Disaster Danger Zones Grip US as Extreme Weather Threats Escalate

According to a recent FEMA report, the United States is facing an escalating threat of natural disasters, with vast swaths of the country, including major cities, sitting in high-risk zones. The National Risk Index, which analyzed decades of disaster data, weather patterns, and population vulnerability, has identified California, Florida, and anywhere along the US coast as the areas facing the most severe and overlapping threats.

These states are grappling with the impacts of rising sea levels, powerful hurricanes, and extreme heat, while regions in Washington, Oregon, and Nevada also face significant risks. In contrast, the Northeast has emerged as the safest part of the country, with Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island ranking among the lowest-risk areas.

The report also highlighted the socially vulnerable zones, which take into account factors like poverty, housing quality, and disaster recovery plans. Southern California counties like Los Angeles and San Bernardino were marked as the highest-risk areas, with the state having experienced over 120,000 wildfires since 2000, burning more than 12 million acres. Florida, too, was identified as a high-risk zone, facing an increasing number of hurricanes annually, with Hurricane Idalia alone causing over $3.6 billion in damages last year.

On the other hand, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, stood out as the safest major US city, with no moderate or high-risk zones. The report also noted that many of the safest states, like Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and parts of Ohio, had fewer disasters and less severe weather annually, with more stable infrastructure over the past 30 years.