How do you know which disasters to prepare for?
How do you know which disasters to prepare for?
Our world is changing so quickly. It can be overwhelming to consider all the different disasters that might happen.
Luckily, there’s data to help you prepare for just the ones that are likely to cross your path.
Assess Risks in Your Region
Use FEMA’s Disaster Search tool to look up historical weather events in your region.
Each region faces its own challenges:
- The Gulf Coast could devote their entire prep budget to hurricanes without batting an eye.
- The Rocky Mountains are prone to avalanches after heavy snow.
- Prairies are often affected by drought.
- Flooding is… everywhere.
If you’re in a TL;DR mood, check out our map that breaks it down by state! Remember, these aren’t hard and fast rules; most disasters could happen anywhere.
Disasters Everyone Should Prepare For
- Flooding: Although flooding occurs more often in low-lying areas and floodplains, every US state can experience flooding. With floods, it’s not a question of whether you’re at risk; it’s a question of how high your risk is. This includes all of the continental US, Alaska and Hawaii, as well as US territories.
- Heat Waves: We are getting hot, hot, hot. Adverse heat events have occurred just about everywhere and will only increase in frequency in the coming years.
- Wildfires: Out-of-control wildfires can occur anywhere there is substantial drought, and more places than ever are experiencing drought! Western US regions, including California, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Colorado, are most vulnerable, but risk exists throughout the country.
- Wind & Dust Storms: These storms are more common in the Southwest, but can occur in nearly every US state with the right geographical conditions. Never forget the Dust Bowl.
Disasters Likely for Specific Regions
- Avalanches: Avalanches are usually localized to steep mountainsides, meaning they might be the easiest disaster to avoid. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, most avalanche victims are backcountry tourers, snowmobile users, and climbers. Prepare if you’re into hillside winter sports in any state.
- Blizzards: These destructive snowstorms tend to affect the Midwest and the Great Plains, but the East Coast and Texas have gotten their share recently, as well. Unless you’re in southern Florida, warm areas of California, or the Gulf Coast, you should prepare for the possibility of a blizzard.
- Earthquakes: These usually happen on continental fault lines, so we can pin down where most will occur, even though we can’t predict them at all. Prepare if you’re in California, Hawaii, Alaska, Nevada, and Washington, or near the fault lines in the Midwest and the South.
- Hurricanes: Hurricanes have become more common over the past few decades, and they’re often testing the patience of inland citizens. Prepare if you’re within 100 miles of the ocean in the East Coast, Gulf Coast, Oregon, or Washington.
- Mudslides: Whether you call it a mudslide, landslide, or debris flow, it’s awful. These masses of moving rock, earth, and debris cause 25-50 deaths per year in the US. They are a localized threat that usually begin on steep slopes after heavy rainfall. Prepare if you live in, near, or below a steep, rocky area.
- Tornadoes: Most tornadoes occur in the Midwest, east of the Rocky Mountains, however they may extend to the West Coast. Tornado Alley in particular is known for conditions favorable to tornado formation, and includes Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois.
- Tsunami: Though uncommon in the US, earthquakes in the Pacific basin can cause tsunamis, and there’s no way to predict them! Prepare if you live in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.
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