Wind risk and mitigation calculator framework for determining the wind annualized risk for single- and multi-family homes to support resilient community decision-making

Abstract

Communicating risks and mitigation benefits associated with natural hazards such as wind to the general public is challenging given the location-dependency of parameters and the complexity of the problem. Web tools play a crucial role in educating residents, decision-makers, and stakeholders regarding potential wind hazard losses to, for example, residential buildings.

However, a notable gap exists on the practical incorporation of mitigation actions within these tools. This gap hampers the collective awareness and understanding among stakeholders, communities, and citizens regarding the tangible advantages of mitigation strategies in reducing wind-related risks. Furthermore, there exists a need to elucidate the functionality and objectives of these tools in a more accessible manner. This study aims to present and outline the wind risk and mitigation calculator tool (WRMCT) within the Hazardaware platform, which is an address-based risk assessment tool. This tool, developed for 196 counties in the Gulf of Mexico coastal area, facilitates users' education of potential risks and benefits associated with mitigation strategies. WRMCT enables users to access location-specific wind risk and interactively suggests potential mitigation actions along with economic savings to support informed decisions and residential risk reduction. WRMCT intends to enhance users’ ability to make informed decisions, take proactive measures in mitigating wind hazards, and contribute to the development of resilient, residential communities.