When disaster strikes, census data can help show who is in harm’s way

When hurricanes approach the coast or wildfires tear through dry terrain, the first maps that most people see are the ones that track the danger itself. They show a storm’s path, the current fire perimeter or zones that might soon flood. But for emergency managers, those maps answer only part of the question. Just as important is having a fast way to estimate how many people live and work in the affected area, and which communities may face the greatest challenges.

That is where an unlikely federal agency comes in. The U.S. Census Bureau recently updated its OnTheMap for Emergency Management tool, which gives users access to population and workforce data for areas affected by natural disasters. The interactive map combines current disaster-event boundaries with the latest available Census population, housing and workforce data to help officials estimate who lives and works in affected areas. Version 4.26.1 adds the latest 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates and the 2023 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Origin-Destination Employment Statistics data, giving planners a more current view of the communities they may need to protect or help rebuild.

At first glance, Census may seem like an unusual player in a disaster-response situation, even compared with other government-driven first responder initiatives. Most people associate the bureau with long-term demographic analysis, housing trends, migration patterns and the economic snapshots that fuel research, planning and political debate. But that is exactly what makes this tool so interesting. It shows how data often used to explain slow-moving change can also serve a far more immediate public-safety purpose.

Read more at NextGov/FCW