The committee also endorses the recommendation by NIST to develop a nationwide protocol defining
standards for the technology and use of public alert systems. In the absence of national guidelines, local
Jurisdictions develop their own protocols without benefit of advice on modern technology such as
reverse 9-1-1 cell phone communication. The goal of this recommendation is to warn the public in an
unambiguous and timely manner.

In addition to alerting the public to an imminent threat, the committee encourages a program of public
education as to the nature of tornado threats and how to respond to alerts. The committee
recommends that NIST develop an education package based on a standard response plan than could be
adapted by local safety officials. The investigation of public response to alerts prior to touchdown of the
Joplin, MO tornado uncovered a degree of misunderstanding about the nature of tornado hazards and
about the reality of the threat to Joplin. A standardized, authoritative education package can be the
basis of helping citizens to protect themselves.

The committee recognizes that the 16 recommendations contained in the NIST report on the Joplin, MO
tornado are mutually supporting and if implemented would lead to significant mitigation of tornado
hazards. The committee recommends that NIST develop a strategic plan for implementing the 16
recommendations, recognizing the bureaucratic, financial and human obstacles that it will face.

The Committee commends NIST for making a valuable addition to the literature on the response of
structures to extreme loads. The distinction between design wind speed (90 mph for most of the U.S.
interior in 2011) and the wind speed that could cause structural damage in a properly-designed building
(110-115 mph) was recognized and appropriately emphasized in the evaluation of building performance.

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

The Committee recommends that NIST consider science and engineering methodologies similar to those
that reduce the fire risk in building interiors to reduce the fire risk of building exteriors in WUI fires. Such
methodology could lead, for example, to methods for fire hardening of the exterior of the structures
that could significantly reduce the damage from firebrands and flame radiation in WUI fires

Data Repository

The Committee is greatly encouraged by the progress made in advancing the Data Repository. An
architecture to be developed in Phase 3 will allow a user to quickly access a menu of event types—
earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters affecting the built infrastructure—
each of which has links to data sets that describe an individual event. This is the product of evolving
recognition that the knowledge gained from, for example, earthquakes and tornados, must be organized
and presented differently. Compartmentalization by event type avoids overly complex software and
makes it much more likely that outside agencies and institutions can make their natural hazard data
available to the Repository without having detailed knowledge of the Repository software.


The committee also endorses the recommendation by NIST to develop a nationwide protocol defining
standards for the technology and use of public alert systems. In the absence of national guidelines, local
jurisdictions develop their own protocols without benefit of advice on modern technology such as
reverse 9-1-1 cell phone communication. The goal of this recommendation is to warn the public in an
unambiguous and timely manner.

In addition to alerting the public to an imminent threat, the committee encourages a program of public
education as to the nature of tornado threats and how to respond to alerts. The committee
recommends that NIST develop an education package based on a standard response plan than could be
adapted by local safety officials. The investigation of public response to alerts prior to touchdown of the
Joplin, MO tornado uncovered a degree of misunderstanding about the nature of tornado hazards and
about the reality of the threat to Joplin. A standardized, authoritative education package can be the
basis of helping citizens to protect themselves.

The committee recognizes that the 16 recommendations contained in the NIST report on the Joplin, MO
tornado are mutually supporting and if implemented would lead to significant mitigation of tornado
hazards. The committee recommends that NIST develop a strategic plan for implementing the 16
recommendations, recognizing the bureaucratic, financial and human obstacles that it will face.

The Committee commends NIST for making a valuable addition to the literature on the response of
structures to extreme loads. The distinction between design wind speed (90 mph for most of the U.S.
interior in 2011) and the wind speed that could cause structural damage in a properly-designed building
(110-115 mph) was recognized and appropriately emphasized in the evaluation of building performance.

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

The Committee recommends that NIST consider science and engineering methodologies similar to those
that reduce the fire risk in building interiors to reduce the fire risk of building exteriors in WUI fires. Such
methodology could lead, for example, to methods for fire hardening of the exterior of the structures
that could significantly reduce the damage from firebrands and flame radiation in WUI fires

Data Repository

The Committee is greatly encouraged by the progress made in advancing the Data Repository. An
architecture to be developed in Phase 3 will allow a user to quickly access a menu of event types—
earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters affecting the built infrastructure—
each of which has links to data sets that describe an individual event. This is the product of evolving
recognition that the knowledge gained from, for example, earthquakes and tornados, must be organized
and presented differently. Compartmentalization by event type avoids overly complex software and
makes it much more likely that outside agencies and institutions can make their natural hazard data
available to the Repository without having detailed knowledge of the Repository software.


