Volume 23 | January 14, 2021
The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH®) is the country’s leading
consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and
manmade disasters.
The Latest from FLASH
December Virtual Briefing Provides 2020 Review and 2021 Outlook
On December 3, FLASH hosted a webinar entitled, Ninety Minutes with FLASH - 2020 Review - 2021 Outlook. President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson opened the virtual gathering with an inspiring welcome message. Leslie and Executive Vice President Eric Vaughn then shared the virtual stage to present programmatic updates.

The briefing offered a review of the recent FLASH Partnership events and milestones, emphasizing 2021 engagement opportunities. Featured programs align within each of the four strategic pillars of Leadership, Partnership, Outreach, and Education.

Leadership - Building Code Transparency


No Code. No Confidence. - Inspect2Protect.org (I2P) is a multi-year, research-informed initiative that is currently in Phase I. The purpose is to increase community resilience by providing transparency regarding building code adoption statuses, and the target audiences are consumers and leaders. The initiative's center pin is a one-of-a-kind digital lookup tool that allows users to identify the current building codes in their community through a map with color-coded analysis. Red, yellow, green, or black colors indicate residential code versions based on the best available and verified national data. FLASH continuously updates the data through hyper-local analysis, data sharing, and crowdsourcing.

Additional Phase I elements include a free promotional toolkit with Public Service Announcements featuring Weather Channel meteorologists, a "Tale of Two Towns" animation, shareable graphics, social media gifs, and a commentary paper recapping the underlying consumer research.
Beginning in February, Phase II of the I2P initiative will include new, expanded features, including:

  • Historic code statuses for approximately 30 states that follow statewide International Residential Code and International Building Code adoption processes; 
  • Structural retrofit recommendations specific to current building code status or construction year. For example, a home built in the '70s in Florida may generate approximately seven retrofit suggestions, while a home built there last year may display only two retrofit options;
  • A cost and impact chart regarding recommended retrofits described above; 
  • A list of presidentially-declared disasters that occurred in the user's county dating back to 1953 as a method to increase awareness of potential future risk; and, 
  • New Public Service Announcements focused on earthquake codes and new promotional tools to further expand code status transparency.

Leading organizations who participate in and support this initiative include DHS, FEMA, the International Code Council, ISO/Verisk, and The Weather Channel. The DHS Science & Technology Directorate, Systems Engineering, and Standards Division, and FEMA provided Phase II funding.
Partnership - New Opportunities to Advance Resilience

Strong Homes Initiative

FLASH created the Strong Homes Initiative (Strong Homes) in 2019 because the partners believe that everyone deserves a safe and strong home. Strong Homes provides resources and training necessary to incorporate post-disaster best practices and beyond-code construction methods into rebuilding and repair projects for low-income disaster survivors. The homes are built and repaired using FEMA guidance and the IBHS FORTIFIED standards. A two-year Strong Homes pilot program will be completed this spring because of the collaborative spirit of rebuilding nonprofits like Mennonite Disaster Service and many generous partners and donors.

The foremost benefit of Strong Homes is that it helps the most vulnerable disaster survivors recover more resiliently with stronger, safe homes. Many secondary benefits will help create systematic change in how we build and rebuild. They include the following:

  1. Strong Homes exposes local leaders, code officials, and the nonprofits that focus on rebuilding and repairing homes in disaster zones to state-of-the-art resilience practices based on FEMA Building Science Branch findings and guidance, scientific research, and engineering best practices. Leading companies like Huber Engineered Woods, Simpson Strong-Tie, and the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) are providing invaluable information, training, and support as well.
  2. Strong Homes offers FLASH reliable data to document the actual cost of resilient building practices and upgrades like hurricane shutters, enhanced continuous load paths, and sealed roof decks. A cost study will capture the data and help dispel the myth that resilience is unaffordable.
  3. Strong Homes presents unique and unprecedented applied research opportunities. For example, FLASH, IBHS, University of Florida College of Engineering, and GAF forged a research project to collect field data on the long-term performance of asphalt roof shingles and shingle sealant on occupied structures. The study will capture and measure the effects of heat exposure, ultraviolet rays, and moisture on asphalt shingles' long-term performance. The study is unique because the included homes are built nearly identically in the same general location with the same climate conditions and are the same age.

