Build a Local Hazard Map: Flood, Wildfire, Tornado, Earthquake and Outage Risks

Why You Need A Local Hazard Map Before You Buy Anything

A local hazard map is just a short, honest list of the disasters most likely to hit your specific address, ranked from most to least probable. You build it using three free sources: FEMA’s National Risk Index, your county or city emergency management page, and your utility’s outage history. Once you know your top two or three real risks, you can spend your prepping budget on the right supplies instead of guessing.

Step 1: Look Up Your County On The FEMA National Risk Index

The FEMA National Risk Index is a free government tool that scores every county and census tract in the country for 18 natural hazards, including flooding, wildfire, tornado, earthquake, hurricane, and winter weather. It combines expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience into one risk picture for your area.

• Go to the National Risk Index map and search your county or address.
• Write down your top 3 to 5 rated hazards, not just the ones you already worry about.
• Note whether your risk is rated relative to the rest of the country or just your state, since the tool shows both.

Step 2: Check Your Local Emergency Management Page

The National Risk Index shows broad hazard trends, but it does not know about your specific street, flood zone, or neighborhood wildfire evacuation zone. Your city or county emergency management office publishes that detail, usually as a hazard mitigation plan or an interactive flood and evacuation zone map.

• Search “[your county] emergency management hazard mitigation plan” to find the official PDF.
• Check if your address is in a mapped flood zone, wildfire interface zone, or tornado-prone corridor.
• Look for local evacuation zone letters or numbers, since many coastal and wildfire-prone counties use these for official alerts.

Step 3: Pull Your Utility’s Outage History

Power outages are the most common household disruption almost everywhere, but how often and how long they last varies a lot by location. Most electric utilities post outage maps and some publish annual reliability reports showing average outage frequency and duration for their service area.

• Check your utility’s website for an outage map or a public reliability report.
• Ask neighbors or a local community group how long recent outages actually lasted.
• Treat frequent short outages and rare multi-day outages as two different planning problems.

Rank Your Risks Before You Shop

Once you have the National Risk Index rating, the local hazard map detail, and your outage history, rank your top three risks from most to least likely. This ranking should decide what you prep for first, not the other way around.

• Flood: check FEMA flood maps and your county floodplain office. First priority is knowing your flood zone and evacuation route.
• Wildfire: check the National Risk Index and your county wildfire zone map. First priority is defensible space and a packed go-bag.
• Tornado: check the National Risk Index and your NOAA Weather Radio coverage. First priority is identifying a safe shelter room now.
• Earthquake: check the National Risk Index and USGS hazard maps. First priority is securing heavy furniture and water heaters.
• Power outage: check your utility’s outage map and reliability reports. First priority is backup lighting, charging, and food storage.

Build Your Family Plan Around Your Top Risks

A hazard map only helps if it changes what your household actually does. Ready.gov’s Make A Plan page walks through building a family communication plan, choosing meeting places, and deciding how household members will reconnect if a disaster separates you. Use your ranked hazard list to fill in the specific scenarios your plan needs to cover, such as a wildfire evacuation route or a tornado shelter location.

If you have not built your household’s core plan yet, our emergency preparedness family plan guide has fillable templates for meeting points, out-of-area contacts, and utility shutoff steps.

Extra Caution For Specific Situations

Some households need to plan differently based on their hazard mix:

• If you are in a mapped flood zone, prioritize knowing your evacuation route and never drive through a flooded road.
• If you are in a wildfire interface zone, sign up for local evacuation alerts and keep a go-bag ready during fire season.
• If your area has frequent short outages, focus on backup lighting and phone charging before a large generator purchase.
• If your area has rare but long outages, a food and water storage plan matters more than backup power alone.

Evidence Limits

The National Risk Index measures relative risk across counties and tracts using historical data and modeling. It is a planning tool, not a prediction of what will happen to your specific home, and FEMA advises pairing it with local data whenever it is available. Utility outage history also only reflects the past, not a guarantee of future outage frequency or length.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to check all three sources, or is one enough?

Each source covers something the others miss. The National Risk Index gives you a broad hazard ranking, your local emergency management page gives you street-level detail like flood zones, and your utility’s outage history tells you how disruptive outages actually are where you live.

What if my county isn’t in a high-risk category for anything?

Even a lower relative ranking does not mean zero risk. Look at your top-ranked hazards regardless of the overall score, and still build a basic emergency plan and short-term food and water supply, since power outages and severe weather can affect almost any location.

How often should I redo this hazard check?

Check again if you move, if your area experiences a new type of disaster, or roughly once a year, since flood maps, evacuation zones, and hazard ratings are updated periodically.

Where do I start once I know my top risks?

Start with the basics that apply to almost every hazard: water storage, a short-term food supply, and a family communication plan. Our prepping-for-beginners guide walks through building those fundamentals step by step, and our backup power load calculation guide can help if outages are ranked among your top risks.

Educational Disclaimer

This article is for general educational purposes and does not replace guidance from your local emergency management agency, floodplain administrator, or utility provider. Always follow official evacuation orders and local safety instructions during an actual emergency.