Implementing Committee Recommendations to NIST, Dec. 2012

The Committee is pleased that NIST evaluated our recommendations made a year ago and has
made significant progress toward implementing them. Again, the Committee urges that the
NCST Act be broadened to include lifeline incidents in order that future NIST investigations
may address and achieve a balance between investigation of buildings and infrastructure. This is
consistent with the growing recognition of resilience as a primary goal in protecting communities
from the effects of natural hazards.

Sincerely,

Identical letter sent to:
The Honorable Larry Bucshon
Chairman


The committee also endorses the recommendation by NIST to develop a nationwide protocol defining
standards for the technology and use of public alert systems. In the absence of national guidelines, local
jurisdictions develop their own protocols without benefit of advice on modern technology such as
reverse 9-1-1 cell phone communication. The goal of this recommendation is to warn the public in an
unambiguous and timely manner.

In addition to alerting the public to an imminent threat, the committee encourages a program of public
education as to the nature of tornado threats and how to respond to alerts. The committee
recommends that NIST develop an education package based on a standard response plan than could be
adapted by local safety officials. The investigation of public response to alerts prior to touchdown of the
Joplin, MO tornado uncovered a degree of misunderstanding about the nature of tornado hazards and
about the reality of the threat to Joplin. A standardized, authoritative education package can be the
basis of helping citizens to protect themselves.

The committee recognizes that the 16 recommendations contained in the NIST report on the Joplin, MO
tornado are mutually supporting and if implemented would lead to significant mitigation of tornado
hazards. The committee recommends that NIST develop a strategic plan for implementing the 16
recommendations, recognizing the bureaucratic, financial and human obstacles that it will face.

The Committee commends NIST for making a valuable addition to the literature on the response of
structures to extreme loads. The distinction between design wind speed (90 mph for most of the U.S.
interior in 2011) and the wind speed that could cause structural damage in a properly-designed building
(110-115 mph) was recognized and appropriately emphasized in the evaluation of building performance.

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

The Committee recommends that NIST consider science and engineering methodologies similar to those
that reduce the fire risk in building interiors to reduce the fire risk of building exteriors in WUI fires. Such
methodology could lead, for example, to methods for fire hardening of the exterior of the structures
that could significantly reduce the damage from firebrands and flame radiation in WUI fires

Data Repository

The Committee is greatly encouraged by the progress made in advancing the Data Repository. An
architecture to be developed in Phase 3 will allow a user to quickly access a menu of event types—
earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters affecting the built infrastructure—
each of which has links to data sets that describe an individual event. This is the product of evolving
recognition that the knowledge gained from, for example, earthquakes and tornados, must be organized
and presented differently. Compartmentalization by event type avoids overly complex software and
makes it much more likely that outside agencies and institutions can make their natural hazard data
available to the Repository without having detailed knowledge of the Repository software.


Implementing Committee Recommendations to NIST, Dec. 2012

The Committee is pleased that NIST evaluated our recommendations made a year ago and has
made significant progress toward implementing them. Again, the Committee urges that the
NCST Act be broadened to include lifeline incidents in order that future NIST investigations
may address and achieve a balance between investigation of buildings and infrastructure. This is
consistent with the growing recognition of resilience as a primary goal in protecting communities
from the effects of natural hazards.

Sincerely,

Identical letter sent to:
The Honorable Dan Lipinski
Ranking Minority Member


The committee also endorses the recommendation by NIST to develop a nationwide protocol defining
standards for the technology and use of public alert systems. In the absence of national guidelines, local
jurisdictions develop their own protocols without benefit of advice on modern technology such as
reverse 9-1-1 cell phone communication. The goal of this recommendation is to warn the public in an
unambiguous and timely manner.

In addition to alerting the public to an imminent threat, the committee encourages a program of public
education as to the nature of tornado threats and how to respond to alerts. The committee
recommends that NIST develop an education package based on a standard response plan than could be
adapted by local safety officials. The investigation of public response to alerts prior to touchdown of the
Joplin, MO tornado uncovered a degree of misunderstanding about the nature of tornado hazards and
about the reality of the threat to Joplin. A standardized, authoritative education package can be the
basis of helping citizens to protect themselves.

The committee recognizes that the 16 recommendations contained in the NIST report on the Joplin, MO
tornado are mutually supporting and if implemented would lead to significant mitigation of tornado
hazards. The committee recommends that NIST develop a strategic plan for implementing the 16
recommendations, recognizing the bureaucratic, financial and human obstacles that it will face.

The Committee commends NIST for making a valuable addition to the literature on the response of
structures to extreme loads. The distinction between design wind speed (90 mph for most of the U.S.
interior in 2011) and the wind speed that could cause structural damage in a properly-designed building
(110-115 mph) was recognized and appropriately emphasized in the evaluation of building performance.

