National Risk Index Best Practices

The island communities off the coast of Maryland often face coastal flooding and other hazards. The islands are very remote; in some cases, there may be only one way to travel to and from an island. Those who may need to evacuate during a flood event are at higher risk. The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) used Risk Index data to identify and prioritize communities with limited emergency access.

Many communities in Nebraska are small and rural. Agriculture makes up much of the state’s economy. Many crop and livestock farms are located within the floodplain; a normal rainfall event can greatly affect these farms and the state economy. The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NeDNR) used the National Risk Index to analyze riverine flood risk and train local officials on the interactive tool.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is carrying out a department-wide Climate Action Plan for Resilience. As part of the plan, DOT has developed a climate vulnerability assessment tool for all of its mission critical sites. The tool uses natural hazard risk and climate model data with information on local asset vulnerability.