Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the disaster history come from?

Federal records: OpenFEMA for disaster declarations and assistance, NOAA Storm Events, USGS for earthquakes, and NIFC for wildfires. FEMA's declaration record runs back to 1953.

Does a long disaster history mean a place is unsafe to live in?

No. This is a record of what has happened, not a prediction. We always phrase it as counts over a period — 'N declarations since 1980' — and never as a judgment about living there.

Are the assistance figures the cost of the disaster?

No. They're the federal money obligated under specific aid programs. Total economic loss is a different, usually much larger, figure measured separately and not shown here.

Where should I check for current threats?

The National Weather Service and FEMA. This site is about history and statistics, not live conditions, and it links out to the official sources for anything current.

Is DisasterAtlasUSA affiliated with FEMA or NOAA?

No. It is an independent reference site built on public U.S. government data, not endorsed by or affiliated with any agency.

More detail on sources is on the About the Data page.