Understanding Climate Risks
We assess six major climate risks using real government data from FEMA, EPA, NOAA, USDA, and USGS.
The Six Climate Risks We Assess
Each property receives a risk score from 0-10 for six different climate hazards. Click any risk below to learn more about how we calculate scores and what they mean.
Flood Risk
Data: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer
Understand FEMA flood zones, coastal flooding, and inland flood risks affecting your property.
Wildfire Risk
Data: USDA WHP 2023 / ArcGIS
Assess wildfire hazard potential using USDA Forest Service data for properties in fire-prone areas.
Earthquake Risk
Data: USGS Seismic Design Maps
Evaluate seismic hazard based on peak ground acceleration and historic earthquake activity.
Heat Risk
Data: NWS Weather Zones
Analyze extreme heat exposure and heat wave frequency for your location.
Hurricane Risk
Data: NOAA & Geographic Analysis
Determine hurricane exposure based on coastal proximity and historical storm patterns.
Air Quality
Data: EPA AirNow
Check current air quality conditions and long-term pollution exposure at any address.
How Risk Scores Work
The 0-10 Scale
Each climate risk is scored from 0 (lowest risk) to 10 (highest risk) based on government data and scientific analysis. These scores help you quickly understand and compare risk levels across different hazards.
Minimal exposure. Standard precautions sufficient.
Noticeable exposure. Consider mitigation measures.
Significant exposure. Mitigation recommended.
Very high exposure. Serious mitigation required.
Overall Risk Score
In addition to individual risk scores, we calculate an Overall Risk Score by averaging all six climate risks. This provides a single number to compare locations, but remember to examine individual risks for a complete picture.
Our Data Sources
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) provides official flood zone designations used for insurance and building requirements.
Visit FEMA Flood Maps âUSDA Forest Service
Wildfire Hazard Potential (WHP) 2023 dataset maps fire risk across the United States at 30-meter resolution.
Visit USDA WHP âUSGS - U.S. Geological Survey
Seismic Design Maps provide peak ground acceleration values used in building codes and engineering standards.
Visit USGS Design Maps âNWS - National Weather Service
Weather forecast zones combined with climate analysis to assess extreme heat exposure.
Visit NWS âNOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Historical storm data and coastal proximity analysis to determine hurricane exposure.
Visit NOAA Hurricanes âEPA - Environmental Protection Agency
AirNow provides real-time air quality index (AQI) readings from monitoring stations nationwide.
Visit AirNow âImportant Limitations
- â ī¸ For informational purposes only: Our risk scores are educational tools, not professional assessments. Always verify with local authorities and experts before making real estate decisions.
- â ī¸ Data limitations: Government datasets have varying update frequencies and coverage gaps. Some areas may have incomplete data.
- â ī¸ Not insurance advice: Risk scores don't replace professional insurance risk assessment or actuarial analysis.
- â ī¸ Climate change: Historical data may not fully capture future risks as climate patterns shift.
- â ī¸ Property-specific factors: Your actual risk depends on many factors we can't assess remotely (building quality, elevation, vegetation, etc.).
Check All Climate Risks for Any Address
Get comprehensive scores for all six climate risks in seconds