ATC-79/79-1

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Title: Technical Assistance and Documentation of Case Studies, FEMA Guidelines for the Design of Structures for Vertical Evacuation From Tsunamis

Client: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Status: Completed in May 2012.

Participants: To see a list of project participants, click here.

Related Projects and Reports: The final product of the ATC-79/79-1 project is an updated version of the FEMA P-646 Report, Guidelines for the Design of Structures for Vertical Evacuation From Tsunamis (published in 2008, prepared for FEMA by ATC). 

PROJECT SUMMARY

This project involved the technical review and update of the FEMA P-646 Report,Guidelines for the Design of Structures for Vertical Evacuation From Tsunamis.  Following its publication in 2008, the document was used in conceptual design studies as part of tsunami evacuation planning in Cannon Beach, Oregon and the document’s design guidance was evaluated in ongoing research related to the development of Performance-Based Tsunami Engineering conducted at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, under the National Science Foundation-sponsored George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) program.  Based on findings from these activities, FEMA initiated a follow-up project with ATC in 2009 to review the design guidance contained in FEMA P-646, and to consider updates, if needed, based on this new information.  As a result of this review, selected revisions were deemed necessary.  In March 2011, the devastating Tohoku tsunami struck Japan, providing a wealth of additional information that could be considered for inclusion in the update of the FEMA P-646 Report. 

The project was completed in May 2012, with the issuance of a Second Edition of the FEMA P-646 Report.  Technical updates contained in this Second Edition include: (1) observations and lessons learned from the March 11, 2011 Tohoku tsunami; (2) revision of the debris impact expression to remove over-conservatism deemed to be present in the prior edition; (3) additional explanation of the definition of tsunami elevation as it relates to run-up elevation used in tsunami force equations; and (4) an update of reference documents to the most current version.

The final product of this project is an updated FEMA P-646 Report, Guidelines for the Design of Structures for Vertical Evacuation From Tsunamis, Second Edition.  The FEMA P-646 report is available for free download here.