Know Your Risk: What Disasters Threaten Where You Live
Generic emergency preparedness advice ignores the most important variable: where you are. A Florida family needs to prepare for hurricanes. A Kansas family needs a tornado plan. A California family needs a wildfire evacuation route. This guide helps you find the specific risks for your area — and what to actually do about them.
How to Find Your County's Actual Risk Profile
FEMA publishes the National Risk Index (NRI) — a county-level database that scores risk for 18 natural hazard types. It's free, official, and one of the most underused public resources in America. Here is exactly how to use it.
FEMA's National Risk Index is at hazards.fema.gov/nri/. Click "Explore the Map."
Use the search bar to find your county. You'll see an overall risk score plus individual scores for all 18 hazard types.
Sort the hazard list by risk score. Your top 3 highest-risk hazards are what you should specifically prepare for beyond general emergency readiness.
Each hazard type has its own preparation requirements. We cover the most common ones below with specific actions and gear.
Also check your flood zone status
Flood risk from the NRI may not reflect your specific property's flood zone designation. For precise flood risk, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov and enter your address. Flood zone "A" or "V" designations indicate significant risk regardless of what the county average shows.
Hazard-Specific Preparedness Guides
Each section below covers what the hazard is, who is most at risk, what specific preparation looks like, and what gear actually matters (beyond the general 72-hour kit everyone should already have).
Hurricanes bring storm surge (the deadliest component), wind damage, and flooding that can last for weeks. Category 3+ storms have a kill radius far beyond the immediate coastline.
Specific prep beyond the basics:- Know your evacuation zone (A–E or 1–5 depending on county) — not all zones evacuate for all storms
- Have a named hurricane evacuation route with two alternates (bridges clog and close)
- Storm shutters or plywood pre-cut to window dimensions — you won't have time to measure during a storm watch
- Waterproof bags for all important documents and electronics
- At least 1 week of supplies — power outages after major hurricanes often last 2–4 weeks
- Pet-friendly shelter identified in advance — most shelters don't accept pets
Tornadoes are the most unpredictable disaster — warning times average 13 minutes. Mobile homes and manufactured housing are particularly dangerous; residents should have a pre-identified hard shelter.
Specific prep beyond the basics:- Identify a specific shelter location before storm season: interior room, lowest floor, away from windows
- If in a mobile home or manufactured housing: identify a community shelter nearby — there is no safe tornado shelter in most mobile homes
- NOAA weather radio is essential — your phone alerts may be delayed or your cell signal disrupted
- Bike helmets protect heads from debris — keep them in the shelter location
- Practice the shelter routine with your household, including pets
Wildfires spread faster than most people expect — fires in dry conditions can travel a mile in minutes. The most dangerous moment is waiting too long to evacuate. Ember cast from fires can ignite homes miles ahead of the fire front.
Specific prep beyond the basics:- Know your county's evacuation level system (1-2-3 or GO-SET-READY varies by state)
- Defensible space: 30 feet of cleared vegetation around your home reduces survival probability dramatically
- N95 masks for every household member — wildfire smoke causes serious respiratory harm within hours of exposure
- Go-bag always packed and in a known location — evacuation orders can be issued with 30-minute notice
- Air purifier for shelter-in-place situations when smoke quality is hazardous
- Pre-register address at county emergency management — some areas can text evacuation orders to registered residents
Floods kill more Americans annually than any other natural disaster. Flash floods are especially dangerous — 6 inches of moving water can knock a person down; 12 inches can sweep away a small vehicle. Most flood deaths involve people driving into flooded roads.
Specific prep beyond the basics:- Check your flood zone at msc.fema.gov — know whether you're in Zone A, AE, V, or X
- If in Zone A or AE: consider flood insurance (standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding)
- Know your local evacuation route to higher ground — two alternates
- Never drive through flooded roads. "Turn around, don't drown" — this is how most flood fatalities occur
- Waterproof/watertight storage for all important documents
- Sump pump with battery backup if you have a basement
Severe winter storms cause power outages lasting days to weeks, dangerous road conditions, hypothermia risk, and burst pipes. The 2021 Texas winter storm killed over 200 people and caused $195B in damages — most victims were in homes they thought were safe.
Specific prep beyond the basics:- Alternative heat source: propane heater (with ventilation), wood stove, or geothermal — electric-only heating fails in grid outages
- Know where your water shutoff is — frozen pipes that burst cause catastrophic interior flooding
- Extra blankets, sleeping bags rated for outdoor use — your home will get much colder than you expect without heat
- Insulate pipes in exterior walls before first freeze of the season
- Never use generators, grills, or camp stoves indoors — CO poisoning kills more people in winter disasters than any other secondary cause
- Car kit: ice scraper, jumper cables, warm blanket, sand for traction, flashlight
Earthquakes give zero warning. A major earthquake (7.0+) in an urban area can collapse buildings, break gas lines, sever water and power infrastructure, and make roads impassable. The Cascadia Subduction Zone is capable of a 9.0+ event that scientists consider a matter of when, not if.