FLASH is seeking additional organizations to join the Strong Homes partners and provide support through donated or discounted products or services, expertise, or direct financial contributions. The current participating organizations and donors include:

  • Disaster Smart Consulting
  • Federal Alliance for Safe Homes - FLASH
  • FEMA
  • GAF
  • Global Protection Products, LLC
  • Hillman Group
  • Huber Engineered Woods 
  • Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)
  • Kolbe Windows
  • Lowe's
  • Mennonite Disaster Service
  • National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD) Housing Task Force 
  • Simpson Strong-Tie
  • State Farm Insurance Companies
  • United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) – Hurricane Michael Recovery
  • University of Florida
  • USAA
  • Volunteer Florida

Seventeen Strong Homes are now complete, and 19 more are underway. Plans include program expansion beyond high wind and hurricane-affected areas to address wildfire and additional hazards in the future.
Outreach & Education - On the Horizon

#HurricaneStrong & #TornadoStrong

Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are now available for the expanded digital 2021 National Hurricane Resilience Initiative - #HurricaneStrong, and the new #TornadoStrong campaigns.
#HurricaneStrong is a collaboration with FEMA, NOAA, and The Weather Channel to empower the public with hurricane safety and mitigation information. The campaign offers information through digital channels, news media partnerships, and social media campaigns.

Since the launch in 2016, #HurricaneStrong has created a simple, everyday language and "call to arms" used by more than twenty-four thousand people on Twitter, reaching more than 156 million users. Like-minded organizations and industry leaders such as the Centers for Disease Control, the National Weather Service, The White House, and the U.S. Department of Defense regularly use the hashtag.

#TornadoStrong will mirror the successful tactics used for #HurricaneStrong and will include the following campaign elements:

  • A consumer survey in tornado-prone states benchmarking consumer awareness levels regarding tornado safe rooms and safety options: the survey will contrast 2021 awareness levels with prior FLASH consumer research initiatives, including the 2009 FEMA-funded Building the Case for Safe Rooms.
  • Key messages using the survey insights with the following goals in mind:
  • Increase awareness of tornado safety practices, weather alerting apps, NOAA weather radios, and family disaster planning.
  • Increase awareness of safe room and shelter affordability and options while leveraging current homeowner trends.
  • Increase awareness of performed-based engineering and mitigation techniques to strengthen new and existing home's roof-to-wall, wall-to-foundation, and garage door connections, along with information regarding impact-resistant entry doors and windows.
  • Shareable checklists, information sheets, and graphics
  • Tornado-focused podcasts and more

FLASH will update and refine the preexisting, research-informed, Give an Ordinary Room an Extraordinary Purpose messaging to reinforce information regarding ICC/NSSA 500 compliant shelters, FEMA 320 safe room guidance, and high-wind construction insights relevant for new home construction, remodeling, and retrofit projects.

#TornadoStrong will launch in March in conjunction with the spring tornado season.

Resilient Homebuyer's Guide

No community is without some risk from disasters caused by natural hazards. Nationally, disasters disrupt tens of thousands of lives and livelihoods every year, causing lasting emotional, financial, and physical impacts on people and property. That is why it is essential to determine how resilient or vulnerable your potential home and community are before deciding where to live.

The new consumer-friendly Resilient Homebuyer's Guide will provide the right questions to ask about what your current or future home can handle should disaster strike. The guide and checklists will provide a way to explore a home's performance potential during ordinary or catastrophic events. Homebuyers will learn about resilient home improvement options and the related impact on home insurance costs and savings.

The Resilient Homebuyer's Guide will be available online in spring 2021, and we wish to express our thanks to the Resilience Action Fund for the resources that made the guide possible.

Email Info@flash.org for more information on 2021 programs and partnership opportunities.
Two New Podcasts to Kick-Start the New Year
According to Edison Research, 74% of podcast users list "to learn something new" as one reason they listen to podcasts. If your New Year's resolution included "learning something new," then the latest two episodes of Strong Homes, Safe Families! are for you! 

In response to last year's record breaking hurricane season, wildfires, ongoing winter storm alerts, and pandemic, FLASH released the Top Ten Tips for Disaster Safety in 2021, featuring affordable, simple, do-it-yourself (DIY) ways to strengthen your home for the new year. FLASH Board Advisor and former CNN Correspondent John Zarrella served as guest host turning the tables on regular host FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. 

