Understanding multi-hazard risk for U.S. coastal cities

This study examines multi-hazard risk across twenty coastal cities in the United States by accounting for a range of potential hazards, socioeconomic conditions, adaptive capacities, and infrastructure vulnerabilities. It applies a Multi-Hazard Risk Index that integrates in situ ground observations, remotely sensed data, and re-analysed datasets to assess the interactions between hazards, exposure, and vulnerability. The findings reveal substantial variation in risk levels across the cities, with index scores ranging from 40 to 80. Gulf Coast cities such as New Orleans and Miami exhibit higher sea-level risk trends, while West Coast cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco show comparatively lower exposure. In the Northeast Atlantic, cities such as New York and Jersey City face higher vulnerability, whereas Southeastern Atlantic cities like Charleston display lower vulnerability, reflecting differences in susceptibility and adaptive capacity. These relative risk scores offer city planners and policymakers a comparative framework to evaluate local risk levels and support more targeted, evidence-based resilience strategies.