The Earth is a dangerous place. It has always been, and it will always be. But with the advent of technology, we are now able to see more about what’s happening on Earth than ever before. And that means being able to take steps out of harm’s way when necessary. HazardHub API can help you find the Earth Hazards for your property so that you know where to focus your efforts in order to stay safe from natural disasters around the US! Earth Hazards are a reality and they present themselves in many different forms, and it is important to know the risks of these Earth Hazards so one can be prepared for them when they arise.
Let’s Talk About a Few Earth Hazards
Sinkholes
Sinkholes form due to the natural process of water slowly eroding away at rocks, dirt, sand, or other material that’s under the surface of the earth. As the gound wears away, what’s on top (a road, dirt, or a building) eventually gives way to a sudden, unexpected collapse.
Sinkhole risks through the HazardHub API come in two flavors.
The first is known as non-man-made, sinkhole points. These are locations where earth-based sinkholes have formed and have been reported. The HazardHub API not only tells you the nearest sinkhole but also the number of known sinkhole points with 5 miles of a chosen location. We have data on reported sinkholes for 33 states.
The second is the ability of the ground to form sinkholes. In other words, how likely is the ground to support the formation of a sinkhole? HazardHub provides an indication of the soil to actually form a sinkhole.
Please note that your homeowner’s insurance policy may not cover sinkholes – if you live in a high-risk area, you should check with your insurance agent.
Mine Subsidence
Mine Subsidence is caused when old mines collapse and the ground shifts, sometimes causing buildings, roads, or land to collapse. The signs of mine subsidence include cracks in the foundation, sloping floors or ceilings, doors that will not close easily and are often jammed open, buckling walls, floors, or ceilings.
Mine Subsidence is especially prevalent in areas where underground mining was once popular. The HazardHub API provides instant access to indications of a property’s risk of Mine Subsidence risk.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes are among society’s most catastrophic risks. They can cause buildings to collapse, roads to break or crack, and other natural features like mountainsides or cliffs to suddenly fall away into a pile of rubble.
Earthquakes are graded on the Richter Scale, which measures their magnitude in ‘units’ of energy released. Earthquakes measuring at least seven units are considered major and those that measure four to six are mild according to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).
Earthquakes are enormously difficult to predict. However, they don’t happen in surprise areas. The best way to know what may potentially cause an earthquake is to use a service like HazardHub API’s Earthquake Risk API which shows the risks for different locations around the country.
Distance to nearest Fault Lines
The distance to the nearest fault line will tell you how close you are to the nearest known earthquake fault line in your area. This is one of many pieces of information that can be found on HazardHub’s API response for a property.
Fault lines are caused by the intersection of two tectonic plates that form a division in the Earth’s crust. When an earthquake takes place, it is often because one part of the plate has slid along or slipped past another. While Fault Lines are mapped, geologists continually discover new and unknown faults. If new fault lines are found, we add them to the HazardHub API.
Landslides
Landslides generally happen when there is an unstable slope of land where water has eroded the material that makes up the hillside to its breaking point.
When a landslide happens it will often come with little warning—and no one knows for sure how much time you have before something massive like this might occur right under your feet!
HazardHub’s API provides users with risk data on landslides in any location, so everyone from homeowners to emergency responders can stay ahead of potential disaster zones.
Fracking Earthquakes
Fracking Earthquakes are exactly like they sound – ground movement caused as a result of fracking activity.
At HazardHub, we don’t like to say that fracking causes earthquakes – we just like to point out that there’s a lot of new earthquake activity near areas that have been subjected to fracking.
So far, Fracking Earthquakes tend to be much milder than earthquakes caused by the natural movement of the earth’s tectonic plates. However, they can still be scary for anyone who may not be aware of earthquakes!
Elevation
Elevation is a property factor that can be found by the HazardHub API. Elevation is an important factor in understanding how to protect your property against natural disasters such as floods, landslides and earthquakes.
HazardHub measures elevation every 10 meters/32 feet. We also measure the elevation of bodies of water and the nearest 100 year flood zone – both important factors in determining the flood risk of a property.
Radon Levels
1 in 15 homes across the U.S. test positive for dangerous radon levels. Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that can lead to lung cancer. This natural radioactive material comes from the heavy elements uranium and thorium in soil or rock. The higher the radon level found, the greater your risk for developing lung cancer.
HazardHub’s API provides instant access to expected Radon levels for the entire US.
What can you do if you have high Radon Levels?
The first thing to do it to have your home professionally measured for radon exposure.
If you have elevated radon exposure, it’s a good idea to installing a radon system that will continuously measure the amount of radon in the air.
