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Natural Hazards

Wildfires, floods, and other climate-related disasters are becoming more extensive and costly as the climate changes. Our research helps communities understand where people may be vulnerable, and how strategies such as land use planning can help reduce risk.

Featured Research

Wildfire Risk Report for every U.S. community

A new report in our Economic Profile System provides community-level data about wildfire hazard and potentially vulnerable populations.

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WILDFIRE RESEARCH

Learn more about our wildfire research

Decreasing flood risk in rural communities: a pilot program in Three Forks, Montana

Flood risk is underestimated in the U.S., but better maps and data are not enough to help communities. They must be accompanied with resources to support local action.

Wildfires destroy thousands of structures each year

Explore the number of structures destroyed in each state by wildfire. Structures lost—rather than acres burned—provides a more complete measure of the broad impacts of wildfire.

Flooding on the streets in downtown Grand Island, Nebraska.

How communities reduce flood risk: five midwestern case studies

Communities highlighted in this report have successfully reduced flood risk through strategic partnerships, innovative solutions, and creative funding.

Building a Wildfire-Resistant Home: Codes and Costs

A new home built to wildfire-resistant codes can be constructed for roughly the same cost as a typical home.

Full Community Costs of Wildfire

Almost half of the full community costs of wildfire are paid for at the local level, including homeowners, businesses, and government agencies.

Building funding strategies for flood mitigation projects

This guide provides advice for developing funding strategies for flood mitigation projects, including where to find funding and how to make an economic pitch for mitigation projects.

Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire

Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) works with communities to reduce wildfire risk through improved land use planning. The program is a partnership of Headwaters Economics, Wildfire Planning International, and the USDA Forest Service.

Learn about CPAW communities

Recent Natural Hazards Research

Decreasing flood risk in rural communities: a pilot program in Three Forks, Montana

Flood risk is underestimated in the U.S., but better maps and data are not enough to help communities. They must be accompanied with resources to support local action.

Wildfire Risk Report for every U.S. community

A new report in our Economic Profile System provides community-level data about wildfire hazard and potentially vulnerable populations.

Wildfire burns near a home in California

Wildfires destroy thousands of structures each year

Explore the number of structures destroyed in each state by wildfire. Structures lost—rather than acres burned—provides a more complete measure of the broad impacts of wildfire.

Montana wildfire risk is widespread and growing

The number of western Montana homes in areas with high wildfire hazard has doubled, outpacing development rates in areas with low wildfire hazard.

Flooding on the streets in downtown Grand Island, Nebraska.

How communities reduce flood risk: five midwestern case studies

Communities highlighted in this report have successfully reduced flood risk through strategic partnerships, innovative solutions, and creative funding.

Building funding strategies for flood mitigation projects

This guide provides advice for developing funding strategies for flood mitigation projects, including where to find funding and how to make an economic pitch for mitigation projects.

Community resilience in the era of megafires

Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D., demonstrates how community resilience to wildfire needs to include planning and adaptation strategies for homes and neighborhoods.

A wildfire burns over a ridge near a neighborhood.

Communities threatened by wildfires, 2000-2019

From 2000-2019, nearly 2,000 U.S. communities were threatened by wildfires or potential ember spread, showing the need for adaptive planning strategies.

Wildland firefighters get supplies ready to suppress a wildfire.

Wildfire and Vulnerable Populations: Testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee

Testimony on wildfires and vulnerable populations to a forum before the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Land use planning can reduce wildfire risk to homes and communities

Land use planning can help communities become fire-adapted and resilient in the face of increasing wildfire potential.

See all research under Natural Hazards

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