HAZUS HOTZONE
December 2008

Sugar House Community
Earthquake Loss Estimation Study

The Sugar House Community is an historic
district in Salt Lake City, Utah, a seismically
active region on the Wasatch Front. The
community dates back to the late 1800s
when pioneers built an experimental sugar
beet mill. Today, Sugar House is a mixed
development that encompasses roughly six
square miles. The residential building stock
in the community is comprised mainly of
unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings,
which are vulnerable to the effects of
earthquakes.
In the past decade, the State of Utah has
taken a proactive approach to seismic
safety, including measures to reduce the
vulnerability of URMs. In February, 2008,
the Utah General Assembly passed Joint
Resolution 7, which urges the Utah Seismic
Safety Commission to compile an inventory
of URMs and to "recommend priorities to
address the problem in a manner that will
most effectively protect the lives, property
and economy of the state." HAZUS-MH
analysis of potential losses to schools and
other essential facilities played an important
role in the passage of this resolution.
The Sugar House Community Earthquake
Loss Estimation builds is the latest example
of the use of HAZUS-MH in Utah to draw
attention to the vulnerability of
URMs to earthquakes.
The purpose of the project is to estimate
losses in Sugar House to a magnitude
7.0 earthquake with a return period of
1,500 years. As stated by Stuart Moffatt,
University of Utah and project lead, "We
live on top of a fault in an area where a large
percentage of the building stock is post-war
brick-on-brick. We wanted to prepare a
detailed map to help people see the potential
loss we could suffer in our neighborhood."
(See map illustration on page 3.)
This was accomplished by using the HAZUSMH
Advanced Engineering Building Module
(AEBM) to perform a Level 3 analysis of
Sugar House parcels. The parcel geometries
were combined with the Salt Lake County
Assessor data to provide the AEBM with the
input needed to perform the analysis. Using
the structural engineering expertise of Dr.
Larry Reavely of the University of Utah,
an algorithm was developed to convert the
exterior wall type attribute in the county
assessor database to FEMA building types
required for the AEBM analysis.


A number of technical hurdles
were encountered in data gathering,
manipulation, database preparation,
and mapping the AEBM
results. These are highlighted at
http://sugarhouse-earthquake-lossestimation.
googlecode.com.
The product of this study is a postersized
map that shows total economic
loss of residential dwellings from
a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in the
Sugar House community, by parcel.
The map shows:
_ Shaking intensity, based on the
Modified Mercalli Intensity
Scale
_ Maximum ground acceleration
(.62)
_ Probability of complete
structural damage to URMs
(39%)
_ Estimate of total economic loss
to single-family residential for
buildings and contents only
($875 million)
The Sugar House Community
Loss Estimation Study and map
is a powerful outreach tool for
earthquake vulnerability reduction
efforts in Salt Lake City and the
3

Wasatch Front. The ability to clearly
communicate risk at the parcel level
with enhanced graphics represents an
important contribution in the use of
HAZUS-MH for loss estimation and risk
communication.
For more information on the study,
including the methodology that was
used, please contact Stuart Moffatt at
Stuart.Moffatt@utah.edu.





