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The Purpose of
This Preliminary Damage
Assessment Field Guide
This field guide has been designed to
serve as a quick reference tool to be
utilized by local officials and others,
conducting local damage assessment
for homes and businesses.
Inside you will find listed the 4 Degrees
of Damage; the State’s criteria for
seeking an Individual Assistance
Declaration and tips—things to do,
things to remember. In addition
illustrations have been provided and
offer examples of the different degrees
of damage for both wind and flood.
Why Do Damage Assessment?
Conducting a local damage assessment
enables local officials to:
• determine the severity and
magnitude of the event
• quantify homes and businesses
impacted by the disaster
• determine whether local resources
will be sufficient to effectively
respond and recover from the event.
Local Damage Assessment
Must Be Rapid, Detailed
and Accurate.
• It should be completed and
submitted to the State within 36
hours of the event.
• The data collected will then
be analyzed to determine if
supplemental assistance will be
needed from the State and/or
Federal agencies.
• If necessary, the State will request
a joint preliminary damage
assessment with the Federal
Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and/or the Small Business
Administration (SBA).
• Delay in completing the assessment
may delay supplemental disaster
assistance to those most in need.
There are 4 degrees
of damage:
• Destroyed
• Major
• Minor
• Affected
State’s criteria for requesting
Individual Assistance from FEMA or
SBA, or to seek to be added on to an
existing FEMA IA declaration:
There must be a minimum of twenty-
five (25) homes and /or businesses
with 40% uninsured damages.
Note: Generally, structures with
either “Destroyed” or “Major” degree
of damage will meet “40% uninsured
damages” criteria.
DO’s
Conduct visual inspection to verify
damages.
Be sensitive when discussing damages
with property owner.
Determine extent of insurance coverage
(i.e. homeowner’s policy vs. flood
insurance).
Include impact to businesses in your
survey.
Current assessment reports should be
as accurate as possible. Exaggerating
the amount of damage will be
detrimental during a joint PDA.
Provide detailed assessment to the Ohio
EMA within 36 hours of the event.
REMEMBER
Focus on degrees of damage and
habitability. Do not become
preoccupied with property value.
Look for waterline or debris line to
determine depth of water.
Only report disaster-related damages.
Deferred maintenance and/or
pre-existing damage should not be
included in your assessment.
Based on criteria, make a judgment call.
WIND DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING
XX
X
XXX
Examples:
• Some shingle damage
• Few broken windows
• Cosmetic damage to siding
• Repairable
AFFECTED
WIND DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING
Examples:
• One (1) wall damaged
• Section of roof missing or
damaged
• Repairable
MINOR
WIND DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING
Examples:
• Substantial structural
damage to walls, roof, etc.
• Repairable
MAJOR
WIND DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING
Examples:
• Total Loss
• Structure is compromised
• Not repairable
DESTROYED
WIND DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME
XX X
XX
Examples:
• Minor dents to roof or siding
AFFECTED
WIND DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME
Examples:
• Utility connections broken
• Slight movement on piers/
foundation
MINOR
WIND DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME
Examples:
• Wall and roof damage
• Shifted on piers/foundation
MAJOR
WIND DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME
Examples:
• Total Loss
• Bent Frame
• Buckled walls, roof
DESTROYED
FLOOD DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING
Examples:
• Without basement: less than
12 inches on 1st floor.
• With basement: less than
12 inches.
• No structure damage
AFFECTED
FLOOD DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING
Examples:
• Without basement: 1-2 feet
of water on 1st floor.
• With basement: 1-8 feet
MINOR
FLOOD DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING
Examples:
• Without basement: 2-5 feet
of water on 1st floor.
• With basement: over 8 feet
• Collapsed basement wall(s)
MAJOR
FLOOD DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING
Examples:
• Over 5 feet of water on
1st floor
• Basement full and over
2 feet of water on 1st floor.
DESTROYED
FLOOD DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME
Examples:
• Water standing under or
around mobile home, but not
touching the bottom board.
• Indication of water being
around a mobile home, but
not touching the bottom
board following a flash flood.
AFFECTED
FLOOD DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME
Examples:
• Utilities flooded
• Piers/foundation shifted
• Water touched or soaked
at the bottom board, but did
not enter the primary living
area.
MINOR
FLOOD DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME
Examples:
• Water soaked bottom board
and the primary living area.
• Piers/foundation washed
out or away.
MAJOR
FLOOD DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME
Examples:
• Washed off piers/foundation
• Frame bent or twisted.
• Mobile home has turned
over on its side/top.
• 4 feet + water above
floor level.
DESTROYED
TALLY WORKSHEET
DESTROYED:
SF ________________________________________
MH ________________________________________
BUS _______________________________________
TOTAL: ______________ INS: _________________
MAJOR:
SF ________________________________________
MH ________________________________________
BUS _______________________________________
TOTAL: ______________ INS: _________________
MINOR:
SF ________________________________________
MH ________________________________________
BUS _______________________________________
TOTAL: ______________ INS: _________________
AFFECTED:
SF ________________________________________
MH ________________________________________
BUS _______________________________________
TOTAL: ______________ INS: _________________
SF-Single family BUS-Business
MH-Mobile Home INS-insurance
NOTES
Ohio Emergency Management Agency
2855 West Dublin-Granville Road
Columbus, OH 43235
www.ema.ohio.gov
EMA 0009 1/06
