Natural disasters are deadly, dangerous, and costly. In the United States, natural disasters cause around $61 billion in damages and 350 deaths each year. In the past four decades, the total costs have exceeded $2.7 trillion and 16,434 lives. Natural disasters also have a profound effect on the landscape itself. Ecosystems, geographic features, and infrastructure can experience irreversible change.
But which disasters tend to occur in the US? And which locations tend to be struck by certain types of disasters? Chenxiao “Atlas” Guo developed a map that beautifully addresses these questions.
Guo’s map shows where—and how many—disasters strike regions of the US. The map uses hue to indicate different types of disasters. Hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, flood, drought, earthquakes, and wildfires are included. Areas where multiple categories of disasters occur are marked with overlapping transparency. The effect deliberately mimics the CMYK printing process. Events are summarized in hexagonal cells and increasingly dark borders indicate larger populations within each cell.
The author acknowledges the primary map is not colorblind-friendly. But a series of smaller maps isolates each disaster in a single hue. This effectively communicates the geographic differences between disasters in an intuitive, accessible way.
NOAA is anticipating above-average hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin for 2024. Long-range seasonal drought and precipitation forecasts are more challenging to make. But with wildfires thriving amid warmer temperatures, experts predict heightened fire activity in some states. A damp spring might keep fire activity lower than usual in others.
The future is uncertain. But maps like this can help inform readers by communicating previous patterns with a clear, engaging visual design
