What’s your home’s actual disaster risk?
Written by Andy Kruger
BuildSOS CEO2 min read
The short answer
Enter your address at a free risk-profile tool to get five scores: Flood, Fire, Wind, Air, and Heat. That’s your starting point for deciding what to prepare for first, instead of guessing or preparing for everything equally.
Why a risk score matters
A 2018 University of Bristol study estimated that nearly 41 million Americans live in areas at risk of a 100-year flood, about three times the number shown on FEMA’s maps. About 70,000 U.S. communities are at risk from wildfire (U.S. Forest Service). Almost 40% of Americans live in coastal counties (NOAA). But national numbers don’t tell you about your address. A risk score does.
How to get yours
- Go to a free risk-profile tool and enter your address.
- Note your five scores: Flood, Fire, Wind, Air, and Heat, each out of 10.
- Save your scores to your BuildSOS profile. This is what lets the Resilience Game and other tools give you personalized guidance.
- Use your highest scores to decide where to start. If your Fire score is high, start with Wildfire risk & defense. If Flood is high, start there instead.
Frequently asked
Does a low score mean I don’t need to prepare at all?
No hazard score is ever zero risk. A low score just means that hazard isn’t your top priority. Basic preparedness still matters everywhere.
How often should I check my score?
Once a year, or after any major weather event in your area, since risk maps do get updated.
What do I do with my scores once I have them?
Use them to prioritize which guides in this pillar to read first, and to focus your preparation budget where it matters most for your address.
Sources
- Yale Environment 360 — 41 million Americans live in flood zones, three times the FEMA estimate (2018) · e360.yale.edu
- U.S. Forest Service — Communities at Risk (archived page) · webarchive.library.unt.edu
- NOAA Office for Coastal Management — Fast Facts: Economics and Demographics · coast.noaa.gov
About the author
Andy Kruger
Andy Kruger is CEO of BuildSOS, author of When the Storm Comes, and sits on multiple boards and advisory groups shaping disaster resilience policy and research.
About Andy