USRiskMap

About

USRiskMap started with a simple frustration: the people who need hazard information most often have to hunt across a dozen agency sites, maps, and feeds to piece together a picture of what might affect their home.

Our founders live in different high-risk parts of the country—places shaped by wildfire, flood, severe storms, and other hazards. We wanted better access to the public data that already exists, brought together in one place so households can anticipate conditions and prepare with clearer context.

The product is still growing. We combine federal open data with weather and imagery services so homeowners, renters, and community members can explore risk at a national scale and at the places that matter to them.

Questions or ideas? Reach us at hello@usriskmap.com.

Data sources & attribution

USRiskMap combines public hazard datasets and licensed weather and imagery services. Many thanks to the various U.S. government departments whose open data make this possible. Required attributions are also shown on the map (ⓘ control) and in emailed reports.

USRiskMap is informational only. It is not professional safety, engineering, financial, or insurance advice. Data are aggregated from third-party sources and may be incomplete, outdated, or unsuitable for life-safety decisions. During an emergency, follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.

Historic risk

  • FEMA National Risk Index v1.20

    U.S. government open data. Screening tool only — not for engineering, regulatory, or insurance underwriting decisions.

    Used in: Overview (historic choropleth), Plan, reports

Boundaries

  • U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundaries (via us-atlas)

    U.S. government public domain.

    Used in: County and state map boundaries

  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (Tables B11001, B25024)

    U.S. government public domain.

    Used in: County household counts and housing-unit structure types (alerts exposure)

Basemap

  • OpenFreeMap / OpenMapTiles

    Map tiles © OpenMapTiles; data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Attribution required.

    Used in: Dark reference basemap (water, roads, labels)

Satellite imagery

  • MapTiler Satellite

    Commercial subscription (MapTiler Flex or higher). © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.

    Used in: Optional satellite basemap toggle (Current + Climate Outlook tabs)

Current weather

  • National Weather Service (api.weather.gov)

    U.S. government data. USRiskMap is not endorsed by NOAA or NWS. Follow local authorities during emergencies.

    Used in: Active alerts, point forecasts, storm tracks

  • NOAA MRMS base reflectivity (NWS ImageServer)

    U.S. government open data. Composite WSR-88D mosaic; 4 h rolling archive, ~5 min updates. Observed only (no radar forecast).

    Used in: Radar overlay on the Current tab

  • OpenWeatherMap Weather Maps 2.0

    Requires OpenWeather API subscription with commercial terms for temp/wind overlays.

    Used in: Temperature and wind overlays (optional)

Live hazards

  • USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

    U.S. government open data.

    Used in: Recent earthquakes

  • USGS Quaternary Faults

    U.S. government open data.

    Used in: Fault lines

  • USGS Volcano Hazards Program

    U.S. government open data.

    Used in: Volcano alert levels

  • USGS National Landslide Hazard Map

    U.S. government data release.

    Used in: Landslide susceptibility polygons

  • FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL)

    FEMA open data; screening only — consult official FIRM panels for regulatory use.

    Used in: Flood zone polygons

  • NOAA National Water Prediction Service (NWPS)

    U.S. government open data.

    Used in: Stream gauges and hydrographs

  • NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents

    U.S. government open data.

    Used in: Tide stations and predictions

  • Wildland Fire Interagency Geospatial Services (WFIGS)

    Interagency federal geospatial data.

    Used in: Active U.S. wildfire incidents and perimeters

  • Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre — Active Wildfires in Canada

    Open Government Licence — Canada (via Natural Resources Canada).

    Used in: Active Canadian wildfire incident locations

  • Natural Resources Canada CWFIS FireM3

    Open Government Licence — Canada.

    Used in: Canadian satellite-estimated fire perimeters

  • U.S. Drought Monitor

    Reproduction permitted with credit to the U.S. Drought Monitor and authors.

    Used in: Drought intensity polygons

  • NOAA Hazard Mapping System (HMS) smoke

    U.S. government open data.

    Used in: Wildfire smoke plumes

  • EPA AirNow PM2.5 contours

    U.S. government air-quality data.

    Used in: PM2.5 contour polygons

  • Washington DNR Volcanic Hazards

    Washington State open GIS data.

    Used in: Lahar hazard zones (Washington only)

Climate outlook

  • NOAA Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA)

    U.S. government screening data — not engineering-grade. Coastal inundation fields are percent county area flooded, not feet of sea-level rise.

    Used in: County climate outlook choropleths (2030 / 2050 / 2100)

  • NOAA Climate Prediction Center seasonal outlooks

    U.S. government open data.

    Used in: Seasonal temperature and precipitation outlook tiles

  • NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index (ONI)

    U.S. government open data.

    Used in: ENSO phase indicator

  • NOAA Digital Coast sea-level rise inundation

    Screening-level inundation mapping; not a substitute for site-specific engineering.

    Used in: SLR inundation raster overlays (1–6 ft scenarios)

Product recommendations may include affiliate links — see our affiliate disclosure.