Choose the question.
Find the evidence.
Climate Atlas guides help teams read FEMA county hazard ratings, distinguish county context from property flood evidence and organize a portfolio screening queue. Start with the question behind your decision. Each guide explains the evidence to retain and links to the free sample or a practical template for local review.
Can a county flood rating tell you if a property is in a flood zone?
No. Los Angeles’s riverine flood and Miami-Dade’s coastal flood ratings are Very High. County-wide modeled losses are $2.81B and $22.8M per year, respectively. Property checks need FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), base flood elevations and site certificates. Choose the source that answers your question.
Read the flood evidence guide ↗What does “Very High” actually tell you?
FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) categories compare communities; they are not damage probabilities. Hurricane labels: Miami-Dade, Very High; Denver, Not Applicable; Los Angeles, No Rating. See why labels cannot be averaged into a 1–5 score. Expected Annual Loss (EAL) adds dollar context.
Understand FEMA ratings ↗03 / REVIEW WORKFLOWHow do you organize a portfolio check?
Follow the 25-location example with a blank 20-column CSV template. Keep geographic levels separate and flag unreviewed county codes (FIPS). Never invent default values.
Open the checklist & template ↗What can I learn from the county examples?
Compare 27 reviewed metrics across five counties. The 25-location example shows location concentration and unresolved rows.
Sources and method: Download the sample · Read the methodology · Inspect the report deliverable.
Which guides explain loss, geography and ESG screening?
Where does county evidence fit in ESG screening?
Match facilities to county indicators and document each source, unit and coverage gap for review.
Read the ESG screening guide ↗ANNUALIZED LOSSWhat does expected annual loss mean?
Compare annualized dollar losses with hazard categories and exposure in the county examples.
Read the EAL guide ↗GEOGRAPHYWhen do I need county, tract or parcel evidence?
Choose a geographic unit for your question and keep location matches and uncertainty visible.
Read the geography guide ↗