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

The Committee recommends that NIST consider science and engineering methodologies similar to those
that reduce the fire risk in building interiors to reduce the fire risk of building exteriors in WUI fires. Such
methodology could lead, for example, to methods for fire hardening of the exterior of the structures
that could significantly reduce the damage from firebrands and flame radiation in WUI fires

Data Repository

The Committee is greatly encouraged by the progress made in advancing the Data Repository. An
architecture to be developed in Phase 3 will allow a user to quickly access a menu of event types—
earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters affecting the built infrastructure—
each of which has links to data sets that describe an individual event. This is the product of evolving
recognition that the knowledge gained from, for example, earthquakes and tornados, must be organized
and presented differently. Compartmentalization by event type avoids overly complex software and
makes it much more likely that outside agencies and institutions can make their natural hazard data
available to the Repository without having detailed knowledge of the Repository software.


Implementing Committee Recommendations to NIST, Dec. 2012

The Committee is pleased that NIST evaluated our recommendations made a year ago and has
made significant progress toward implementing them. Again, the Committee urges that the
NCST Act be broadened to include lifeline incidents in order that future NIST investigations
may address and achieve a balance between investigation of buildings and infrastructure. This is
consistent with the growing recognition of resilience as a primary goal in protecting communities
from the effects of natural hazards.

Team Ai

Jeremy Isenberg, Ch
Nationdl Constructign Saft
efimittee

Identical letter sent to:
The Honorable Lamar Smith
Chairman


National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee
National Institute of Standards and Technology

January 27, 2014

The Honorable Ted Cruz

Ranking Minority Member

Subcommittee on Science and Space

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Cruz:

| am pleased to submit the 2013 Annual Report of the National Construction Safety Team (NCST)
Advisory Committee (Committee) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The
Committee serves as NIST’s advisor on implementation of the NCST Act (P.L. 107-231) and our opinions
and recommendations expressed in this letter reflect our views as an independent, private sector body.

The Committee met face-to-face at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD on December 10-11, 2013. Public
comments were invited for this meeting; however, none were received.

Topics of discussion included:

e Findings and recommendations based on NIST investigation of the Joplin, MO tornado of May
2011
Findings based on the reconnaissance of the Newcastle-Moore, OK tornado of May 2013
Post-fire data collection response to Waldo Canyon, CO Wildland Urban Interface fire of June-
July 2012

e Update on NIST participation in the FEMA-led investigation of Hurricane Sandy

e NIST response to Committee recommendations made in its report of December 2012.

Joplin, MO tornado of May, 2011

The committee commends the excellent investigation, interpretation and report by NIST Staff on the
Joplin, MO tornado of May 2011. The approach is methodical and scientific, leading to findings that
support a coherent list of 16 recommendations that, if implemented, will enhance safety and
community resilience in similar future events. Indeed, though the report has undergone valuable
improvements and refinements during 2013, the committee believes the results to be so important and
beneficial that we wish the recommendations had been published in draft form a year ago.

The committee endorses the recommendation by NIST that a probabilistic tornado hazard map be
prepared in a format similar to those for seismic and conventional wind hazards. Recommendations
should be developed enabling engineers to generate design loads in the manner of ASCE/SEI 7, the
standard design loads document used in the United States. This document is advisory and may be
implemented in local building codes at the discretion of the local authority.


National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee
National Institute of Standards and Technology

January 27, 2014

The Honorable Bill Nelson

Chairman

Subcommittee on Science and Space

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

lam pleased to submit the 2013 Annual Report of the National Construction Safety Team (NCST)
Advisory Committee (Committee) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The
Committee serves as NIST’s advisor on implementation of the NCST Act (P.L. 107-231) and our opinions
and recommendations expressed in this letter reflect our views as an independent, private sector body.

The Committee met face-to-face at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD on December 10-11, 2013. Public
comments were invited for this meeting; however, none were received.

Topics of discussion included:

e Findings and recommendations based on NIST investigation of the Joplin, MO tornado of May
2011
Findings based on the reconnaissance of the Newcastle-Moore, OK tornado of May 2013
Post-fire data collection response to Waldo Canyon, CO Wildland Urban Interface fire of June-
July 2012

e Update on NIST participation in the FEMA-led investigation of Hurricane Sandy

e NIST response to Committee recommendations made in its report of December 2012.

Joplin, MO tornado of May, 2011

The committee commends the excellent investigation, interpretation and report by NIST Staff on the
Joplin, MO tornado of May 2011. The approach is methodical and scientific, leading to findings that
support a coherent list of 16 recommendations that, if implemented, will enhance safety and
community resilience in similar future events. Indeed, though the report has undergone valuable
improvements and refinements during 2013, the committee believes the results to be so important and
beneficial that we wish the recommendations had been published in draft form a year ago.