Specific prep beyond the basics:- Secure tall furniture, bookshelves, and water heaters to wall studs — falling furniture causes most earthquake injuries
- Know how to shut off your gas meter — broken gas lines after earthquakes cause the fires that destroy neighborhoods
- Water supply: a major quake can disrupt water service for weeks — 1 gallon/person/day minimum, 2 weeks recommended
- Wrench or pliers stored near the gas meter — you'll need it to shut it off
- Drop, Cover, Hold On — do NOT run outside during shaking; most injuries happen from this mistake
- Earthquake insurance: standard homeowners insurance does not cover earthquake damage
Extended power outages are the most common consequence of major weather events, and the one most people are least prepared for. Modern homes are entirely dependent on electricity for heat, cooling, refrigeration, lighting, communications, and often water (well pumps). A 4-day outage kills refrigerated food, disables medical equipment, and creates dangerous temperature extremes.
Specific prep beyond the basics:- Portable power station (solar generator) is the most impactful single purchase for outage preparedness
- Medical device users: know your equipment's power requirements and battery/backup options — register with your utility for medical priority programs
- Manual alternatives: hand pump for water, camp stove for cooking, headlamps for lighting
- Never run a generator inside — run it outside, 20+ feet from any opening. CO kills within minutes indoors
- Keep vehicle fuel above half tank — gas stations can't pump without power
Heat kills more Americans annually than hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods combined. Heat waves are invisible, slow-onset, and disproportionately kill the elderly, young children, and those with medical conditions. Heat-related deaths are among the most preventable disaster fatalities.
Specific prep beyond the basics:- Know your nearest cooling center (open during heat emergencies by most municipalities) — save the address now
- Check on elderly neighbors and relatives — heat kills quietly and quickly in indoor environments
- Window AC unit or portable AC as backup if central AC fails during heat events
- Battery-powered fans (large camping fans run on D-cell batteries) for power outage + heat combination events
- Hydration: adults need 2–4 liters per day in extreme heat — stock accordingly
US Region Quick Reference
Not sure which hazards apply to your region? This table gives you a starting point based on FEMA NRI regional patterns. Always verify with your specific county's data at hazards.fema.gov.
| Region / States | Primary Hazards | Most Underestimated Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Gulf Coast FL, LA, TX, MS, AL |
Hurricanes Flooding Tornadoes | Storm surge — most hurricane deaths happen here, not from wind |
| Tornado Alley OK, KS, TX Panhandle, NE, SD |
Tornadoes Hail Winter Storms | Speed — EF5 tornadoes can travel 60+ mph; warning times average 13 minutes |
| West Coast CA, OR, WA |
Wildfires Earthquakes Landslides | The Cascadia Subduction Zone — a 9.0 earthquake that will devastate OR and WA coastal areas |
| Southeast NC, SC, GA, TN, AR |
Hurricanes Tornadoes Flooding | Tornado risk — Dixie Alley has higher fatality rates than classic Tornado Alley |
| Midwest MN, WI, IA, MO, IL, IN, OH, MI |
Winter Storms Tornadoes Flooding | Winter storm + power outage combination — most homes are not equipped for 4+ days without electricity in -20°F |
| Mountain West CO, UT, NM, AZ, NV, MT, ID, WY |
Wildfires Avalanche Drought | Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) — homes built in fire-prone zones with single road access |
| Northeast NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA, RI, VT, NH, ME |
Winter Storms Nor'easters Flooding | Nor'easters — can dump 2+ feet of snow with hurricane-force winds; coastal surge rivals Category 1 hurricanes |
| Pacific Northwest OR, WA, parts of northern CA |
Earthquakes Wildfires Tsunamis | Tsunami risk for coastal residents — Cascadia event would generate waves within 15–30 minutes of shaking |
One action for right now
Go to hazards.fema.gov/nri/, search your county, and screenshot or write down your top 3 hazard scores. Then come back and use this guide to identify what specific preparation those hazards require. That single action will tell you more about your family's actual risk than any generic preparedness checklist.
Now That You Know Your Risk — Prepare for It
Every hazard above requires the general emergency basics plus hazard-specific gear. Start with the foundation, then add what your region needs.
Emergency Kits Guide
Complete FEMA-aligned guide: 72-hour kits, 2-week supply, solar power, water filtration, and car kits for every budget.
Build your kit →Local Emergency Contacts
Find your police non-emergency line, county emergency management office, utility contacts, and school emergency numbers.
Find your contacts →Community Safety Guide
How to organize your neighborhood, school, and community for the specific hazards your region faces.
Community safety →