on its web site.  However, it frequently changes the URL's of its web pages.
Publications with designated FEMA # can be ordered by dialing 1-800-480-2520

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 Tornado
We don't know of any books that we would recommend.  FEMA makes a variety of publications available on its web site.  However, it frequently changes the URL's of its web pages.
Publications with designated FEMA # can be ordered by dialing 1-800-480-2520

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 Fire

FEMA Protect Your Property from Fire 		Prior to purchasing any land, we recommend that you use the Disaster Risks Locator,  a free service offered by a company under contract to FEMA, to help identify some disaster threats that a property may be subject to. 
The Code
Flooding
Earthquake
Fire
Hurricane
Tornado
Insects
Mold

Insects

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Mold

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What Code Do You Need?
To determine the construction code to follow, contact the local Building Department or Land Use authority with  jurisdiction where the land is located.  In addition, you may need to acquire copies of State or local jurisdiction's amendments to these Codes.  In some States and local jurisdictions there may be a separate additional State code.  Besides construction codes, the jurisdiction may have zoning ordinances, land use codes, and covenants may restrict land use, type, and manner of contruction allowed.

Prior to purchasing any land, we recommend that you use the Disaster Risks Locator,  a free service offered by a company under contract to FEMA, to help identify some disaster threats that a property may be subject to. 

The Disaster Center provides online coverage of disasters in the United States, compiling and providing links to disaster related statistics and studies: US Crimes Data from 1960  Tornado, Nonfatal occupational Injuries and Illnesses, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Motor Vehicle Traffic Injury and Fatality Data,  Child Nursery Equipment and Toys: Accident Rates by Age, Sports & Recreational Equipment: Injuries by Age and Sex, Home, Heating, Plumbing, and Appliance: Injuries by Cause, Age, and Rate, Furniture, furnishings, household, and personal use items: Accident injury rates by Age, Home, Work Tools and Misc. Items: Accident Injury rates by Age. US Cause of Death Data , US Anti-terrorism Threat/Risk Policy prior to September 11, 2001,  US Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Terrorism Policy prior to 9-11  Atlantic Hurricane pages and index.  Total student, Number of school-associated Violent Deaths and Number of Homicides and Suicides of Youth Ages 5–19, by Location: 1992–2002  Crimes and Indexes for USA Metropolitan Statistical Areas