The committee endorses the recommendation by NIST that a probabilistic tornado hazard map be
prepared in a format similar to those for seismic and conventional wind hazards. Recommendations
should be developed enabling engineers to generate design loads in the manner of ASCE/SEI 7, the
standard design loads document used in the United States. This document is advisory and may be
implemented in local building codes at the discretion of the local authority.


Implementing Committee Recommendations to NIST, Dec. 2012

The Committee is pleased that NIST evaluated our recommendations made a year ago and has
made significant progress toward implementing them. Again, the Committee urges that the
NCST Act be broadened to include lifeline incidents in order that future NIST investigations
may address and achieve a balance between investigation of buildings and infrastructure. This is
consistent with the growing recognition of resilience as a primary goal in protecting communities
from the effects of natural hazards.

Identical letter sent to:
The Honorable John D. Rockefeller IV
Chairman


National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee
National Institute of Standards and Technology

January 27, 2014

The Honorable Larry Bucshon

Chairman

Subcommittee on Research and Technology
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

lam pleased to submit the 2013 Annual Report of the National Construction Safety Team (NCST)
Advisory Committee (Committee) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The
Committee serves as NIST’s advisor on implementation of the NCST Act (P.L. 107-231) and our opinions
and recommendations expressed in this letter reflect our views as an independent, private sector body.

The Committee met face-to-face at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD on December 10-11, 2013. Public
comments were invited for this meeting; however, none were received.

Topics of discussion included:

© Findings and recommendations based on NIST investigation of the Joplin, MO tornado of May
2011

e Findings based on the reconnaissance of the Newcastle-Moore, OK tornado of May 2013

e  Post-fire data collection response to Waldo Canyon, CO Wildland Urban Interface fire of June-
July 2012
Update on NIST participation in the FEMA-led investigation of Hurricane Sandy
NIST response to Committee recommendations made in its report of December 2012.

Joplin, MO tornado of May, 2011

The committee commends the excellent investigation, interpretation and report by NIST Staff on the
Joplin, MO tornado of May 2011. The approach is methodical and scientific, leading to findings that
support a coherent list of 16 recommendations that, if implemented, will enhance safety and
community resilience in similar future events. Indeed, though the report has undergone valuable
improvements and refinements during 2013, the committee believes the results to be so important and
beneficial that we wish the recommendations had been published in draft form a year ago.

The committee endorses the recommendation by NIST that a probabilistic tornado hazard map be
prepared in a format similar to those for seismic and conventional wind hazards. Recommendations
should be developed enabling engineers to generate design loads in the manner of ASCE/SEI 7, the
standard design loads document used in the United States. This document is advisory and may be
implemented in local building codes at the discretion of the local authority.


implementing Committee Recommendations to NIST, Dec. 2012

The Committee is pleased that NIST evaluated our recommendations made a year ago and has
made significant progress toward implementing them. Again, the Committee urges that the
NCST Act be broadened to include lifeline incidents in order that future NIST investigations
may address and achieve a balance between investigation of buildings and infrastructure. This is
consistent with the growing recognition of resilience as a primary goal in protecting communities

from the effects of natural hazards.

Sincerely,

Identical letter sent to:
The Honorable Ted Cruz
Ranking Minority Member


National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee
National Institute of Standards and Technology

January 27, 2014

The Honorable John D. Rockefeller IV

Chairman

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

| am pleased to submit the 2013 Annual Report of the National Construction Safety Team (NCST)
Advisory Committee (Committee) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The
Committee serves as NIST’s advisor on implementation of the NCST Act (P.L. 107-231) and our opinions
and recommendations expressed in this letter reflect our views as an independent, private sector body.

The Committee met face-to-face at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD on December 10-11, 2013. Public
comments were invited for this meeting; however, none were received.

Topics of discussion included:

¢ Findings and recommendations based on NIST investigation of the Joplin, MO tornado of May
2011
Findings based on the reconnaissance of the Newcastle-Moore, OK tornado of May 2013
Post-fire data collection response to Waldo Canyon, CO Wildland Urban Interface fire of June-
July 2012

e Update on NIST participation in the FEMA-led investigation of Hurricane Sandy

e NIST response to Committee recommendations made in its report of December 2012.

