into their current floodplain development and regulatory 

processes in order to meet the requirements to participate in the NFIP.

https://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2094

Technical Bulletins 

E, C, CO, H, : 4 ¤

The 11 Technical Bulletins provide 

guidance concerning the building 

performance standards of the NFIP, 

which are contained in Title 44 of 

the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations at Section 60.3. The bulletins 

are intended for use primarily by 

State and local officials responsible for interpreting and 

enforcing NFIP regulations and by members of the 

development community, such as design professionals 

and builders. The bulletins do not create regulations, 

rather they provide specific guidance for complying 

with the minimum requirements of existing NFIP regulations.

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/techbul.shtm

Building Science for 

Disaster-Resistant 

Communities: Flood 

Hazard Publications

FEMA L-782 / November 2011

comprehensive approach to sensible development in 

coastal areas based on guidance from over 200 experts 

in building science, coastal hazard mitigation, and building codes and regulatory requirements.

https://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1671

Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal 

Construction Technical Fact Sheet 

Series (FEMA P-499, December 

2010) E, C, CO, H, : 4 ¤

This document contains a series of 

37 fact sheets that provide technical guidance and recommendations 

concerning the construction of 

coastal residential buildings. 

https://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2138 

Homeowner’s Guide to 

Retrofitting (FEMA P-312, Second 

Edition, December 2009)

E, C, CO, H, : 4 ¤

This guide is specifically for homeowners who want information 

on protecting their houses from 

flooding. Homeowners need clear 

information about the options available and straightforward guidance that will help make decisions. This 

guide gives both, in a form designed for readers who 

have little or no knowledge about 

flood protection methods or building construction 

techniques.

https://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1420

Above the Flood: Elevating Your 

Floodprone House (FEMA 347,

May 2000) E, C, H, : 4 ¤

This publication shows how floodprone houses in south Florida were 

elevated above the 100-year flood 

level following Hurricane Andrew 

(1992) and also presents alternative 

elevation techniques.

https://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1424

Reducing Flood Losses Through the 

International Codes (Third Edition, 

August 2008) E, C, CO, : 4

The third edition of this guide is 

intended to help community officials 

decide how to integrate the 2006 

edition (and 2007 Supplement) of 

the International Codes (I-Codes) 

Flood/Wind Building Science Helpline 

FEMA-Buildingsciencehelp@dhs.gov • 1-866-927-2104

E (Engineers) / C (Contractors) / CO (Community Officials) / 

H (Homeowners) / : (Available Online) 4 (Available Print) 

¤ (Available CD)

To download publications, please visit the FEMA Library at: http://www.fema.gov/library.

To order publications please call 1-800-480-2520 or fax 

1-240-699-0525 (Monday − Friday, 8:00 a.m. − 5:00 

p.m., EST) or email your request to FEMA-PublicationsWarehouse@dhs.gov. Please provide the title, publication number, and quantity, along with your name, address, zipcode, and daytime telephone number.
Building Science

The Building Science Branch develops and produces 

technical guidance and tools focused on fostering a 

disaster-resistant built environment. Located within the 

FEMA Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration’s (FIMA) Risk Reduction Division, the Building 

Science Branch supports FIMA’s mission to reduce 

risk to life and property by providing state-of-the-art 

technical hazard mitigation solutions for buildings. 

Mitigation efforts provide value to the American people 

by creating safer communities and reducing loss of life 

and property. 

Building Science publications provide strategies for all 

types of hazards. This brochure provides readers with 

a quick summary of publications that will help them 

prepare for and mitigate against flood hazards.

Flood Hazard

Floods are one of the most common hazards in the 

United States, affecting more than 20,000 local jurisdictions covered under the National Flood Insurance 

Program (NFIP) and representing more than 70 percent of Presidential disaster declarations. Flooding is a 

process that may occur in a variety of forms, including 

coastal flooding from hurricanes and tropical storms, 

and flooding from inland floodplain hazards.

Buildings located in flood hazard areas are at risk from 

forces generated by floodwaters. These forces can include hydrostatic forces from slow moving floodwaters, 

hydrodynamic forces from waves and quickly moving 

water, as well as scour around building elements, erosion, and flood-borne debris.

Building Science Publications

Catalog of FEMA Wind, Flood, and 

Wildfire Publications, and Training 

Courses, and Workshops (FEMA 

P-787,Third Edition, January 2012) 

E, C, CO, H, : 4 ¤

This catalog contains a listing with 

brief descriptions of publications 

and courses developed by the 

Building Science Branch of FEMA’s 

Mitigation Directorate. 

https://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3184

Engineering Principles and Practices 

for Retrofitting Flood-Prone 

Residential Structures (FEMA P-259, 

Third Edition, December 2011) 

E, C, CO, H, : 4 ¤

This publication provides engineering design and economic guidance 

on what constitutes feasible and 

cost-effective retrofitting measures for floodprone residential structures. 

http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1645

Coastal Construction Manual: 

Principles and Practices of 

Planning, Siting, Designing, 

Constructing, and Maintaining 

Buildings in Coastal Areas

(FEMA P-55, Fourth Edition, 

August 2011) E, C, CO, 4 ¤

To provide mitigation guidance to 

local officials and professionals in building design and 

construction, FEMA prepared the third edition of the 

Coastal Construction Manual. The manual provides a 

Building Science for 

Disaster-Resistant Communities