If the building is eligible for repair, replacement, or is being constructed as an improved or alternate project, FEMA generally requires that the Applicant incorporate the natural hazard-resistant codes and standards and related provisions referenced in the most recent published edition of the International Code Council's International Building Code, International Existing Building Code, or International Residential Code into the building design and construction.

This includes natural hazard-resistant provisions, such as tornado, wind, seismic, and flood as identified in the International Building Code, International Existing Building Code, or International Residential Code regardless of the type of incident that caused the damage. In accordance with these codes and standards, the Risk Category of the eligible building determines the applicable tornado, wind, seismic, flood, snow, ice, and rain loads.