How to assess a property's natural-catastrophe risk

To assess a property's natural-catastrophe risk, check five things in order: its FEMA flood zone, its per-peril FEMA ratings, its elevation, the dominant regional perils, and any recent map revisions. Plattow returns all five for any U.S. address from official federal data. This guide is the hub; each step links to the deep guide.

1. Check the FEMA flood zone

The flood zone is the dominant, exposure-independent signal. Zone X is minimal; A and V zones are the Special Flood Hazard Area with mandatory insurance; the shaded X zone is the 500-year floodplain. Read FEMA flood zones for underwriters.

2. Read the per-peril FEMA ratings

FEMA's National Risk Index rates each peril at the location. Severe, place-specific perils (wildfire, earthquake, hurricane, tornado) can carry the property to the top of the scale. See wildfire, hurricane, and earthquake and tornado.

3. Note the elevation

USGS elevation gives context for flood and surge exposure, especially near the coast or a river. Plattow returns it in feet above sea level.

4. Place it in its region

A property's perils make more sense against its region. Use the state pages and the Safe Havens map to see the dominant perils around it.

5. Confirm against recent map revisions

Flood maps change through LOMR and LOMA, and a determination can be superseded. Confirm the current effective map before you rely on a zone. The full method is in how Plattow scores risk.

Related: methodology, portfolio scoring. Look up any address on the Safe Havens map or call the data at /api/report.