National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness month. The International Code Council (ICC) encourages individuals and communities to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. Prevention, protection, response and recovery efforts are important when facing the possibility of natural disasters. Recent catastrophic hurricanes and earthquakes remind us of just how important preparedness can be. According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, homes built to updated codes fared better during Hurricane Irma. Updated building codes are essential for ensuring that our buildings are safe and our communities resilient. National Preparedness Month is a great time to spread the news about the important of building codes and to implement best practices to prepare for future natural disasters.

Here are some helpful resources from the Coalition for Current Safety Codes that showcase the importance of up-to-date building codes and provide an overview of assessments of previous natural disasters that can aid in future prevention.

• An Assessment of Residential Building Code and Enforcement Systems for Life Safety and Property Protection in Hurricane-Prone Regions
• The Benefits of Modern Wind Resistant Building Code on Hurricane Claim Frequency and Severity
• Including Building Codes in the National Flood Insurance Program