Capital Region Builders Association On-site Training.

Many organizations with hurricane construction know-how are available to help you design and construct a home that provides sound, proven hurricane protection. Technical bulletins that explain Build Safer Stronger Smarter construction methods and Web sites that provide construction advice unique to where you plan to build are available through several sources.

Consider adding these groups to your Build Safer Stronger Smarter team:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series (FEMA 499):
  This guide provides technical guidance and recommendations for the construction of coastal residential buildings. The fact sheets include information on improving the performance of buildings subject to flood and wind forces in coastal environments.
  http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/mat/mat_fema499.shtm.
  
  
• LSU AgCenter and Louisiana House:
  The Web site offers information on how to construct a Louisiana home for increased disaster resistance and better energy efficiency. Many of the recommended techniques can be seen in the Louisiana House Home and Landscape Resource Center (LaHouse) on the LSU Campus. 
  www.LSUAgCenter.com/Home.
  
  
• University of New Orleans – Flood Help:
  This site contains information useful to homeowners, neighborhoods that have flooded repeatedly, and local floodplain and mitigation officials.
  http://www.floodhelp.uno.edu/.
  
  
• FLASH – Federal Alliance for Safe Homes:
  Provides information about protecting life and property from the perils of natural hazards including floods and hurricanes. Animated videos illustrate important points and construction techniques.
  http://www.flash.org/.
  
  
• Louisiana State Licensing Board of Contractors:
  Find a licensed contractor and link to related state agencies, commissions and boards.
  http://www.lslbc.louisiana.gov/.
  
  
• Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS):
  Provides a starting point for determining what hazards residents face by entering the ZIP code in which their home is located. Provides guidance on how to build a home that is “Fortified…for Safer Living.”
  http://www.ibhs.org/.
  
  
• Corps of Engineers – National Non-Structural Flood Proofing Committee:
  Provides information on floodplain management and restoration and technical guidance for protecting buildings from flood damage.
  https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/nfpc/.
  
  
• US Department of Energy’s Building America:
  Supplies energy-efficient construction information. Resources for a homeowner recovering from a disaster are also listed, including those that provide information on cleanup, rebuilding efforts and construction information.
  http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america.
  
  
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB):
  Designed for those interested in home building and the industry. To learn more about home building, consumers can purchase publications or search and browse the site for information. http://www.nahb.org/.
  
  
• National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA):
  NRCA provides a wide range of information and services to help homeowners make informed decisions about replacing and maintaining their roof systems. The site includes a "Find a Contractor" section, which provides an efficient way for consumers to search for a roofing contractor by ZIP code and type of roof system.
  http://www.nrca.net/.
  
  
• International Code Council:
  Contains information relating to international building code and standards, as well as contact information for plan reviews, contracts and consulting services.
  http://www.iccsafe.org/.
  
  
• American Forest and Paper Association:
  Contains information on engineered and traditional wood products, as well as links to the Guides to Wood Construction in High-Wind Areas.
  http://www.afandpa.org/.
  
  
• Federal Emergency Management Agency, Coastal Construction Manual, Third Edition, FEMA 55:
  This manual is intended to help design professionals, state and local officials, and builders mitigate natural hazards to one- to four-family residential buildings in coastal areas.
  http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/mat/fema55.shtm.
  
  
• Federal Emergency Management Agency, Recommended Residential Construction for the Gulf Coast: Building on Strong and Safe Foundations FEMA 550:
  The purpose of this design manual is to provide recommended foundation designs and guidance for rebuilding homes destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast. http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1853.
  
  
• Resources for Getting the Facts about Hurricane Risk Louisiana Mapping Project (LaMP):
  The LaMP effort is being undertaken by Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of its ongoing nationwide effort to update and modernize flood hazard maps. The LaMP effort will result in homeowners, business owners, state and local government officials and other citizens of 15 parishes in coastal Louisiana receiving more accurate flood hazard and risk information.
  http://www.lamappingproject.com/.
  
  
• Hurricane Katrina and Rita Clearinghouse Cooperative:
  This
• Web site facilitates the collection, dissemination and archiving of data related to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The site contains downloadable information, research findings, news, data links and a photo gallery.
  http://www.katrina.lsu.edu/.