Data Documentation Template
Wildfire Mitigation
FEMA Standard Analysis Methodology
This data documentation template is designed to assist Benefit-Cost (BC) analysts in recording the data and methodologies utilized in their
Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA).  BC analysts should keep in mind that a well-documented BCA means that a knowledgeable BC analyst
should be able to re-create the BCA from the supporting documentation provided (with a Mitigation application submitted for funding)
without any additional explanation.  BC analysts should provide an electronic or paper copy of the full BCA to compliment any template or
summary submitted to FEMA for review.  Check with your State Hazard Mitigation Officer or FEMA Regional office to find out if a
completed Data Documentation Template (DDT) is required with your grant application.
Data Type
Value
Description
Documentation
Source
Discount
Rate
The OMB-
mandated
discount rate
of 7% must
be used for
all BCAs.
*	The discount rate determines
the time-value of money
*	In a FEMA benefit-cost
analysis, a discount rate is used
to calculate a value today (the
Net Present Value) of future
benefits so that they can be
compared to the costs of a
mitigation project.
*	Electronic or paper copy of
the BCA.
*	The OMB-mandated
discount rate of 7% must be
used for all BCAs.
*	The OMB-mandated
discount rate of 7% must be
used for all BCAs.
Sample Area
of Similar
Fire Hazard
Square miles
*	Select an area of similar
wildfire or wildland/urban
interface fire fuel type and
topography. (Sub-applicant
enters data in square miles and
module converts to acres).
*	At a minimum, reasoning for
selecting the possible burn
area must be mentioned in the
narrative summary in the BCA
module, along with a letter
from a forester, local fire
officer, or other credible
source familiar with the area.
*	Area selected can be depicted
on a National Fire Hazard
Map, an aerial photo.
*	National Fire Hazard Maps,
*	U.S. Bureau of Forestry,
*	Fire-safety engineers,
foresters, certified
wildland/urban interface fire
officials.
*	U.S.D.A. Forest Service
Total Acres
Burned in
Sample Area
in Defined
Time Period
Acres
*	Acres burned in the sample
area selected above.
*	At a minimum, reasoning for
selecting the possible burn
area must be mentioned in the
narrative summary in the BCA
module, along with a letter
from a forester, local fire
officer, or other credible
source familiar with the area.
*	Area selected can be depicted
on a National Fire Hazard
Map, an aerial photo.
*	National Fire Hazard Maps,
*	U.S. Bureau of Forestry,
*	Fire-safety engineers,
foresters, certified
wildland/urban interface fire
officials.
*	U.S.D.A. Forest Service
Number of
Years for the
Acres Burned
Data.
Years
*	The time period used for the
sample burn area.
*	Narrative summary in the
BCA module should include
the reasoning used to
determine the years entered
for the burn data.
*	National Fire Hazard Maps,
*	U.S. Bureau of Forestry,
*	Fire-safety engineers,
foresters, certified
wildland/urban interface fire
officials.
*	U.S.D.A. Forest Service
Fire Hazard
Data (Burn
Recurrence
Interval)
Years
*	The estimated time period for
the entire sample area
considered to experience a fire
in each acre.
*	If default values in FEMA
software are used, then
provide print out of software.
*	If user-entered values are used
provide full documentation of
reasons for differences from
FEMA default values.
*	BCA Wildfire calculation
*	U.S.D.A. Forest Service
*	Local, County, State, or
Federal fire-fighting agency.
Building
Value
Total dollar
value
*	The cost for labor and
materials to build a similar
building in the same place.
*	A key determinant of the
amount of damage from
future fires.
*	Narrative summary in the
BCA module should include a
justification for the building
value entered into the module
listing the credible source used
to obtain the value.
*	Tax assessments, tax bills,
local building inspector,
contractor, builders or
architect.
*	Standard references such as:
Marshall & Swift Residential
Cost Handbook, RS Means,
Means Square Foot Cost
Guide, or
www.buildingcost.com,
referencing the types of
buildings in the burn area
under evaluation.
Contents
Value
Expressed as
dollars
*	The cost to replace the
contents of a building.
*	Contents damage includes
items like furniture, office
equipment, personal
belongings, and non-
permanent room dividers.
*	Contents do not include items
that are permanent parts of
the building such as electrical
and plumbing systems.
*	FEMA standard value for
residential buildings is 30% of
the replacement value of the
building or $20,000, whichever
is greater.
*	If standard values in FEMA
software are used then provide
print out of software.
*	FEMA default value is 30% of
building value for residential
buildings.
*	If user-entered values are used
provide full documentation of
reasons for differences from
FEMA standard values.
*	No source required if a
residential building and FEMA
standard is used.
*	Otherwise, review insurance
records, signed appraisals,
purchase receipts, estimates
based on current market
prices for similar contents.
Infrastruc-
ture
Total dollar
value
*	Value of potential
infrastructure damaged or
destroyed by fire.
*	Narrative summary in the
BCA module should include
the reasoning used to
determine the amount of
infrastructure at risk before
mitigation.
*	May also attach a letter, e-mail,
etc. from credible agency
documenting this estimate
*	Party responsible for
maintenance or protection of
the area, most likely a local,
county, or state agency such as
the highway department or the
fire department.
Timber Value
Total dollar
value
*	Value of potential lumber
destroyed by fire.
*	Narrative summary in the
BCA module should include
the reasoning used to
determine the amount of
timber at risk before
mitigation.
*	May also attach a letter, e-mail,
etc. from credible agency
documenting this estimate.
*	U.S.D.A. Forest Service or
other qualified agency
*	Forester, qualified timber
company representative,
*	Owner of the property (must
be supported with signed
estimate)
Fire
Suppression
Costs
Total dollar
value
*	Estimated costs for
responding to and fighting the
fire.
