New national climate resilience tool predicts natural disaster likelihood

SALEM, Ore. — A new national interactive mapping tool went live Thursday showing information like how many wildfires are currently burning across the United States, but also how likely regions are to be impacted by natural disasters in the future.

"We wanted to build a portal that is science based pulling together the best data on impacts that communities have historically faced; what is happening right now and, perhaps most importantly, what the future may hold," said David Hayes, President Joe Biden's special assistant on climate policy.

He noted that the interactive "Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation" (CMRA) was commissioned by the Biden administration as part of theU.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP).

"We are focusing on climate adaptation and resilience because President Biden recognized from day one that combating the climate crisis means not only reducing the greenhouse gas emissions but also confronting the climate impacts," he said during a press conference where the tool was introduced.

Federal officials noted that the tool can be used by individuals, local governments, and businesses alike to help plan for natural disasters in the future. It gives users the option to look at natural disaster scenarios based on "high" or "low" gas emissions.

Benton County Emergency Manager Bryan Lee said the tool can be useful locally to help inform emergency managers on what risk models to take into consideration.

"We can use this tool to help us develop our hazard risk assessments and then again just use that data out there, use the science out there from a reputable source to then use in our emergency plans," he said.

The tool also points out whether municipalities have building code restrictions in place based on their area's risk.

Oregon's published its own Wildfire Risk Map in July but the tool was pulled down as a result of pushbackover potential new home hardening rules, building codes, and concerns that it could effect insurance premiums. The map will go public again in the fall once those rules have been solidified.

Oregon's commissioner has said that Oregon's insurance companies have not used the wildfire risk map to make underwriting decisions.

"Once concerns were raised during public listening sessions on the new map, the division put out a formal data call to all relevant insurers doing business in Oregon to confirm they were not using or planning to use the state wildfire risk map for underwriting or rating decisions," the office said in a written statement Aug. 12. "A data call is a formal inquiry that insurers are required by law to answer truthfully."

However, it remains unclear whether a climate prediction model like the CMRA could prove useful to property insurance companies nationwide.

When asked if this was taken into consideration, Hayes said agencies that created the tool expect it to be used by "businesses of all kinds."