Spatial patterns of natural hazards mortality in the United States

[Deadset]

For those that are bored or just curious, if you want to know where you are more likely to bite the dust by mother nature in the US, here is it. There is a full report here

A quick link to the pic

Background

Studies on natural hazard mortality are most often hazard-specific (e.g. floods, earthquakes, heat), event specific (e.g. Hurricane Katrina), or lack adequate temporal or geographic coverage. This makes it difficult to assess mortality from natural hazards in any systematic way. This paper examines the spatial patterns of natural hazard mortality at the county-level for the U.S. from 1970-2004 using a combination of geographical and epidemiological methods.

Results

Chronic everyday hazards such as severe weather (summer and winter) and heat account for the majority of natural hazard fatalities. The regions most prone to deaths from natural hazards are the South and intermountain west, but sub-regional county-level mortality patterns show more variability. There is a distinct urban/rural component to the county patterns as well as a coastal trend. Significant clusters of high mortality are in the lower Mississippi Valley, upper Great Plains, and Mountain West, with additional areas in west Texas, and the panhandle of Florida, Significant clusters of low mortality are in the Midwest and urbanized Northeast.

Conclusions

There is no consistent source of hazard mortality data, yet improvements in existing databases can produce quality data that can be incorporated into spatial epidemiological studies as demonstrated in this paper. It is important to view natural hazard mortality through a geographic lens so as to better inform the public living in such hazard prone areas, but more importantly to inform local emergency practitioners who must plan for and respond to disasters in their community.

[Deadset]

Where I live is dark red, either you'll get hit by a drunk biker near sturgis or cold weather...of course, if you don't have a kit in your car, you're just asking for trouble this time of year.

[rebfandan]

Well, my home county in Miss is light blue. Whew! But Lafayette county (immediately west), in red, is where University of Mississippi is located (Oxford, MS). Over the past 5 years, at least 8 people have been struck and killed by drunk drivers (including a campus security officer who was dragged to death) in a little town of just over 12,000 people. Good Lord! No wonder it's the only county in northeast Miss in red!

[Teabaggins]

I don't think drunk drivers count as an "act of nature"

[rebfandan]

Looks like I misunderstood entirely. Sorry.

[Teabaggins]

I'll forgive you this time , jk, hotty toddy brother

[Beta Man]

Light Blue......

[Uniquely]

White...... hurricanes and heat are the biggest dangers here. Katrina was a booger.

[Ferris]

The metro area I work in is light blue, but the county I live in is dark blue. I guess I win.