In This Issue
Sugar House
Community Earthquake
Loss Estimation Study
HUG News
Training Information
First Recipients of the
HAZUS Trained
Professional
Designation Announced
2008 HAZUS Users
of the Year
Four New HAZUS-MH
Outreach Flyers
Released
Contact Information
The Sugar House Community is an historic
district in Salt Lake City, Utah, a seismically
active region on the Wasatch Front. The
community dates back to the late 1800s
when pioneers built an experimental sugar
beet mill. Today, Sugar House is a mixed
development that encompasses roughly six
square miles. The residential building stock
in the community is comprised mainly of
unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings,
which are vulnerable to the effects of
earthquakes.
In the past decade, the State of Utah has
taken a proactive approach to seismic
safety, including measures to reduce the
vulnerability of URMs. In February, 2008,
the Utah General Assembly passed Joint
Resolution 7, which urges the Utah Seismic
Safety Commission to compile an inventory
of URMs and to "recommend priorities to
address the problem in a manner that will
most effectively protect the lives, property
and economy of the state." HAZUS-MH
analysis of potential losses to schools and
other essential facilities played an important
role in the passage of this resolution.
The Sugar House Community Earthquake
Loss Estimation builds is the latest example
of the use of HAZUS-MH in Utah to draw
attention to the vulnerability of
URMs to earthquakes.
The purpose of the project is to estimate
losses in Sugar House to a magnitude
7.0 earthquake with a return period of
1,500 years. As stated by Stuart Moffatt,
University of Utah and project lead, "We
live on top of a fault in an area where a large
percentage of the building stock is post-war
brick-on-brick. We wanted to prepare a
detailed map to help people see the potential
loss we could suffer in our neighborhood."
(See map illustration on page 3.)
This was accomplished by using the HAZUSMH
Advanced Engineering Building Module
(AEBM) to perform a Level 3 analysis of
Sugar House parcels. The parcel geometries
were combined with the Salt Lake County
Assessor data to provide the AEBM with the
input needed to perform the analysis. Using
the structural engineering expertise of Dr.
Larry Reavely of the University of Utah,
an algorithm was developed to convert the
exterior wall type attribute in the county
assessor database to FEMA building types
required for the AEBM analysis.
Continued on page 3
December 2008 Issue HOT ZONE
Sugar House Community
Earthquake Loss Estimation Study
As of December 2008, there are now 29
active HAZUS User Groups (HUGs) in
existence, consisting of 28 HUGs in the
United States and one international HUG.
For more information on each of the HUGs,
please visit their individual Web sites at
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/
hz_reghugs.shtm. The goal for 2009 is to
expand toward having a HUG in each state.
The Central HUG (covering the six states in
FEMA Region V) and the Heartland HUG
(covering the four states in FEMA Region
VII) are each expanding to support this goal.
The FEMA Region IV HAZUS Technical
Team has traveled their region in support of
HAZUS and the forming of HUGs in each
of Region IV's eight states.
Recently, Melissa Berry from the South
Carolina Emergency Management Division
(SCEMD) formed the South Carolina HUG
(SCHUG). South Carolina is the first state
to have the Web-based Comprehensive Data
Management System (CDMS). As part of
this project, SCEMD is updating the entire
HAZUS-MH database to foster Level 2
analysis at both the state and local levels.
Ms. Berry's vision for the SCHUG and the
CDMS Web-Portal make her a true champion
and supporter of HAZUS-MH. Accordingly,
FEMA has awarded Ms. Berry the 2008 4th
Quarter HAZUS User of the Year award.
In early 2009, new outreach pieces will be
available for use by the HUGs: a HUG logo,
PowerPoint template, business card, flyer
and poster. Each of these will be customized
with graphics related to each HUG.
Updates from the National HUG
Leadership Conference Calls
Brian Shumon from FEMA Region II
reported that Suffolk County, New York,
may form a HUG and that the U.S. Virgin
Islands may conduct a project to collect
default HAZUS data for their area. In
addition, Josh Friedman from the New York
City Office of Emergency Management
stated that the New York Metropolitan
HUG is gaining momentum and may expand
its focus beyond HAZUS. FEMA Region
III and the Pennsylvania HAZUS Network
are planning to kick off a Maryland HUG
at the Towson University 22nd Annual
Geographic Information Sciences Conference
in March 2009. A California University at
Pennsylvania student intern is working with
a local county jurisdiction to incorporate
HAZUS into their emergency management
system. This work may spread to other
counties in the state. Ken Leap reported that
the California Office of Emergency Services
(in FEMA Region IX) has filled its GIS
manager position and that they are currently
working on a grant to run HAZUS-MH for
14 counties in California. Nick Delmedico
from FEMA Region X is planning to kick
off a Northwest Regional HUG in early
2009.
Training Information
Advanced HAZUS-MH
for Flood
Course Number: E172
JANUARY 12-15, 2009
This course provides in-depth instruction
and hands-on exercises that develop the
skills needed to effectively use HAZUS-MH
for modeling the impacts on communities
from riverine and coastal flooding.
Advanced HAZUS-MH
for Hurricane
Course Number: E170
FEBRUARY 2-5, 2009
This course provides in-depth instruction
and hands-on exercises that develop
the skills needed to effectively use
HAZUS-MH for modeling the impacts on
communities from hurricanes.
Introduction to ArcGIS for
HAZUS-MH Users
Course Number: E190
FEBRUARY 23-26, 2009
This hands-on course is designed to
empower emergency managers, planners,
engineers, public safety professionals and
others with the skills needed to visualize,
query and analyze information related to
disaster mitigation, response, recovery and
risk management using ArcGIS.
HUG News
2
Continued on page 3
A number of technical hurdles
were encountered in data gathering,
manipulation, database preparation,
and mapping the AEBM
results. These are highlighted at
http://sugarhouse-earthquake-lossestimation.
googlecode.com.
The product of this study is a postersized
map that shows total economic
loss of residential dwellings from
a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in the
Sugar House community, by parcel.
The map shows:
_ Shaking intensity, based on the
Modified Mercalli Intensity
Scale
_ Maximum ground acceleration
(.62)
_ Probability of complete
structural damage to URMs
(39%)
_ Estimate of total economic loss
to single-family residential for
buildings and contents only
($875 million)
The Sugar House Community
Loss Estimation Study and map
is a powerful outreach tool for
earthquake vulnerability reduction
efforts in Salt Lake City and the
3
Continued from page 2
Online HAZUS Courses
In additional to regular classroom settings,
HAZUS-MH courses are also offered online.
HAZUS Podcasts
Introducing the HAZUS-MH Web Courses at
www.esri.com/podcasts
ESRI Course Catalog
HAZUS-MH courses available at
http://training.esri.com/gateway include:
_ HAZUS-MH Overview and Installation
_ HAZUS-MH for Decision Makers
_ Introduction to Using HAZUS-MH to Assess Losses
from a Riverine Flood Hazard
_ HAZUS-MH Flood Model Output and Applications
_ Integrating User Supplied Hazard Data into the
HAZUS-MH Flood Model
_ Introduction to Using HAZUS-MH for Hurricane
Loss Estimation
_ Introduction to Using HAZUS-MH for Earthquake
Loss Estimation
Wasatch Front. The ability to clearly
communicate risk at the parcel level
with enhanced graphics represents an
important contribution in the use of
HAZUS-MH for loss estimation and risk
communication.
For more information on the study,
including the methodology that was
used, please contact Stuart Moffatt at
Stuart.Moffatt@utah.edu.