*	Narrative summary in the
BCA module include a
justification of the fire
suppression costs before
mitigation.
*	May also attach a letter, e-mail,
etc. from credible agency
documenting this estimate.
*	Local, County, State, or
Federal fire-fighting agency
that fights wildland fires.
*	U.S.D.A. Forest Service
*	Owner of the property (must
be supported with signed
estimate)
Other (costs)
Total dollar
value
*	Other costs associated with
fire related losses.
*	Narrative summary in the
BCA module should include
the reasoning used to
determine any values entered
in this cell.
*	Requires detailed explanation
of source used and method
applied.
*	Developing values may
involve working with the
agency providing service or
estimating the loss or the
property owner(s).
Number of
Residents
Number
*	Number of residents that
would be impacted by a fire.
*	Narrative summary in the
BCA module should include
source used and method
applied to determine current
population data for the
community, county, or state.
*	Community, county, or state
population official.
*	Current census, atlas, or other
reference guide with
population information.
Annual Death
Rate per
1,000,000
Statistical
value estimate
*	Estimated number of people
killed by wildfires per year per
1,000,000 people.
*	If default values in FEMA
software are used then provide
print out of software.
*	If user-entered values are used
provide full documentation of
reasons for differences from
FEMA default values.
*	FEMA What is a Benefit?
guidance
Dollar Value
of a Casualty
2006 Dollars
(present year
value per
person)
Casualty =
$3,141,633
*	Estimated value of the loss of
one person.
*	Use the Inflation Calculator
found in the BCA Tools
Folder to inflate the FEMA
standard values from 2001 to
present day value.
*	2001 Casualty = $2,710,000
*	If standard values in FEMA
software are used then provide
print out of software.
*	Use the Inflation Calculator
found in the BCA Tools
Folder to inflate the FEMA
standard values from 2001 to
present day value.
*	FEMA What is a Benefit?
guidance, Section 2.3.
Dollar Value
for Minor/
Major
Injuries
2006 Dollars
(present year
value per
person)
Major injury
= $18,085
Minor injury
= $1,808
*	Average of the estimated
values for the treatment of
major and minor injuries per
person.
*	Use the Inflation Calculator
found in the BCA Tools
Folder to inflate the FEMA
standard values from 2001 to
present day value.
*	2001 Major injury = $15,600
*	2001 Minor injury = $1,560
*	If standard values in FEMA
software are used then provide
print out of software.
*	Use the Inflation Calculator
found in the BCA Tools
Folder to inflate the FEMA
standard values from 2001 to
present day value.
*	FEMA What is a Benefit?
guidance, Section 2.3.
Percent
Reduction in
Damages,
Losses, and
Casualties
Percentage
*	Amount of damage avoided
by implementing the proposed
mitigation action.
*	One of the key determinants
in this type of analysis.
*	Narrative summary in the
BCA module should include
the reasoning used to
determine the amount of
damage avoided by proposed
mitigation action.
*	May also attach a letter, e-mail,
etc. from credible agency
documenting this estimate.
*	Local, County, State, or
Federal fire-fighting agency
that fights wildland fires.
*	U.S.D.A. Forest Service
*	Owner of the property (must
be supported with signed
estimate)
Mitigation
Project
Useful
Lifetime
Years
*	Estimated amount of time that
mitigation action will be
effective (includes any
maintenance activities that will
be done to prolong
effectiveness).
*	Narrative summary in the
BCA module should include a
justification of the value
entered for the useful lifetime
of the proposed mitigation
action.
*	May also attach a letter, e-mail,
etc. from credible agency
documenting this estimate.
*	Local, County, State, or
Federal fire-fighting agency
that fights wildland fires.
*	U.S.D.A. Forest Service
*	Local, County, State, or
Federal official specializing in
vegetation removal and
regrowth rates
Mitigation
Project Cost
(includes
data inputs
for net
mitigation
project cost
and
additional
annual
maintenance
cost ($/yr)
for a project)
Total dollar
value
*	Estimated total cost of the
proposed mitigation action
and any maintenance activities
that will be done to prolong
effectiveness.
*	Narrative summary in the
BCA module should state that
this value comes from a
potential or submitted project
application.
*	Sub-applicant should provide
a detailed cost breakdown,
rather than a lump sum value,
from an engineering cost
estimate.
*	Must document source and
reasoning in estimate of
maintenance activity cost.
*	Should support the value
submitted with the project
application.
*	For maintenance values, see
Local, County, State, or
Federal official specializing in
vegetation removal
FEMA BCA Checklist
      Appendix II
FEMA BCA Checklist
Last Updated June 28, 2006
For the entire BCA Checklist, refer to the BCA_Checklist.doc located on the BCA Mitigation Toolkit (BCA Mitigation
Toolkit\4  BCA TOOLS\CHECKLIST AND DATA DOCUMENTATION TEMPLATES).
2.2	BCA Damage Data
2.2.1	The data should be well documented for each event that resulted in damage. The data should also be consistent with the
type of mitigation project proposed (e.g., flood damage data should be provided in support of a proposed flood mitigation
project). If damage was recorded for multiple events, the estimated frequency and the associated damage MUST be
documented and provided for each event to support the damage analyses in the BCA.
2.2.2	Data used in place of FEMA standard or default values in the BCA modules MUST be documented. The documentation
should include justification of why it is more appropriate than the FEMA values. Even minor changes in data will be
considered incorrect if it is not fully documented or lacks justification for its use.
2.2.3	When using the Wildfire module, the burn data (sample area size, acres burned, type of fuel, burn recurrence interval,
timber value, fire suppression costs, mitigation project life) MUST be provided, documented, and obtained from a credible
source.
Wildfire DDT.doc						           Page 1 of 9
{Last Updated 7/6/06}