Joplin, MO tornado of May, 2011

The committee commends the excellent investigation, interpretation and report by NIST Staff on the
Joplin, MO tornado of May 2011. The approach is methodical and scientific, leading to findings that
support a coherent list of 16 recommendations that, if implemented, will enhance safety and
community resilience in similar future events. Indeed, though the report has undergone valuable
improvements and refinements during 2013, the committee believes the results to be so important and
beneficial that we wish the recommendations had been published in draft form a year ago.

The committee endorses the recommendation by NIST that a probabilistic tornado hazard map be
prepared in a format similar to those for seismic and conventional wind hazards. Recommendations
should be developed enabling engineers to generate design loads in the manner of ASCE/SEI 7, the
standard design loads document used in the United States. This document is advisory and may be
implemented in local building codes at the discretion of the local authority.


Implementing Committee Recommendations to NIST, Dec. 2012

The Committee is pleased that NIST evaluated our recommendations made a year ago and has
made significant progress toward implementing them. Again, the Committee urges that the
NCST Act be broadened to include lifeline incidents in order that future NIST investigations
may address and achieve a balance between investigation of buildings and infrastructure. This is
consistent with the growing recognition of resilience as a primary goal in protecting communities
from the effects of natural hazards.

Sincerely,

Identical letter sent to:
The Honorable Bill Nelson
Chairman


The committee also endorses the recommendation by NIST to develop a nationwide protocol defining
standards for the technology and use of public alert systems. In the absence of national guidelines, local
jurisdictions develop their own protocols without benefit of advice on modern technology such as
reverse 9-1-1 cell phone communication. The goal of this recommendation is to warn the public in an
unambiguous and timely manner.

In addition to alerting the public to an imminent threat, the committee encourages a program of public
education as to the nature of tornado threats and how to respond to alerts. The committee
recommends that NIST develop an education package based on a standard response plan than could be
adapted by local safety officials. The investigation of public response to alerts prior to touchdown of the
Joplin, MO tornado uncovered a degree of misunderstanding about the nature of tornado hazards and
about the reality of the threat to Joplin. A standardized, authoritative education package can be the
basis of helping citizens to protect themselves.

The committee recognizes that the 16 recommendations contained in the NIST report on the Joplin, MO
tornado are mutually supporting and if implemented would lead to significant mitigation of tornado
hazards. The committee recommends that NIST develop a strategic plan for implementing the 16
recommendations, recognizing the bureaucratic, financial and human obstacles that it will face.

The Committee commends NIST for making a valuable addition to the literature on the response of
structures to extreme loads. The distinction between design wind speed (90 mph for most of the U.S.
interior in 2011) and the wind speed that could cause structural damage in a properly-designed building
(110-115 mph) was recognized and appropriately emphasized in the evaluation of building performance.

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

The Committee recommends that NIST consider science and engineering methodologies similar to those
that reduce the fire risk in building interiors to reduce the fire risk of building exteriors in WUI fires. Such
methodology could lead, for example, to methods for fire hardening of the exterior of the structures
that could significantly reduce the damage from firebrands and flame radiation in WUI fires

Data Repository

The Committee is greatly encouraged by the progress made in advancing the Data Repository. An
architecture to be developed in Phase 3 will allow a user to quickly access a menu of event types—
earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters affecting the built infrastructure—
each of which has links to data sets that describe an individual event. This is the product of evolving
recognition that the knowledge gained from, for example, earthquakes and tornados, must be organized
and presented differently. Compartmentalization by event type avoids overly complex software and
makes it much more likely that outside agencies and institutions can make their natural hazard data
available to the Repository without having detailed knowledge of the Repository software.


The committee also endorses the recommendation by NIST to develop a nationwide protocol defining
standards for the technology and use of public alert systems. In the absence of national guidelines, local
jurisdictions develop their own protocols without benefit of advice on modern technology such as
reverse 9-1-1 cell phone communication. The goal of this recommendation is to warn the public in an
unambiguous and timely manner.

In addition to alerting the public to an imminent threat, the committee encourages a Program of public
education as to the nature of tornado threats and how to respond to alerts. The committee
recommends that NIST develop an education package based on a standard response plan than could be
adapted by local safety officials. The investigation of public response to alerts prior to touchdown of the
Joplin, MO tornado uncovered a degree of misunderstanding about the nature of tornado hazards and
about the reality of the threat to Joplin. A standardized, authoritative education package can be the
basis of helping citizens to protect themselves.

The committee recognizes that the 16 recommendations contained in the NIST report on the Joplin, MO
tornado are mutually supporting and if implemented would lead to significant mitigation of tornado
hazards. The committee recommends that NIST develop a strategic plan for implementing the 16
recommendations, recognizing the bureaucratic, financial and human obstacles that it will face.