Sue Evers, FEMA Region VII, John
Ingargiola, FEMA Headquarters, and
Brian Shumon, FEMA Region II, are the
first HAZUS users to receive the HAZUS
Trained Professional designation awarded
by FEMA. These individuals have proven
their dedication to developing proficiency in
HAZUS-MH.
As recipients, each awardee will be
recognized with a certificate, lapel pin and a
listing on FEMA's Web site identifying them
as a HAZUS Trained Professional.
HAZUS Trained Professionals must
complete a number of prerequisite courses
plus one hazard-focused course to qualify
as a recipient. The requirements for the
HAZUS Trained Professional are:
_ E190: Introduction to ArcGIS
(or equivalent experience)
_ E313: Basic HAZUS-MH
_ E317: Comprehensive Data
Management
Plus one of the following three courses:
_ E170: HAZUS-MH for Hurricanes
_ E172: HAZUS-MH for Floods
_ E174: HAZUS-MH for Earthquakes
For more information, contact Ray Chavelier,
Emergency Management Institute, at
ray.chavelier@dhs.gov.
www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus
Contact Information
HAZUS Program Manager
Eric Berman, FEMA
eric.berman@dhs.gov
HAZUS Outreach
Vincent Brown, FEMA
vincent.brown@dhs.gov
Beth Miller Howser, PBS&J
bmhowser@pbsj.com
Jamie Caplan
jamie@jamiecaplan.com
HAZUS Training
Vincent Brown, FEMA
vincent.brown@dhs.gov
HAZUS Development
Philip Schneider, NIBS
pschneider@nibs.org
Tom Durham, PBS&J
tsdurham@pbsj.com
4 HAZUS(r) and HAZUS-MH(r) are trademarks of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
First Recipients of the HAZUS Trained
Professional Designation Announced
2008 HAZUS Users of the Year
Join us in congratulating the 2008 HAZUS Users of the Year!:
_ Thomas Mueller, California University of Pennsylvania
_ Stacy Robinson, PBS&J
_ Cynthia Quigley, Riverside County, California
_ Melissa Berry, South Carolina Emergency Management Division
Four New HAZUS-MH Outreach Flyers Released
The following HAZUS-MH flyers are now available at
www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/hz_library2.shtm
_ HAZUS-MH: Information You Need for a Map-Based Disaster Exercise
_ HAZUS-MH: FEMA's Gold Standard for Mitigation and
Recovery Planning
_ HAZUS-MH: Preparedness and Response Planning
_ HAZUS-MH: "Out of the Box" Emergency
Management Applications_

Online HAZUS Courses
In additional to regular classroom settings,
HAZUS-MH courses are also offered online.
HAZUS Podcasts
Introducing the HAZUS-MH Web Courses at
www.esri.com/podcasts
ESRI Course Catalog
HAZUS-MH courses available at
http://training.esri.com/gateway include:
_ HAZUS-MH Overview and Installation
_ HAZUS-MH for Decision Makers
_ Introduction to Using HAZUS-MH to Assess Losses
from a Riverine Flood Hazard
_ HAZUS-MH Flood Model Output and Applications
_ Integrating User Supplied Hazard Data into the
HAZUS-MH Flood Model
_ Introduction to Using HAZUS-MH for Hurricane
Loss Estimation
_ Introduction to Using HAZUS-MH for Earthquake
Loss Estimation