The National Institute of Building Sciences has launched a monthly webinar series around the built environment and the events that continue to challenge the nation and its building communities.

The next webinar – Tornado Season is on the Horizon. Are You Prepared? – takes place March 23. The webinar will cover general tips and information on how to stay prepared in the event of a tornado/wind storm, wind mitigation for homes, and wind insurance.

“From natural disasters and social unrest to a pandemic that followed us into a new year, the past 12 months have changed lives and businesses,” says Lakisha A. Woods, CAE, President and CEO of NIBS. “Our webinar series will address how a year of challenges ultimately can build resilience in our communities, infrastructure and the places we live, work, learn and play.”

The March 23 panel includes Dr. Anne Cope, PhD, P.E., Chief Engineer with the Insurance Institute for Building and Home Safety (IBHS); Eric Vaughn, Executive Vice President with the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH); and Jana Nyette Henderson, Office of Mitigation Director with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Sara Yerkes, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs with the International Code Council will moderate the discussion.

Resilience 2021 kicked off in February with a panel on the Hidden Costs of Environmental Savings from Remote Work. Over the past year, COVID-19 lockdowns cut carbon emissions by about 4% to 7%, but experts say the decrease is insignificant in the long run. Reduced activity has the appearance of bringing the world to a standstill, but carbon emissions actually have continued almost unabated. Lockdowns do not reduce overall energy consumption; they affect only mobility.

Other Resilience 2021 topics to be covered this year include post-COVID-19 environments, natural disaster mitigation, and diversity, inclusion and social equity in the built environment.

For more information about Resilience 2021, visit nibs.org.