FEMA has released a new version of Hazus, its natural hazard risk assessment GIS-based software, with major inventory data, methodology, and software enhancements.

The highlights of the latest version (6.1), include:

• Updated Earthquake Damage Functions, Building Types, and Design Levels: This version includes over 4,000 new capacity and fragility functions, making the earthquake model more accurate than ever before.
• Updated Wind Building Characteristic Mapping Schemes: This version includes updates to General Building Stock (GBS) data for enhanced hurricane loss modeling.
• Topographic speedup parameters for the hurricane model in Caribbean territories are now available: This ensures that Hazus uses best available data and methodologies when estimating losses due to hurricane-wind damage.
• Earthquake Advanced Engineering Building Module (AEBM) has Annualized Loss Capability: You can now perform site-specific and detailed annualized loss estimation in earthquake scenarios.
• CDMS Optimization and File Geodatabase Enablement: Enhanced support for importing inventory from file geodatabases, improving the data management system.
• Increased Resolution for Tsunami Damages: We've improved the granularity of depth and velocity measurements for more precise tsunami damage assessments.
• Expansion of the Flood Damage Function Library: This release adds several hundred new damage functions for floods, enhancing the model's robustness.
• Installation Modernization: The installation process has been streamlined and now features a new graphical user interface for ease of use.

Hazus can be downloaded at FEMA here.

For more information about Hazus, to sign up for FEMA’s upcoming Hazus Quarterly Webinar (on November 29 from 3 to 4 pm ET), which will cover more about the 6.1 updates, include a live Hazus demo, and provide an opportunity to engage with a team of Hazus experts who can take questions about the updates in real time. Read more at FEMA.