Did you know that when the United States president declares a disaster, 90 percent of the time it is weather related? Some areas of the country are more prone to certain kinds of weather emergencies than others. But how do you know which ones pertain to you?
or example, do you really need to be prepared for hurricanes? If you do, is there a specific time of year when hurricanes should be a concern? What about those other emergencies, both the ones that are weather related and those that might not be, such as floods, tornados, blizzards, earthquakes., etc.?
There are a few different online sources that will help you literally map out the areas of potential emergencies and the vulnerability of local communities to disasters. Other countries may have similar analysis, and you can check with your local government for details.
There are three websites that are recommended by the National Hurricane Center to provide you with online hazard and vulnerability information. While many of them are geared toward state and local government and disaster relief agencies, you can find some valuable information in them that will help keep you and your family prepared for a disaster. They are:
FEMA Online Hazard Maps was created through a partnership between FEMA and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) to provide customizable maps that show various hazards that can help you determine the risks, within your community, to these hazards.
NWS Storm-Ready was developed by the National Weather Service. It points out that “Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth. Each year, Americans cope with an average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, and an average of 2 landfalling deadly hurricanes.” Storm Ready aims at providing vulnerable communities with communication and safety information.
The Community Vulnerability Assessment Tool helps communities become aware of the different hazards they may face, along with information on how to deal with them. Everything is taken into consideration, such as the location of critical facilities relative to high risk areas and environmental resources.
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