Following the Top Ten Tips podcast, we turned to self-described rock nerd Amanda Siok. Amanda is the Earthquake, Tsunami, and Volcano Program Manager for FEMA Region X in Seattle. Amanda's episode How Building Codes and Planning Can Create a Resilient Alaska offers a dive into Alaska's earthquake history, building code progress, resilience strategies, and much more. Her perspectives on disaster safety through strong buildings and best practices offer a fresh take on our shared goals to create disaster-resilient communities.

Just in case you missed our previous Strong Homes, Safe Families! episodes:

  1. #HurricaneStrong and the 2020 Season feat. National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham
  2. The Scoop on Hurricane Shutters feat. Tim Robinson, Managing Partner of Global Protection Products and President of the International Hurricane Protection Association
  3. Skills + Supplies Today = Safety and Survival Tomorrow feat. Sean Reilly, District Manager for Lowe's along North and South Carolina coast-between Myrtle Beach and Morehead City
  4. #HurricaneStrong Home Hacks that Save Time and Money feat. Bill Ferimer, Lowe's Store Manager in Wilmington, North Carolina
  5. Have an Insurance Checkup and Make Your Policy #HurricaneStrong feat. Amanda Chase, State Farm Insurance Agent in Winter Park, Florida
  6. Take Steps Today for a Smooth Hurricane Claim Process Tomorrow feat. Elizabeth Gulick, VP of Claims Operations for USAA
  7. Dr. Anne Cope on Science That Makes Us #HurricaneStrong feat. Anne Cope, Ph.D., PE, Chief Engineer at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS)
  8. Ready, Set, ShakeOut! Feat. Mark Benthien, Director of Communication, Education, and Outreach at the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC)
  9. Ending the Season #HurricaneStrong, a Conversation with Dr. Rick Knabb, On-Air Hurricane Expert and Tropical Program Manager for The Weather Channel
  10. Building Codes Save Study with FEMA's Ed Laatsch, Director – Safety, Planning, and Building Science Division of the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA), Risk Management Directorate – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Thanks for listening and don't forget to subscribe, rate, share, and provide an iTunes review for Strong Homes, Safe Families!
Consumer Outreach Council Seeks New Members for 2021
FLASH is seeking applications and nominations for Consumer Outreach Council members for 2021. Interested partners should have experience in communications, marketing, public relations, and social media.

The Consumer Outreach Council works to promote preparedness information and property-protection techniques to the public. Its goal is to create public demand and social value for resiliency through education, media campaigns, consumer campaigns, and other initiatives directed by the Council.
We have many new multi-peril projects and collaborative outreach opportunities slated for the coming year that will benefit from member insights and expertise. The Council meets virtually every other month, and the next meeting is Thursday, January 21.

If you are a partner and interested in serving, or would like to recommend someone within your organization, please email zoe@flash.org.
2021 National Disaster Resilience Conference
Call for Presentations Now Open
FLASH is seeking presenter abstracts for its premier conference, the National Disaster Resilience Conference (NDRC21). The NDRC21 will take place in Clearwater Beach, FL, from Wednesday, December 1 to Friday, December 3, and the abstract submission deadline is Tuesday, March 30.

NDRC21 will bring together the nation's foremost voices in the disaster safety and resilience movement to share best practices, inspire, and collaborate. Attendees will include leaders, professionals, and practitioners from a cross-section of private, public, and nonprofit organizations who share the mission of strengthening homes and safeguarding families from disasters of all kinds.

The committee is seeking individual presenter or full panel submissions with a focus on:
  • Science and Engineering – to support preparedness, response, recovery, or mitigation.
  • Policy – to advance resilience through strong modern building codes, smart finance, marketplace incentive programs, tax benefits, or innovation. 
  • Practice – to bring together advocates, building and fire code officials, communicators, emergency managers, engineers, futurists, insurance professionals, journalists, leaders, merchants, meteorologists, product manufacturers, public officials, researchers, scientists, and more.

