Natural disasters are sweeping across the country: raging wildfires, hurricanes decimating homes in the Midwest, and states experiencing soaring temperatures and droughts.
Researchers at Rutgers University have revealed the places most at risk of natural disasters in the United States.
The team found that those living on the West Coast are more likely to lose their homes and other assets compared to those living in the Midwest.
California was home to seven of the nation’s 10 highest-risk natural disaster areas, with the remaining three being Houston, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
California was home to seven of the nation’s 10 highest-risk natural disaster areas, with the other three being Houston, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The superstorm brought howling winds and torrential rains to the southern state on Monday, killing eight people and leaving more than 2.7 million without power.
The United States is experiencing an increase in hurricanes, wildfires, floods and droughts that have affected areas stretching from Virginia to California.
Interestingly, the study showed that the riskiest areas are found in wealthier neighborhoods, compared to those living in less affluent communities.
“Wealthier people often choose to live in places that are dangerous because of natural disasters,” said study lead author and geographer Michael Greenberg.
This comes after Houston suffered a major disaster on Tuesday when Hurricane Beryl tore through the area, leaving nearly 1.7 million people without power as temperatures soared above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Las Vegas is also bracing for its sixth consecutive day of temperatures reaching 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the national-level analysis, Greenberg and co-author Dona Schneider looked at metrics from the National Risk Index which identifies communities that are at greatest risk of certain events.
The pair also looked at hazards such as air pollution and toxic waste dumps, as well as social resources such as food and health care.
The study confirmed that while poorer communities have fewer assets and greater social vulnerabilities, such as knowledge and services to protect themselves from risks, people in high-income areas face greater economic losses because they have more assets to lose.
Residents of wealthier neighborhoods also tend to live in more densely populated areas that exude higher levels of air pollution due to hazardous waste, heavy traffic, and Superfund sites.
These are places contaminated with hazardous materials, including manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mining sites.
People living in areas like Los Angeles, one of the highest-risk areas in the country, are exposed to 60 percent more air pollution from vehicle emissions than the state average, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Southern California also experiences about 10,000 earthquakes each year of all types and sizes, the Los Angeles region will experience an earthquake of magnitude 6.7 or greater within the next 30 years, according to a report by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Last week, California was devastated by a wildfire in Sacramento that scorched forests and homes leaving a trail of destruction.
States with relatively lower risk areas included Montana, Nebraska, Virginia, West Virginia and Maine, the National Risk Index showed.
Flames engulfed a home during the Thompson Fire in Oroville, California, on July 2, 2024.
The study confirmed that while poorer communities have fewer assets and greater social vulnerabilities, such as knowledge and services to protect them from risks, people in high-income areas face greater economic losses because they have more assets to lose.
Scientists have predicted that the next “Big Earthquake” will hit California within 30 years, originating on the San Andreas Fault. Pictured here is what Los Angeles would look like if a magnitude 6 earthquake hit the area.
Greenberg said the purpose of the study was to show that although “low-income areas are affected by many hazards, even the wealthiest suburban residents cannot escape the dangers of living near industrial and waste management facilities.”
For those who want to know the risks associated with their specific location, they can visit the EPA EJScreen which publishes demographic, economic and air quality information, as well as the locations of potential industrial and waste management hazards in the area.
“You can circle your house and find all kinds of information,” Greenberg says. “Why not educate yourself?”
