A natural disaster occurs when a hazard overwhelms a highly vulnerable community and results in mortality and morbidity. Thousands of people die in natural disasters each year and billions are spent to recover. Disasters are caused by a wide range of events such as earthquakes, storms, floods, droughts, volcanic eruptions and wildfires. The risk of a natural disaster is different for each area, because environmental conditions (e.g. water quality, soil type), financial stability, access to resources and methods of resource access, and type of governing bodies can impact the vulnerability of a community to a natural event.

Climate-driven natural disasters include flooding resulting from heavy rains; drought and famine from heat waves, shifts in precipitation patterns, and other extreme weather; tropical storms and hurricanes; tornadoes; derechos; and blizzards. Earth-driven disasters include large volcanic eruptions that cause lava flows, explosions, toxic gas clouds, pyroclastic flows and earthquakes.

Disasters can impact human health by contaminating drinking water sources; releasing harmful chemicals from factories or storage facilities; affecting air quality; and damaging infrastructure and housing. These factors can also affect the environment by causing erosion, destroying forests and other natural habitats, and displacing communities.

The southern and central regions of the United States have experienced the most billion-dollar disasters since 1980, largely due to hurricanes. Florida has the highest total costs of any state, followed by Texas and Louisiana. This data is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s “Billion-Dollar Disaster Database.” To receive federal aid, states must show that they are using all available resources and describe what type of assistance they need to the president through their FEMA regional office (there are 10 total). These requests are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis.