HAZARD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Building a Stronger and Safer Georgia

Georgia Emergency Management Agency / Homeland Security Hazard Mitigation Division Atlanta, GA 30316

Evaluating Buildings to Identify Best Available Refuge Area Training

This one day course provides an overview of high wind hazards, their effects, information on
Near Absolute Protection from FEMA safe room design and construction criteria from FEMA
P-361 and storm shelter standards from ICC-500. Information is provided to better understand
relative protection levels when comparing different criteria or standards utilized. The course
utilizes FEMA P-431 guidance and a downloadable Best Available Refuge Area checklist to
help evaluate buildings, areas to avoid, areas of higher and lesser vulnerabilities, relative
ranking of these areas and selection of best available refuge areas. Attendees will be provided
information from a FEMA P-431 case study of an actual structure heavily damaged or
destroyed from a tornadic event and have the opportunity to assess an existing structure
through a field visit. Attendees will use the FEMA P-431 checklist and determine best
available refuge areas consistent with FEMA P-431 guidance.

Audience: Architects, engineers, building owners and operators, facility and emergency
managers

You must register for the training at: https://training.gema.ga.gov/TRS/logon.do

The course will be offered at the following campus locations. Sign-in will begin at 8:00 a.m. and
classes will be begin at 8:30 a.m. and end by 5:00 p.m. FEMA will provide course materials.
There is no charge for the class, but travel, lodging, meals and miscellaneous expenses are the
attendees responsibility. Please register ASAP for your desired course location as only 60 seats
are available per training location.

June 13, 2017 June 27, 2017

Valdosta State University Gordon College
University Center Magnolia Rooms 1 & 2 Nursing & Allied Health Sciences Building
1500 N Patterson Street The Collaborative Learning Lab, 123
Valdosta, Georgia 31698 419 College Drive
Barnesville, Georgia 30204

June 14, 2017 June 28, 2017

South Georgia State College Waycross Albany State University
Auditorium New Student Center East Campus Room 175
2001 S Georgia Parkway W 504 College Drive
Waycross, Georgia 31503 Albany, Georgia 31705

June 15, 2017 June 29, 2017

Georgia Southern University Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Nursing/Chemistry Classroom #1007 Health Sciences Building Room 0237
521 C.O.E. Drive 2802 Moore Highway
Statesboro, Georgia 30458 Tifton, Georgia 31793

For further information, call the State Hazard Mitigation Program Office at (404) 635-7522 or 1-
800-TRY-GEMA.