Interactive map shows how vulnerable your neighborhood is to disaster

(NEXSTAR) – Think you live in a safe neighborhood? An interactive map from the U.S. Census Bureau may change your mind about just how safe it is where you live.

The map isn’t tracking things like crime rates or car accidents. Instead, it measures the threat level in every census tract of natural disasters, like earthquakes, fires, floods, severe storms and more.

More specifically, the Census Bureau is measuring what percentage of the local population is considered “socially vulnerable” to a disaster. A population is considered socially vulnerable if there are high poverty levels, crowded housing, a large elderly population, difficult vehicle access or large communication barriers – all of which make it harder to get to safety in case of a disaster.

For example, if you zoom into Los Angeles, there are several neighborhoods marked in the most severe category, meaning more than 31% of the residents have three or more components of “social vulnerability” in the case of a disaster. Clicking on each Census tract shows the largest source of risk in many areas is earthquakes, though some are vulnerable to wildfires, as well.

So where is the least vulnerable place to live in America? If you look at the country from a bird’s eye view, Utah appears pretty safe on the map below. It’s shaded in white, meaning a small percentage of the state’s population is considered vulnerable.

Zoom in to take a closer look at the vulnerabilities in your community. Clicking on each county or Census tract reveals the percentage of people who are vulnerable, as well as the top threats. Depending on where you live, it could be anything from winter weather to hurricanes.

To open the interactive map above in a new window, click here.

If the statistics have you feeling anxious, there are things you can do to prepare your household for a natural disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends making a plan, which should include a way to get emergency updates, a way to take shelter, knowing your evacuation route, having a communication plan with family and preparing an emergency kit.

What exactly goes in your emergency kit will depend on your household’s needs, such as prescription medications, but is pretty consistent whether you’re worried about winter weather, earthquakes or hurricanes. Basic disaster supplies include water, food, flashlight, a first aid kit and more.

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