FEMA Disasters Increasing; Many are Fires

G.W. Schulz at the Center for Investigative Reporting visualized FEMA disasters since 1953. Surprisingly fire is a major component of disasters in many states, not just the West. Even Florida had more fires than hurricanes declared FEMA disasters.

G.W. notes that the number of disasters have climbed in recent years, in part because "we’ve altered the definition of catastrophe. Each declaration costs money, and states would simply prefer to send the tab to Washington."

Thanks for the vizes and the story, G.W.