EF-Scale Training

Welcome to the EF scale course, updated in 2016. This course gives you an introduction to the EF scale and a process to apply EF-ratings to damaged structures. This course has two lessons, two case studies and a final quiz in the LMS. The two case studies, narrated by experts in the NWS field, help you practice what you've learned in the lessons.

In each lesson, please access the references tab (upper right) to access the link to the EF kit and the EF scale document to help you answer some of the questions.

There are some changes since the EF-Scale training has been started in 2007. The EFkit has been improved to include more pictures and an easier interface for those using tablet PCs. The new EFkit features a front page with links to the training modules and a glossary of construction terms found in the EF-Scale Damage Indicator descriptions. Two case studies have been added as separate lessons.

Accompanying the lessons, the EFkit is available for use in training or in the field. It is a tool to help you become more familiar with the EF scale as you take the lessons and as you conduct a real damage survey.

Training resources

• EF Scale course - Please take the lessons in the order below before taking the quiz.

1. Lesson 1: Introducing the Enhanced Fujita Scale - online
   • downloadable version - 13mb zipped file
   • raw powerpoint - 2 mb
2. Lesson 2 Damage Surveys with the Enhanced Fujita Scale - online
   • downloadable version - 26 mb zipped file
   • raw powerpoint - 12 mb
3. Case 1 2004-05-22 Hallam, NE
   • downloadable version - 12 mb zipped file
   • raw powerpoint - 9.6 mb
4. Case 2 2006-04-13 Anamosa, IA
   • downloadable version - 27 mb zipped file
   • raw powerpoint - 24 mb
5. end of course quiz in the LMS. A score of 80% is required to pass.

• The new EFkit: A PC-based tool kit, version 2 updated 2008- 120 mb zipped file
  The legacy EFkit, version 1.1 - 8 mb zipped file.

Additional resources

1. The EF-scale page at SPC - http://www.spc.noaa.gov/efscale/
2. The EF-scale report by McDonald and Mehta:http://www.depts.ttu.edu/nwi/Pubs/FScale/EFScale.pdf
3. The Guide to F-Scale Damage Assessment:
   also at http://meted.ucar.edu/resource/wcm/ftp/FinalNWSF-scaleAssessmentGuide.pdf
4. The WCM resource center at UCAR: http://meted.ucar.edu/resource/wcm/
5. Damage Assessment Toolkit training: https://sites.google.com/a/noaa.gov/damage-assessment-toolkit/home/training (requires NOAA email account)

Acknowledgements:

WDTB thanks the following for helping to develop the EF-Scale training:

1. Steve Kuhl, MIC, NWS, Quad Cities, IA/IL
2. Brian Smith, WCM, NWS, Valley, NE
3. Dan McCarthy, WCM, NWS/SPC
4. Kishor Mehta, Paul Whitfield Horn Professor, Texas Tech University
5. Jim McDonald, Professor emeritus, Texas Tech University
6. Greg Stumpf, NWS/MDL
7. Tim Marshall, HAAG Engineering
8. Michael Smith, NWS/OCWWS
9. Chris Maier, National WCM for the NWS
10. Don Burgess, OU/CIMMS
11. External Reviewers: Tom Matheson (WCM - NWS MTR), Rick Smith (WCM - NWS OUN), Gary Woodall (WCM - NWS FTW), Steve Amburn (SOO - NWS TUL)