Every region of the United States seems subject to its own particular set of natural disasters. Whether floods, high winds, extreme temperatures, or even events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, every community across the country needs to be prepared for what may come. Looking to take care of the plethora of available information on natural disasters, Tim Meko, writing for the Washington Post, has assembled a set of maps displaying the frequency and magnitude of these various events, demonstrating that different states can’t ignore considerations around disaster planning and resilience.
For flooding, a focus is placed on the number of National Weather Service warnings for each area, highlighting the regions around the Mississippi river, and Flash Flood Alley in Texas. With respect to tornados and hurricanes, emphasis is instead placed on wind speeds for each event, battering along the gulf coast, the east coast, and through the Midwest. Wildfires primarily batter the western United States, with the map also showing the regions that have suffered from extreme drought since 2008. A map of earthquakes and volcanic activity also shows the threat to the western United States and Alaska, as it sits along the Ring of Fire. Even lightning strikes remain a concern, as Florida represents America’s lightning capital.
As extreme weather events become more common, Americans will need to remain aware of the importance of emergency preparedness and disaster planning, to ensure they’re ready for when the next natural disaster strikes.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/national/mapping-disasters/?utm_term=.661052f417ff