Your submission should include responses to the following questions:

  1. How does your proposed topic and area of expertise advance the cause of safer families and stronger homes? 
  2. What do you believe is the greatest challenge in improving disaster resiliency, and how does your work help overcome it?
  3. How can NDRC21 attendees and the disaster safety and resilience stakeholder community engage in and/or benefit from your work to advance resilience? 
National Disaster Resilience Conference Sponsorship Opportunities
 Now Available
Show your support for disaster safety and resilience by sponsoring the 2021 National Disaster Resilience Conference (NDRC21). Through sponsorship, your organization will be recognized by attendees from all practices and professionals, from architects and engineers to elected officials and emergency managers who come together to make this conference an innovation incubator for the disaster safety and resilience movement. Sponsorship levels include:

  • Titanium - $35,000 (Limit 1)
  • Gold - $20,000 (Limit 4)
  • Silver - $10,000 (Limit 8) 
  • Bronze - $5,000 (Unlimited)
  • Tabletop - $2,500 (Unlimited) 

Why Sponsor?

Sponsorship will position your organization as a leader in the disaster safety and resilience movement and provide you with the opportunity to network with like-minded leaders from organizations such as:

  • FEMA 
  • Huber Engineered Woods
  • Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
  • International Code Council
  • ISO/Verisk 
  • Lowe's
  • National Weather Service
  • Portland Cement Association
  • Simpson Strong-Tie
  • State Farm 
  • The Weather Channel 
  • USAA 

You will gain access to highly interactive learning sessions with our invited featured speakers designed to help define your organization's role in the disaster safety and resilience movement and come away with the tools needed for your organization to help drive change. Read More >
FLASH Leadership Partner Receives Distinguished Achievement Award 
Renowned for his geoscience expertise, service to the Aggie family, and legacy contributions to science, Bill Read was honored with the Michel T. Halbouty Geosciences Medal by Texas A&M University.

Bill received his B.S. and M.S. in meteorology from Texas A&M in 1971 and 1976, respectively. His decades of experience serving in the meteorology field include flying into and forecasting tropical cyclones and other severe weather events for the U.S. Navy and the National Weather Service (NWS), working as a senior forecaster in the NWS Fort Worth office, and serving as meteorologist-in-charge of the NWS Houston-Galveston office for 15 years. He rose through the NWS ranks and served as the National Hurricane Center director from 2008 through 2012.

Bill has since worked as a hurricane consultant to major television networks and shared his advice and expertise with countless students and Texas A&M classes.
FEMA Study Projects Implementing I-Codes Could Save $600 Billion by 2060
In November, FEMA released its landmark study, "Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study," featuring an in-depth look at the quantified benefits—avoided losses to buildings and building contents—from adopting modern building codes and standards. As the frequency and severity of natural hazards continue to increase year-over-year, this study reaffirms that building codes continue to be the best first line of defense.

"With incredible analytic detail, this study reaffirms what so many studies before have concluded — adopting and implementing the I-Codes is one of the most effective ways to safeguard our communities against disasters," said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. "But further strides must be made in states and localities where the report identifies there are no codes adopted or where codes have not been updated this century. We thank FEMA for highlighting the value of and need for coordinated action at all levels of government that is critical to ensuring our homes and businesses are best positioned to weather the increasing hazard risks posed by our changing climate." Read More >
Partner Spotlight
Steven G. Cooper
Former Regional Director, Southern Region,
National Weather Service
Congratulations to FLASH Board Advisor, collaborative partner, and friend Steven Cooper on his retirement from the National Weather Service after nearly 42 years of service. We thank him for his incredible legacy of service to FLASH over the years, from helping to define our mission to championing breakthrough programs like Turn Around, Don't Drown and #HurricaneStrong. His unbridled dedication has made a lasting impact on the disaster safety movement.

Steven served as the Regional Director of the NWS Southern Region – serving Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to providing around the clock weather and hydrological forecasts and warnings, Southern Region employees provide support for the aviation community, spaceflight activities, the marine industry, fire weather, air quality, and the private meteorological community. Read More >
Partner News
NOAA Releases 2020 Billion Dollar Weather Disasters Report
The U.S. has sustained 285 weather and climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2020). The total cost of these 285 events exceeds $1.875 trillion.