The Committee commends NIST for making a valuable addition to the literature on the response of
structures to extreme loads. The distinction between design wind speed (90 mph for most of the U.S.
interior in 2011) and the wind speed that could cause structural damage in a properly-designed building
(110-115 mph) was recognized and appropriately emphasized in the evaluation of building performance.

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

The Committee recommends that NIST consider science and engineering methodologies similar to those
that reduce the fire risk in building interiors to reduce the fire risk of building exteriors in WUI fires. Such
methodology could lead, for example, to methods for fire hardening of the exterior of the structures
that could significantly reduce the damage from firebrands and flame radiation in WU! fires

Data Repository

The Committee is greatly encouraged by the progress made in advancing the Data Repository. An
architecture to be developed in Phase 3 will allow a user to quickly access a menu of event types—
earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters affecting the built infrastructure—
each of which has links to data sets that describe an individual event. This is the product of evolving
recognition that the knowledge gained from, for example, earthquakes and tornados, must be organized
and presented differently. Compartmentalization by event type avoids overly complex software and
makes it much more likely that outside agencies and institutions can make their natural hazard data
available to the Repository without having detailed knowledge of the Repository software.


National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee
National Institute of Standards and Technology

January 27, 2014

The Honorable Dan Lipinski

Ranking Minority Member

Subcommittee on Research and Technology
Committee on Science, Space and Technology
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Lipinski:

1am pleased to submit the 2013 Annual Report of the National Construction Safety Team (NCST)
Advisory Committee (Committee) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The
Committee serves as NIST’s advisor on implementation of the NCST Act (P.L. 107-231) and our opinions
and recommendations expressed in this letter reflect our views as an independent, private sector body.

The Committee met face-to-face at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD on December 10-11, 2013. Public
comments were invited for this meeting; however, none were received.

Topics of discussion included:

e Findings and recommendations based on NIST investigation of the Joplin, MO tornado of May
2011

© Findings based on the reconnaissance of the Newcastle-Moore, OK tornado of May 2013

©  Post-fire data collection response to Waldo Canyon, CO Wildland Urban Interface fire of June-
July 2012
Update on NIST participation in the FEMA-led investigation of Hurricane Sandy

e NIST response to Committee recommendations made in its report of December 2012.

Joplin, MO tornado of May, 2011

The committee commends the excellent investigation, interpretation and report by NIST Staff on the
Joplin, MO tornado of May 2011. The approach is methodical and scientific, leading to findings that
support a coherent list of 16 recommendations that, if implemented, will enhance safety and
community resilience in similar future events. Indeed, though the report has undergone valuable
improvements and refinements during 2013, the committee believes the results to be so important and
beneficial that we wish the recommendations had been published in draft form a year ago.

The committee endorses the recommendation by NIST that a probabilistic tornado hazard map be
prepared in a format similar to those for seismic and conventional wind hazards. Recommendations
should be developed enabling engineers to generate design loads in the manner of ASCE/SEI 7, the
standard design loads document used in the United States. This document is advisory and may be
implemented in local building codes at the discretion of the local authority.


National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee
National Institute of Standards and Technology

January 27, 2014

The Honorable John Thune

Ranking Minority Member

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Thune:

lam pleased to submit the 2013 Annual Report of the National Construction Safety Team (NCST)
Advisory Committee (Committee) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The
Committee serves as NIST’s advisor on implementation of the NCST Act (P.L. 107-231) and our opinions
and recommendations expressed in this letter reflect our views as an independent, private sector body.

The Committee met face-to-face at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD on December 10-11, 2013. Public
comments were invited for this meeting; however, none were received.

Topics of discussion included:

e Findings and recommendations based on NIST investigation of the Joplin, MO tornado of May
2011
Findings based on the reconnaissance of the Newcastle-Moore, OK tornado of May 2013
Post-fire data collection response to Waldo Canyon, CO Wildland Urban Interface fire of June-
July 2012
Update on NIST participation in the FEMA-led investigation of Hurricane Sandy
NIST response to Committee recommendations made in its report of December 2012.

Joplin, MO tornado of May, 2011

The committee commends the excellent investigation, interpretation and report by NIST Staff on the
Joplin, MO tornado of May 2011. The approach is methodical and scientific, leading to findings that
support a coherent list of 16 recommendations that, if implemented, will enhance safety and
community resilience in similar future events. Indeed, though the report has undergone valuable
improvements and refinements during 2013, the committee believes the results to be so important and
beneficial that we wish the recommendations had been published in draft form a year ago.

The committee endorses the recommendation by NIST that a probabilistic tornado hazard map be
prepared in a format similar to those for seismic and conventional wind hazards. Recommendations
should be developed enabling engineers to generate design loads in the manner of ASCE/SEI 7, the
standard design loads document used in the United States. This document is advisory and may be
implemented in local building codes at the discretion of the local authority.


