FEMA 361 is available in interactive PDF format
below.
Each PDF below contains an individual Chapter, Bookmark,
Table of Contents, Thumbnail views, and internal links to ease navigation throughout
the publication. NOTE: Downloaded PDFs must be kept in the same directory to work
properly.
FEMA361 Front Matter -- Includes Cover, Preface, interactive
and fully linked Table of Contents, Project Team, Acknowledgments, Review Committee,
and Acronyms and Abbreviations sections. (PDF
1.3MB)
Chapter 1 -- Introduction (PDF
144K)
Chapter 2 -- Protection Objectives (PDF
3.5MB)
Chapter 3 -- Characteristics of Tornadoes and Hurricanes (PDF
948KB)
Chapter 4 -- Shelter Types, Location, and Siting Concepts (PDF
1.2MB)
Chapter 5 -- Load Determination and Structural Design Criteria
(PDF
1.7MB)
Chapter 6 -- Performance Criteria for Debris Impact (PDF
2.0MB)
Chapter 7 -- Additional Considerations (PDF
708KB)
Chapter 8 -- Human Factors Criteria (PDF
100KB)
Chapter 9 -- Emergency Management Considerations (PDF
3MB)
Chapter 10 -- Design Commentary (PDF
1.3MB)
Chapter 11 -- References (PDF
48KB)
Appendix A -- Benefit/Cost Analysis Model for Tornado and Hurricane
Shelters (PDF
40KB)
Appendix B -- Site Assessment Checklists (PDF
3.8MB)
Appendix C -- Case Study I -- Stand-Alone Community Shelter (North
Carolina) (PDF
296KB)
Appendix D -- Case Study II -- School Shelter Design (Kansas)
(PDF
104KB)
Appendix E -- Wall Sections That Passed the Missile Impact Tests
(PDF
744KB)
Appendix F -- Doors and Hardware That Passed the Missile Impact
Tests (PDF 60KB)
Appendix G -- Design Guidance
on Missile Impact Protection Levels for Wood Sheathing (PDF
536KB)
For more about tornadoes, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) web site tornado
section.
This document is a guidance manual for engineers, architects, building officials, and prospective shelter owners. It presents important information about the design and construction of community shelters that will provide protection during tornado and hurricane events. For the purpose of this manual, a community shelter is defined as a shelter that is designed and constructed to protect a large number of people from a natural hazard event. The number of persons taking refuge in the shelter will typically be more than 12 and could be up to several hundred or more. These numbers exceed the maximum occupancy of small, in-residence shelters recommended in FEMA320.
Against
the Wind
