FEMA’s Hurricane Michael Mitigation Assessment Team Issues 69 Florida-Specific Recommendations

The Loss Recovery Law Group, PL

In response to a request for technical support from the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) Joint Field Office in Florida, FEMA's Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration's (FIMA) Building Science Branch deployed a Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) composed of numerous national, regional, state, and private sector subject matter experts to affected areas in Florida in October 2018 and early January 2019.

The MAT assessed the performance of hundreds of coastal and in-land residential properties, critical facilities, municipal and public buildings, seawalls as well as hurricane evacuation shelters and developed sixty-nine recommendations for actions that federal, state, and local governments; the design and construction industry; building code and standards organizations and other select stakeholders can take. 

FEMA explained in its February 21, 2020 report that these recommendations, when implemented, (may) help reduce injuries and mitigate building and their associated utility system damage from future natural hazard events in Florida and elsewhere (where applicable).

The Loss Recovery Law Group advises public adjusters and insurance professionals, as well as real estate professionals and homeowners to review these recommendations.  The information can also help communities; businesses; design professionals; code officials; federal, state, and local officials; and other interested stakeholders rebuild and design more robust and resilient buildings, structures, and their associated utility systems.

To access the full report, which includes the entire list of recommendations, click here.