Implementing Committee Recommendations to NIST, Dec. 2012

The Committee is pleased that NIST evaluated our recommendations made a year ago and has
made significant progress toward implementing them. Again, the Committee urges that the
NCST Act be broadened to include lifeline incidents in order that future NIST investigations
may address and achieve a balance between investigation of buildings and infrastructure. This is
consistent with the growing recognition of resilience as a primary goal in protecting communities
from the effects of natural hazards.

Sincerely,

Identical letter sent to:
The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson
Ranking Minority Member


The committee also endorses the recommendation by NIST to develop a nationwide protocol defining
standards for the technology and use of public alert systems. In the absence of national guidelines, local
jurisdictions develop their own protocols without benefit of advice on modern technology such as
reverse 9-1-1 cell phone communication. The goal of this recommendation is to warn the public in an
unambiguous and timely manner.

In addition to alerting the public to an imminent threat, the committee encourages a program of public
education as to the nature of tornado threats and how to respond to alerts. The committee
recommends that NIST develop an education package based on a standard response plan than could be
adapted by local safety officials. The investigation of public response to alerts prior to touchdown of the
Joplin, MO tornado uncovered a degree of misunderstanding about the nature of tornado hazards and
about the reality of the threat to Joplin. A standardized, authoritative education package can be the
basis of helping citizens to protect themselves.

The committee recognizes that the 16 recommendations contained in the NIST report on the Joplin, MO
tornado are mutually supporting and if implemented would lead to significant mitigation of tornado
hazards. The committee recommends that NIST develop a strategic plan for implementing the 16
recommendations, recognizing the bureaucratic, financial and human obstacles that it will face.

The Committee commends NIST for making a valuable addition to the literature on the response of
structures to extreme loads. The distinction between design wind speed (90 mph for most of the U.S.
interior in 2011) and the wind speed that could cause structural damage in a properly-designed building
(110-115 mph) was recognized and appropriately emphasized in the evaluation of building performance.

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

The Committee recommends that NIST consider science and engineering methodologies similar to those
that reduce the fire risk in building interiors to reduce the fire risk of building exteriors in WUI fires. Such
methodology could lead, for example, to methods for fire hardening of the exterior of the structures
that could significantly reduce the damage from firebrands and flame radiation in WUI fires

Data Repository

The Committee is greatly encouraged by the progress made in advancing the Data Repository. An
architecture to be developed in Phase 3 will allow a user to quickly access a menu of event types—
earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters affecting the built infrastructure—
each of which has links to data sets that describe an individual event. This is the product of evolving
recognition that the knowledge gained from, for example, earthquakes and tornados, must be organized
and presented differently. Compartmentalization by event type avoids overly complex software and
makes it much more likely that outside agencies and institutions can make their natural hazard data
available to the Repository without having detailed knowledge of the Repository software.


Implementing Committee Recommendations to NIST, Dec. 2012

The Committee is pleased that NIST evaluated our recommendations made a year ago and has
made significant progress toward implementing them. Again, the Committee urges that the
NCST Act be broadened to include lifeline incidents in order that future NIST investigations
may address and achieve a balance between investigation of buildings and infrastructure. This is
consistent with the growing recognition of resilience as a primary goal in protecting communities
from the effects of natural hazards.

Identical letter sent to:
The Honorable John Thune
Ranking Minority Member


The committee also endorses the recommendation by NIST to develop a nationwide protocol defining
standards for the technology and use of public alert systems. In the absence of national guidelines, local
jurisdictions develop their own protocols without benefit of advice on modern technology such as
reverse 9-1-1 cell phone communication. The goal of this recommendation is to warn the public in an
unambiguous and timely manner.

In addition to alerting the public to an imminent threat, the committee encourages a program of public
education as to the nature of tornado threats and how to respond to alerts. The committee
recommends that NIST develop an education package based on a standard response plan than could be
adapted by local safety officials. The investigation of public response to alerts prior to touchdown of the
Joplin, MO tornado uncovered a degree of misunderstanding about the nature of tornado hazards and
about the reality of the threat to Joplin. A standardized, authoritative education package can be the
basis of helping citizens to protect themselves.

The committee recognizes that the 16 recommendations contained in the NIST report on the Joplin, MO
tornado are mutually supporting and if implemented would lead to significant mitigation of tornado
hazards. The committee recommends that NIST develop a strategic plan for implementing the 16
recommendations, recognizing the bureaucratic, financial and human obstacles that it will face.

