[G-02] Comprehensive disaster prevention education

[G02-P08] Flood and Wind Risk in the United States: Evaluating the Effectiveness of combined Freeboard and FORTIFIED

*Ayat AL Assi^1,2, Rubayet Bin Mostafiz², Carol J Friedland², Md Adilur Rahim^1,2 (1.Louisian State University, 2.Louisiana State University Agricultural Center)

Keywords:Flood risk, Wind risk, Freeboard, FORTIFIED, Average annual loss reduction

Flood and wind risk are major concerns in the United States, with millions of people affected and billions of dollars in damage caused each year. To mitigate the risks of these natural disasters, it is important to consider measures such as freeboard and FORTIFIED. Freeboard refers to the additional elevation above the 100-year base flood elevation, providing a margin of safety in the event of flooding. FORTIFIED, on the other hand, involves reinforcing structures against strong winds through three levels of designation. However, it is important to consider that increasing elevation can also increase a structure's vulnerability to wind risk. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of freeboard and FORTIFIED in reducing flood and wind risk, while taking into account the potential vulnerability of elevated structures to wind risk. The average annual loss reduction for building, contents, and use considers as the primary benefits of these mitigation strategies. Additionally, the cost of implementation and potential reduction in flood and wind insurance will be considered to evaluate the overall benefits. By shedding light on the effectiveness of freeboard and FORTIFIED in mitigating the risks of flood and wind risk, the findings of this study can help communities and stakeholders make better choices and implement more resilient solutions to reduce the risk of flood and wind.