Interactive Website Identifies Arizona Natural Hazards

September 25, 2013

The Arizona Geological Survey and the state Division of Emergency Management are teaming up to give you a way to identify and deal with natural hazards. It’s an interactive website focusing on four hazards that are common to Arizona: earthquakes, earth fissures, floods and wildfires.

If you go to the Natural Hazard Viewer of Arizona, you’ll find buttons you can turn on to show places where there are continuous fissures of the earth, mainly in the Casa Grande, Queen Creek and Apache Junction areas, as well as the Picacho Mountains.

The most worrisome active fault lines are between Chino Valley and Seligman, near the Grand Canyon, and between Safford and Willcox.

Several areas are at high risk for flooding, including west of I-10, from the Gila Indian Community to Tucson, north of I-8 from Gila Bend to Yuma, and the area south of Willcox.

The potential for wildfires is highest surrounding Tucson, near Globe, and around Prescott. 

Officials say the tool can be used for planning by county officials and is available free to the public.