The National Advisory Council (NAC) released a report recommending that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) partner with the International Code Council to raise awareness of codes’ mitigation benefits. The report also recommended that FEMA advocate for adherence to up-to-date codes in grant programs to improve community preparedness and resilience across the U.S.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Congress required the establishment of the NAC — a 35 member cross-section of officials, emergency managers and emergency response providers from state, local, tribal and territorial governments, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations — to advise FEMA. The Code Council participates in the NAC’s recommendation development process and presented before the NAC at its October meeting.

According to FEMA, roughly two-thirds of communities that face hazard risk have not adopted hazard resistant codes. Many studies have demonstrated the extensive loss avoidance benefits current codes provide. 

To read the full report, visit https://bit.ly/34gh4XB.