'Death Map' Shows Where Americans Most Likely to Die

Live Science ^ | December 17, 2008 | Jeanna Bryner

[ConservativeStatement]

A new map plotting deaths resulting from forces of nature reveals where Mother Nature is most likely to kill you.

People living in the South along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts have a higher likelihood of dying from a natural hazard compared to residents of the Great Lakes area and urbanized Northeast.

[Between the Lines]

analyzed nationwide data from 1970 to 2004.

Note Katrina data is not included.

Overall, during the study period, nearly 20,000 people died due to natural hazards.

This amounts to about 580 people a year. Not enough to justify concern for our own safety should we be living in a red area.

[absolootezer0]

haven’t ever heard of a twister heading thru detroit. how would you know if it did anyway?

[Flycatcher]

Man what is going on in Coconino County, Arizona??

It has to be the Grand Canyon. A few exposure deaths (and heart attacks from hiking exertion) every year. I would imagine the same goes for the canyonlands of southern Utah.

[Red Badger]

We ALL gonna die!...................

[RegulatorCountry]

The likelihood of death is 100%, regardless of geographic location.

The likelihood of a poorly written headline does spike by media type, however.

[absolootezer0]

that’s beside the point. the point is, you’re safe from natural disasters in detroit!
its just nice to hear there’s actually something in detroit you’re safe from :)

[radiohead]

North Philly should be a bright fire engine red...

Former Fluffyan LOLs.

[skully]

Seeing as everyone dies; isn't life the leading cause of death?? I think your more likely to die because your alive, not so much where you live. Sure different types of incidents kill people in different geographical locations, but at the end of the day people have died everywhere in the world for all sorts of reasons. But if they weren't alive in the first place they couldn't die at all. We still have obituaries in my local news sources.

[In veno, veritas]

I hate to apply econometrics in a discussion like this, but most people should realize that the standard deviation is like the z or t stat. In this case, it really applies since 1.5 is not significant from zero at 5% confidence interval. So basically, there is no evidence of one area being worse than another given the info we have on the chart.

[Cyber Liberty]

I am afraid that didn’t help. The legend is still illegible....

[LibWhacker]

The map only counts deaths that result “from forces of nature [and] reveals where Mother Nature is most likely to kill you.” Heart attacks, strokes, muggings, etc., are not counted.

Now, the color scheme tells you where the risk is greatest: red areas have more risk than average, blue areas have less risk than average.

[RegulatorCountry]

Whee!!!

[DaveArk]

Now don’t disspell my thoughts about the state of Arkansas. I was thinking we have of alot of natural causes don’t you know. Arkancide and all. :)

[CPOSharky]

Man what is going on in Coconino County, Arizona?? Cold? Heat?

If that map includes "International Campers" then its most likly dehydration while trying to cross the desert.

[Bullfrogg]

We sure are! Somewhere or another, on sombeech.

Bullfrog

[Between the Lines]

I expect this is a function of a smaller population along with a large number of people engaging in hazardous outdoors activities in the national parks etc.

I grew up in Kennedy county Texas. The map has it shaded in pink. The county has had a stable population of about 250 people for the last 50 years so I would presume that even one death there would send it into a higher threat category.

[Eagle Eye]

Isn’t it alarming that half of the population stands a greater than average risk of death by natural hazard?

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!

[rahbert]

Whats up with central NM? Is that Mora Co in red?

[N. Theknow]

People living in the South along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts have a higher likelihood of dying from a natural hazard compared to residents of the Great Lakes area and urbanized Northeast.

It would appear that automobile fatalities from snow and ice are minimal or not figured in to the equation.

[Wuli]

The weather in the corridor from Idaho-Montana down to Arizona-New Mexico experiences extremes of hot and cold, from one end to the other.