Workshop Research Needs Mapped to National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program Elements

NIST is the lead agency in the US Federal Government for the NWIRP with the following stated vision and mission (NIST 2017).

A nation that is windstorm-resilient in public safety and economic well-being.

To achieve major measurable reductions in the losses of life and property from windstorms through a coordinated federal effort, in cooperation with other levels of governments, academia, and the private sector. NWIRP will support research aimed at improving the understanding of windstorms and their impacts and develop technical guidance and support outreach initiatives encouraging the implementation of cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce those impacts.

To accomplish the vision and mission NWIRP has established three overarching, long-term strategic goals, which are reproduced as follows. Priority research needs are shown in bold font and brackets to indicate how these needs align with the program goals of NWIRP.

Goal A: Improve the Understanding of Windstorm Processes [Research Need No. 3] and Hazards [Research Needs Nos. 2 and 4];

Goal B: Improve the Understanding of Windstorm Impacts on Communities [Research No. Need 1];

Goal C: Improve Windstorm Resilience of Communities Nationwide [Research No. Need 1]

In addition to these goals and objectives, NWIRP has identified eight priority focus areas for new enhanced efforts through its strategic planning process. These strategic priorities represent a combination of: (1) long-term research efforts to provide foundational windstorm hazard loss and data and models; (2) opportunities for more rapid windstorm impact reduction, building on existing programs; and (3) crosscutting themes to enhance development of the Nation's human resource base in windstorm hazard mitigation fields. These Priorities, listed below and described in Chapter 3, build on and support elements of all 14 objectives.

SP-1: Develop Baseline Estimates of Loss of Life and Property due to Windstorms

SP-2: Obtain Measurement of Surface Winds and Storm Surge Current and Waves in Severe Storms [Research Needs No. 2, 3, 4, and 5]

SP-3: Develop Publicly Available Databases of Windstorm Hazards and Impacts

SP-4: Develop Performance-Based Design for Windstorm Hazards [Research Need No. 1]

SP-5: Improve Windstorm Resistance of Existing Buildings and Other Structures [Research Need No. 8]

SP-6: Enhance Outreach and Partnerships to Improve Windstorm Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation

SP-7: Enhance and Promote Effective Storm Sheltering Strategies [Research Need No. 10]

SP-8: Develop the Nation's Human Resource Base in Windstorm Hazard Mitigation Fields