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Photograph of USGS and University of KwaZulu-Natal personnel in front of a shark sign on the Lower/Outer Cape, Massachusetts
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Natural Hazards

Natural Hazards

The Earth is a very dynamic place. Sometimes conditions change across its diverse landscape, leading to situations where natural hazards can become disasters that threaten society. The USGS has a long and storied history of monitoring and studying natural hazards of all kinds. Explore below for a bit more information about what we do and how we can help keep you safe.

Science Explorer
Hazards 101
Studying Hazards, Responding to Disasters
Earth's Pulse: Hazard Monitoring
Water and Extreme Weather
Alerts, Forecasting, and Notifications
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Photograph of USGS and University of KwaZulu-Natal personnel in front of a shark sign on the Lower/Outer Cape, Massachusetts
link

Natural Hazards

Natural Hazards

The Earth is a very dynamic place. Sometimes conditions change across its diverse landscape, leading to situations where natural hazards can become disasters that threaten society. The USGS has a long and storied history of monitoring and studying natural hazards of all kinds. Explore below for a bit more information about what we do and how we can help keep you safe.

Science Explorer
Hazards 101
Studying Hazards, Responding to Disasters
Earth's Pulse: Hazard Monitoring
Water and Extreme Weather
Alerts, Forecasting, and Notifications
Filter Total Items: 27657
Featured Films and Shorts
thumbnail for natural hazard mission area video

Protecting People with Natural Hazards Research and Monitoring

publication
image of publications layered on a wooden table

The projected exposure and response of a natural barrier island system to climate-driven coastal hazards

Project
Global Synthesis of Flood Impacts diagram

A Global Synthesis of Flood Impacts: Understanding the Country-level Vulnerability and Causes

Featured Story
Image shows a large pile of debris left behind after major flooding. A damaged camper can be seen in the pile.

USGS experts responding simultaneously to two major natural hazards

Illustrations
Illustrated map displaying the coverage provided by the Coastal Change Hazard Portal for the U.S. East and West Coast, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and Atlantic Territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands)

Coastal Change Hazard Portal Map Coverage

Featured Films and Shorts
Image has text reading "Be Prepared" alongside images of natural hazards, first aid kits, and an emergency plan document

Natural Hazards We Might Face

Center News
A USGS geologist stands in a crack in tide flat sediment, Alaska

September is National Preparedness Month

Featured Films and Shorts
Image has text reading "Be Prepared" alongside images of natural hazards, first aid kits, and an emergency plan document

Natural Hazards We Might Face (AD)

Center News
Scientists working in the field: on a boat, in a lab, on a beach. Text says, "News from the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. USGS."

Coastal Change Hazards Team Forecasted and Measured Hurricane Milton Beach Impacts

Center News
Scientists working in the field: on a boat, in a lab, on a beach. Text says, "News from the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. USGS."

Coastal Change Hazards Team Forecasted and Measured Hurricane Helene Beach Impacts

Topic
Image shows a road split due to earthquake damage

Hazards in Alaska

Photography
A screen shot of the Puerto Rico Natural Hazards webpages.

Puerto Rico Natural Hazards webpages

Illustrations
Image has text reading "Be Prepared" alongside images of natural hazards, first aid kits, and an emergency plan document

Cover image for Preparedness Month Natural Hazards video

Infographics
Map of the Hurricane Helene landslide hazard estimates with the highest hazard being around the mountains.

Hurricane Helene Landslide Hazard Estimate Map

Photography
four people stand at a table draped in a green USGS tablecloth with several resources on display

Engaging with Stakeholders on Caribbean Natural Hazards

Screenshots
Screenshot of predicted impacts to Florida beaches from Hurricane Milton, with light to dark ribbons.

USGS Coastal Change Hazards Portal shows potential coastal change from Hurricane Milton

publication
image of publications layered on a wooden table

The solar cycle, geology, and geoelectric hazards for power grids

video
video thumbnail: Natural Hazards of Hong Kong

Natural Hazards of Hong Kong

Center News
Scientists working in the field: on a boat, in a lab, on a beach. Text says, "News from the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. USGS."

Separating the land from the sea: image segmentation in support of coastal hazards research and community early warning systems

video
video thumbnail: Natural Resources and Hazards of Thailand

Natural Resources and Hazards of Thailand

Center News
Aerial image shows rocky shoreline along Central California coast

Preparing the Nation for Coastal Hazards

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Natural Hazards

How to's and trainings
Earthquake Event Page thumbnail

The USGS Earthquake Event Page – Natural Hazards Mission Area

video
video thumbnail: The USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area Science Strategy

The USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area Science Strategy

Project
Photo of a mountain with smoke billowing up

Identifying Chains of Consequences and Interventions for Post-fire Hazards and Impacts to Resources and Ecosystems

Podcasts
USGS CoreCast

Drought: the Long, Slow Natural Hazard (Part 2)

Event
Map of the Hurricane Helene landslide hazard estimates with the highest hazard being around the mountains.

2024 Hurricane Helene Landslide Hazards

Data Release
Collage of images of an earthquake, scientists in flood with instruments, a volcano erupting, and seismic illustration.

High resolution double-difference relocations of earthquakes in and offshore Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands during the deployment of ocean bottom seismometers from mid-2015 to mid-2016

Screenshots
A computer simulation shows the probability of coastal effects from Hurricane Francine

Coastal Change Hazards Team Forecasted Hurricane Francine Beach Impacts

Photography
A woman speaks at a podium on stage in front of a crowd of people with a presentation about USGS natural hazards research

Donya-Frank Gilchrist presents on USGS Natural Hazards Science at the SCDRP Annual Meeting

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