The Committee commends NIST for making a valuable addition to the literature on the response of
structures to extreme loads. The distinction between design wind speed (90 mph for most of the U.S.
interior in 2011) and the wind speed that could cause structural damage in a Properly-designed building
(110-115 mph) was recognized and appropriately emphasized in the evaluation of building performance.

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

The Committee recommends that NIST consider science and engineering methodologies similar to those
that reduce the fire risk in building interiors to reduce the fire risk of building exteriors in WU! fires. Such
methodology could lead, for example, to methods for fire hardening of the exterior of the structures
that could significantly reduce the damage from firebrands and flame radiation in WUI fires

Data Repository

The Committee is greatly encouraged by the progress made in advancing the Data Repository. An
architecture to be developed in Phase 3 will allow a user to quickly access a menu of event types—
earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters affecting the built infrastructure—
each of which has links to data sets that describe an individual event. This is the product of evolving
recognition that the knowledge gained from, for example, earthquakes and tornados, must be organized
and presented differently. Compartmentalization by event type avoids overly complex software and
makes it much more likely that outside agencies and institutions can make their natural hazard data
available to the Repository without having detailed knowledge of the Repository software.


National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee
National Institute of Standards and Technology

January 27, 2014

The Honorable Lamar Smith

Chairman

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

am pleased to submit the 2013 Annual Report of the National Construction Safety Team (NCST)
Advisory Committee (Committee) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The
Committee serves as NIST’s advisor on implementation of the NCST Act (P.L. 107-231) and our opinions
and recommendations expressed in this letter reflect our views as an independent, private sector body.

The Committee met face-to-face at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD on December 10-11, 2013. Public
comments were invited for this meeting; however, none were received.

Topics of discussion included:

e Findings and recommendations based on NIST investigation of the Joplin, MO tornado of May
2011

e Findings based on the reconnaissance of the Newcastle-Moore, OK tornado of May 2013

e  Post-fire data collection response to Waldo Canyon, CO Wildland Urban Interface fire of June-
July 2012

e Update on NIST participation in the FEMA-led investigation of Hurricane Sandy

e NIST response to Committee recommendations made in its report of December 2012.

Joplin, MO tornado of May, 2011

The committee commends the excellent investigation, interpretation and report by NIST Staff on the
Joplin, MO tornado of May 2011. The approach is methodical and scientific, leading to findings that
support a coherent list of 16 recommendations that, if implemented, will enhance safety and
community resilience in similar future events. Indeed, though the report has undergone valuable
improvements and refinements during 2013, the committee believes the results to be so important and
beneficial that we wish the recommendations had been published in draft form a year ago.

The committee endorses the recommendation by NIST that a probabilistic tornado hazard map be
prepared in a format similar to those for seismic and conventional wind hazards. Recommendations
should be developed enabling engineers to generate design loads in the manner of ASCE/SEI 7, the
standard design loads document used in the United States. This document is advisory and may be
implemented in local building codes at the discretion of the local authority.


National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee
National Institute of Standards and Technology

January 27, 2014

The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson
Ranking Minority Member

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Johnson:

lam pleased to submit the 2013 Annual Report of the National Construction Safety Team (NCST)
Advisory Committee (Committee) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The
Committee serves as NIST’s advisor on implementation of the NCST Act (P.L. 107-231) and our opinions
and recommendations expressed in this letter reflect our views as an independent, private sector body.

The Committee met face-to-face at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD on December 10-11, 2013. Public
comments were invited for this meeting; however, none were received.

Topics of discussion included:

¢ Findings and recommendations based on NIST investigation of the Joplin, MO tornado of May
2011
Findings based on the reconnaissance of the Newcastle-Moore, OK tornado of May 2013
Post-fire data collection response to Waldo Canyon, CO Wildland Urban Interface fire of June-
July 2012
Update on NIST participation in the FEMA-led investigation of Hurricane Sandy
NIST response to Committee recommendations made in its report of December 2012.

Joplin, MO tornado of May, 2011

The committee commends the excellent investigation, interpretation and report by NIST Staff on the
Joplin, MO tornado of May 2011. The approach is methodical and scientific, leading to findings that
support a coherent list of 16 recommendations that, if implemented, will enhance safety and
community resilience in similar future events. Indeed, though the report has undergone valuable
improvements and refinements during 2013, the committee believes the results to be so important and
beneficial that we wish the recommendations had been published in draft form a year ago.

The committee endorses the recommendation by NIST that a probabilistic tornado hazard map be
prepared in a format similar to those for seismic and conventional wind hazards. Recommendations
should be developed enabling engineers to generate design loads in the manner of ASCE/SEI 7, the
standard design loads document used in the United States. This document is advisory and may be
implemented in local building codes at the discretion of the local authority.