PURPOSE

This section helps you identify which hazards are most likely where you live, recognize secondary risks people commonly overlook, and understand what conditions should immediately change your plans.

This page does not replace official hazard mapping, alerts, or emergency instructions.

SCOPE & LIABILITY BOUNDARY

This page provides risk awareness and decision framing only.

It does not provide:

• Medical treatment

• Rescue techniques

• Structural engineering guidance

• Water system repair or testing procedures

• Chemical cleanup instructions

Official guidance from authorities always overrides this page.

WHY LOCAL RISK AWARENESS SAVES LIVES

• Hazards differ dramatically by location — even within the same city

• Many disasters trigger secondary dangers (contamination, structural failure, utility damage)

• People often prepare for the wrong hazard and miss the most likely one

• Delayed recognition leads to late evacuation, unsafe sheltering, and preventable exposure

Knowing your risks helps you:

• Avoid unsafe areas early

• Plan realistic evacuation options

• Store the right supplies

• Reduce exposure to toxic, chemical, and environmental hazards

START HERE — OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT HAZARD MAPS & ALERTS

UNITED STATES

FEMA National Risk Index

https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/

Use your ZIP code to view relative risk for floods, wildfires, earthquakes, heat, hurricanes, and more.

NOAA Hazard & Weather Tools

https://www.weather.gov/

Official alerts for severe weather, hurricanes, floods, heat, and winter storms.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards

Earthquake zones, fault lines, landslide risks, and volcanic hazards.

CANADA

GetPrepared.ca — Regional Hazards

https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/hzd/index-en.aspx

Primary hazards by province and territory.

Natural Resources Canada — Earthquakes & Landslides

https://natural-resources.canada.ca/earth-sciences

Seismic zones, landslide risks, and geological hazards.

Environment and Climate Change Canada — Alerts

https://weather.gc.ca/

Floods, storms, heat warnings, air quality, and wildfire smoke.

HOW TO THINK ABOUT RISK — WITHOUT GUESSING

GEOGRAPHY FLAGS (WHAT TO WATCH FOR)

• Coastal or near large bodies of water

→ Flooding, storm surge, tsunamis, erosion

• Hillsides, valleys, ravines, or slopes

→ Landslides, mudflows, unstable foundations

• Forested or dry regions

→ Wildfires, smoke exposure, evacuation risk

• River basins or low-lying land

→ Flooding, contaminated water, infrastructure failure

INFRASTRUCTURE FLAGS

• Older buildings or unreinforced structures

→ Higher earthquake and wind damage risk

• Rural or remote living

→ Delayed rescue, limited water redundancy

• Mobile homes or trailers

→ Elevated tornado and windstorm risk

• Aging water or sewer systems

→ Higher contamination risk after storms or floods

CLIMATE & TREND FLAGS

• Repeated heatwaves or drought

→ Water shortages, wildfire escalation, power outages

• Severe winters

→ Prolonged isolation, heating failure, carbon monoxide risk

• Thunderstorm-prone regions

→ Tornadoes, flash flooding, downed power lines

CRITICAL RISKS PEOPLE MISS (HIGH LIABILITY AREAS)

Water contamination after disasters

• Flooding can introduce sewage, fuel, heavy metals, and chemicals into wells and municipal systems

• Well water must be tested after flooding before use

• Boil-water advisories must be followed exactly until lifted

Toxic exposure

• Floodwaters, ash, wildfire debris, and damaged buildings may contain asbestos, lead, chemicals, and fuel residues

• Avoid contact unless authorities confirm safety

Structural instability

• Buildings may appear intact but be unsafe after earthquakes, floods, fires, or landslides

• Secondary collapse is common

Delayed secondary events

• Aftershocks, secondary slides, additional flooding, or infrastructure failure may occur hours or days later

BUILD A PERSONAL RISK PROFILE (AWARENESS ONLY)

Write this down. Do not guess under stress.

Primary risks (most likely):

Examples: winter storms, wildfires, flooding, power outages

Secondary risks (less frequent but possible):

Examples: earthquakes, extreme heat, landslides

Location flags:

Examples: hillside, floodplain, rural well, wildfire interface

This profile helps you avoid preparing for the wrong emergency.

NEXT STEP — MOVE FROM AWARENESS TO STRUCTURE

Understanding risk is the foundation.

Planning is what prevents panic.

If you want a clear, civilian-appropriate system for:

• Identifying hazards

• Building household plans

• Avoiding common fatal mistakes

• Aligning with current U.S. and Canadian guidance

You can review The First Responder’s Guide to Household Resilience (2026 Edition) here on our products page.

This guide does not teach rescue or medical procedures.

It focuses on decision-making, risk recognition, and household readiness when systems fail.

FINAL NOTE

Preparedness does not start with gear.

It starts with understanding what you are actually facing — and what to avoid.

Local knowledge reduces risk before the first siren ever sounds.