In 2020, there were 22 weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect the United States. These events included 1 drought event, 13 severe storm events, 7 tropical cyclone events, and 1 wildfire event. Overall, these events resulted in the deaths of 262 people and had significant economic effects on the areas impacted. The 1980–2020 annual average is 7.0 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2016–2020) is 16.2 events (CPI-adjusted).

2020 sets the new annual record of 22 events - shattering the previous annual record of 16 events that occurred in 2011 and 2017. 2020 is the sixth consecutive year (2015-2020) in which 10 or more billion-dollar weather and climate disaster events have impacted the United States. Over the last 41 years (1980-2020), the years with 10 or more separate billion-dollar disaster events include 1998, 2008, 2011-2012, and 2015-2020. Read More>
Lowe's Grant Help 2,000+ Small Businesses Nationwide During Pandemic

Lowe's support of Small Business Saturday is even more special during a year when the home improvement retailer sought innovative ways to help small businesses. First, Lowe's Small Business Grant Program created $55 million in grants. Then, Lowe's launched its first virtual pitch program, Making It… with Lowe's, to identify diverse products from diverse small business owners.

You could say supporting small businesses is in our DNA. After all, Lowe's first opened as a rural small business nearly a century ago. Lowe's partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in summer 2020 came as small businesses, the backbone of our communities, faced unprecedented challenges amid a global pandemic – challenges that have historically affected diverse small businesses disproportionately.

Throughout this trying time, Pros have helped keep us safe in our homes through both maintenance and repair – and by helping us transform our homes into offices, classrooms, and playgrounds. Read More >
FEMA Names BuildStrong Coalition Executive Director to National Advisory Council 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has named BuildStrong Coalition Executive Director Pamela Williams to the agency's National Advisory Council (NAC). The Council advises FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor on all aspects of emergency management and consists of up to 35 members, including officials, emergency managers, and emergency responders from state, local, tribal and territorial governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

"We're honored to be represented by Pamela among this esteemed collection of emergency management experts," said BuildStrong Chairman Jimi Grande. "There has been no stronger voice in the resilience conversation than that of our executive director, and this partnership between emergency management officials, NGOs, and the private sector is critical for creating an effective national mitigation strategy. We look forward to seeing Pamela continue to serve in the leadership role the BuildStrong Coalition plays in that effort."
Michael Mahoney Awarded Honorary Membership

Michael Mahoney, Senior Geophysicist - FEMA, received honorary membership in the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC). Honorary membership in the esteemed 90-year-old organization is awarded by the Board of Directors in special recognition of those who have made longstanding contributions to the excellence of the structural engineering profession. 

Presenting the award was SEAONC member Maryann Phipps, the President of Estructure, a small woman-owned firm of highly regarded structural engineers. Phipps was also a lead author of the 2011 FEMA publication, E-74 Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage, and co-authored FEMA P-1024, Performance of Buildings and Nonstructural Components in the 2014 South Napa Earthquake. Read More>
International Code Council Goes Virtual for the 2021 Committee Action Hearings

The International Code Council has begun its 2024 code development process and confirmed its Committee Action Hearings will leverage a virtual model for participants. Taking place April 11 through May 5, 2021, all interested parties are encouraged to participate as modern and innovative building codes, and standards affect the safety and sustainability of all our buildings and communities.

"As we continue to navigate the pandemic and adhere to COVID-19 regulations, the safety of hearing participants is our number one priority," said Dominic Sims, CBO, Chief Executive Officer of the Code Council. "Following the success of our recent virtual appeals, we've incorporated key lessons learned and are well-positioned to leverage a virtual framework for our upcoming Committee Action Hearings." 
Do You Need a State Farm® Teacher Assist?

Entries open today at 4 p.m. local time in California, Florida, Michigan, New York, and Texas! California, Florida, Michigan, New York, and Texas Teachers*:

Has the pandemic caused you to change the way you teach? Can you use $2,500 to fund new, innovative learning in your classroom? Forty teachers in each state will be selected. Winners will be selected from the first 200 applicants in each state based on need and proposed use of funds. Read More>
PCA Plan Will Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050

The Portland Cement Association (PCA), the leading association representing cement manufacturers in the United States, today announced an industry-wide ambition to reduce carbon emissions and further address the impacts of climate change. As PCA members continue to drive down the carbon intensity of their operations and products, PCA will develop a roadmap by the end of 2021 to facilitate its member companies achieving carbon neutrality across the concrete value chain by 2050.

