12/10/2008
FEMA Taps APA for Damage Assessment
APA assisted FEMA in evaluating Hurricane Ike flood damage along the Gulf Coast, including improperly anchored raised foundation homes that were knocked off their piers.
APA Engineered Wood Specialist C.W. Macomber represented APA on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mitigation Assessment Team that toured Hurricane Ike damage in Louisiana in October. APA was asked by FEMA to study building foundation performance and evaluate flood damage.
Macomber observed many damaged raised foundation homes that were not properly anchored to their piers per local building codes and floodplain management requirements. These homes suffered flotation or collapse when Hurricane Ike’s flood water levels exceeded the height of their foundations. Many more improperly anchored houses were at risk but narrowly avoided harm because flood water levels did not rise above their piers.
“It’s been nearly three years since Hurricane Katrina, and I marveled at the lack of proper attention to building codes in newer 800-1,300 square foot homes,” said Macomber. “It may take another 10 to 15 years for best practices to get a foothold in some of these locations.”
Macomber is estimating the percentage of non-compliant structures that would likely fail in the future due to high winds or flooding. His findings will be included in a FEMA damage assessment report. His contributions support APA’s efforts to work closely with government agencies to champion building design and construction methods, such as properly secured raised wood floors, that can mitigate flood and wind damage along the Gulf Coast.