Workshops Emphasize Importance of Disaster Resilient Construction

PCA in cooperation with Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative are offering six workshops scheduled around the country to communicate the trends and criteria for resilient construction

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The Portland Cement Association (PCA), in cooperation with Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative (CJSI) partners, is conducting a series of workshops to communicate the trends and specific criteria used to design and construct homes and buildings to improve community continuity and resiliency.

Each year in the United States, more than $35 billion in direct property loss is caused by natural disasters. As the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increase, enhanced resilience for community continuity has become a high priority in cities throughout the nation.

Resilient construction enables businesses to continue operations and provide a hard-hit community with a consistent tax base. Further economic, societal, and environmental benefits occur from reductions in resources that would need to be reallocated for emergency recovery.

There are many strategies and approaches available for resilient community construction. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has identified the need for robustness, resourcefulness and recovery as the key elements of resilience. Many of the criteria for enhanced resilience are documented in standards, FEMA documents and voluntary programs such as the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety's FORTIFIED programs.

The one-day workshops from PCA and CJSI inform local decision makers including builders, developers, architects, engineers, contractors, building officials and community leaders on the importance of enhanced resiliency in construction and how it improves community continuity in the face of disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, earthquakes and floods. Topics covered during the seminar include local disaster risk assessment and mitigation, resilient construction methods, FORTIFIED design and construction programs, building code requirements, safe rooms and storm shelters, flood resistant construction, and fire resistance.

The six workshops are scheduled for:

April 12 Springfield, Mo.
April 17 Sioux Falls, S.D.
April 19 Centennial, Colo.
May 15 Pewaukee, Wis.
May 17 Louisville, Ky.
May 30 Portsmouth, N.H.

Attendees will receive six Professional Development Hours (PDHs), AIA-CES HSW Learning Units (LUs) or USGBC Continuing Education Hours (CEs).

The registration fee is $95 and includes lunch. Visit www.nrmca.org/resilience for additional details and to register.

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