Industries, environmental groups, and local governments across the U.S. are increasingly working to mitigate the effects of climate change and create a more sustainable future, and this roadmap positions the cement and concrete industry as the leader in the construction sector in delivering cleaner and greener infrastructure across the country. Read More>
IBHS Releases Wildfire Preparedness Guide for Small Businesses 

Small businesses face unique challenges when natural disasters strike. As wildfires have burned a record-breaking four million acres in California already this year, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has released Wildfire Ready–Business, a new preparedness guide designed specifically to help small business and commercial building owners better understand the risk and prepare for wildfires by making their properties more wildfire-resistant.
 
Like a home, a commercial building is a system with multiple vulnerabilities, so no single action alone will significantly reduce the risk of wildfire ignition. Wildfire Ready–Business lays out areas of vulnerability unique to commercial properties and the critical actions that must be addressed first to appreciably lower related wildfire risk. It then takes small business and commercial property owners and managers through additional improvements to tackle as time and budget permit. Read More >
ICC Honors Building Safety Professionals 

The International Code Council honored outstanding individuals and organizations for their accomplishments and service to their communities, the building safety industry, and the Code Council at a special virtual awards event during the inaugural ICC Learn Live. Visit the recently launched 2020 Awards webpage that contains full profiles of the award recipients.

The Robert W. Gain Fire Prevention Leadership Award is presented annually to recognize career achievement by an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and longstanding dedication in support of fire codes and fire prevention. This prestigious award honors the memory of Chief Robert W. Gain. The recipient of the 2020 Robert W. Gain Fire Prevention Leadership Award is Lee Wheeler, Retired Fire Chief from the Renton, Washington, Fire Department. Read More>
PCA Announces 2020 Safety Innovation Awards 

The Portland Cement Association (PCA), representing America's cement manufacturers, recently announced the 2020 Safety Innovation Awards winners, recognizing creative safety-enhancing projects in the cement industry. The winners were determined by a panel of judges that evaluated safety projects completed in 2019 from across the country in five categories: distribution, pyro processing, general facility, quarry and mine, and milling and grinding.

"Our industry prioritizes the safety of its employees above all else," said PCA President and CEO Michael Ireland. "We are proud of our members efforts to pursue excellence in safety innovation for their company and their colleagues Read More >
Building Codes and Resilience Featured at BuildStrong Coalition Webinar
On October 22, Leslie Chapman-Henderson shared the "virtual stage" with Dale Thomure, Manager of Community Hazard Mitigation - ISO, Peggy Echols, Vice President Operations - State Farm Insurance Companies, and Pamela Williams, Executive Director - BuildStrong Coalition, for a presentation during the Building Codes and Applying for FEMA's BRIC program hosted by the BuildStrong Coalition.

The webinar focused on the two specific criteria that are key to developing highly competitive applications for FEMA's new Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant Program: (1) mandatory adoption of building codes and (2) Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) Rating of 1 to 5. Additional highlights included capitalizing on key community partners to help drive resilience, particularly for residential structures, and the benefits of achieving resilience for an entire community.

For more information on the BuildStrong Coalition, visit www.buildstrongamerica.com.
Career Opportunity: NIST Social Scientist
Applicants must have 52 weeks of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal service (ZP-IV at NIST), in leading multi-disciplinary teams investigating the failure and performance of materials, components, structures or systems associated with a structural collapse, natural disaster, or human-initiated event, including but not limited to earthquakes, hurricanes, wind and storm surge, structural fires, fires at the wildland urban interface, or the response of people and emergency responders intimate to these disaster and failure events. Read More >
Career Opportunity: NIST Research Engineer OR Research Structural Engineer
Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Read More >
Mark Your Calendars
The details below are based on the most up-to-date information available
to FLASH as of January 14, 2021

January 19, 2021 @ 8:00 am - January 21, 2021 @ 5:00 pm | Virtual 
February 9-11, 2021 | Virtual
June 14- 17, 2021 | New Orleans, LA
April 11- May 5, 2021 | Virtual
December 1-3, 2021 | Clearwater
Beach, FL
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