Photo: New Hazard Maps Show Most At-Risk U.S. Communities

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Color-coded maps show regions of so-called social vulnerability to hazards such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods between 1960 and 2010. Regions in red indicate highest risk—these populations are least able to respond to and cope with natural disasters, new research reveals.

(The projected 2010 risk for Alaska and select counties is not included because of changes to the government codes for standardizing geographic data, the authors note.)

Map courtesy PNAS/National Academy of Sciences (copyright 2008)

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