Federal Program to Reduce Windstorm Impacts Requests Comments on New Strategic Plan
The plan details three overarching, long-term strategic goals for NWIRP, as well as the 14 key objectives and seven research priorities needed to facilitate their implementation and yield positive benefits.
Once implemented, the plan will guide and coordinate the windstorm impact reduction research, development, implementation, education and outreach activities conducted by NWIRP's four member agencies.
The draft of the NWIRP strategic plan is being released today for a 60-day public comment period as detailed in the
Windstorms, most often in the forms of hurricanes and tornadoes, are the largest loss-producing natural hazard in
To counter the devastation and bring those numbers significantly down,
An example of how the NWIRP strategic plan is expected to work can be seen with ground-level winds from thunderstorm downbursts and tornadoes. Currently, little is known about the complex structure of these gusts close to the ground and their effects on buildings. "Since the first goal of our strategic plan is improving the understanding of windstorm processes and hazards, NWIRP efforts in this area would be focused on developing new instruments and obtaining field measurements to better characterize the ground-level wind phenomenon," Levitan said.
The second goal, Levitan said, is to improve the understanding of how ground-level winds impact communities. "Knowing the gust characteristics for different storm types, we can design experiments using wind tunnels and computer models to more accurately determine their effects and loads on walls, roofs and other building components," he explained.
Finally, with detailed insight into the makeup and behavior of ground winds, and rigorous test results defining how they impact structures, the third goal--improving the windstorm resilience of communities--can be met. "We will then be able to make solid recommendations for changes in building codes, standards and practices that can be applied nationwide," Levitan said.
Comments on the draft NWIRP strategic plan are due by
For more information on NWIRP, go to the program website.
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