About & Methodology
NaturalDisasterRisk.com makes official government disaster risk data accessible, readable, and useful for every American homeowner and renter.
Data Sources
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program
Flood zone designations, special flood hazard area (SFHA) percentages, and NFIP policy data by location. Updated continuously as FEMA remaps flood zones.
NOAA Storm Events Database
Historical tornado, hurricane, and severe weather events since 1950. Data includes event magnitude, track, fatalities, and property damage. Updated monthly.
USGS National Seismic Hazard Model
2023 model providing peak ground acceleration (PGA) values at 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years. The most recent and comprehensive seismic hazard assessment for the US.
USFS Wildfire Risk to Communities
Wildland-urban interface (WUI) risk scores, burn probability, and flame length by community. Based on 2022 data from the US Forest Service.
How Risk Scores Work
Risk scores (0–100) are calculated separately for each hazard type and then combined into an overall score:
- Flood (0–100): Based on % of land in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas, NFIP policy density, and historical flood events
- Tornado (0–100): Based on 50-year tornado count, maximum EF-scale recorded, and average events per year from NOAA
- Earthquake (0–100): Based on USGS peak ground acceleration and proximity to active fault lines
- Wildfire (0–100): Based on USFS WUI risk score, drought index, and 30-year fire history
- Hurricane (0–100): Based on coastal proximity, historical landfall probability, and NOAA track data
Scores are normalized on a 0–100 scale where 100 = highest possible risk. Scores above 60 indicate elevated risk that may affect insurance premiums.
Contact
Questions or corrections? Email support@naturaldisasterrisk.com. NaturalDisasterRisk.com is operated by Warehouse Web Co and is not affiliated with FEMA, NOAA, USGS, or any government agency.