FEMA’s Geographic Information System (GIS) Software and Data for Estimating Potential Losses from Disasters

Hazus is FEMA’s nationally standardized risk assessment tool, offering advanced methodologies for estimating potential losses from natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Designed using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, Hazus provides the tools and data necessary to determine important insights for disaster planning, mitigation, and emergency response.

For more information about the Hazus program, please visit the Hazus home page.

Hazus in ArcGIS Pro is now available and represents a major upgrade, including:

  • Integration with ArcGIS Pro, providing users with advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities, an improved user interface and modern tools for hazard analysis.
  • Simplified workflows for flood and hurricane models.

Latest Release: Hazus 7.2

Hazus 7.2 represents an upgrade to the first ArcGIS Pro-based release of Hazus 7.0. Hazus 7.2 is the first version of the Hazus software compatible with ArcGIS Pro versions 3.4-3.6 offering a modern platform for natural hazard risk assessments. Below are key features available in this release:

  • Earthquake ShakeMap Model: Support for ShakeMap scenarios which allows for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data integration.
  • Results Export: The ability to download results has been significantly enhanced, including additional summary reports for flood and earthquake scenarios and more comprehensive output which includes the compilation of results data into file geodatabases.
  • Elimination of Security Vulnerabilities: All levels of security vulnerabilities identified through extensive scanning since the last release have been addressed to ensure a secure user experience.
  • ArcGIS Pro: Hazus 7.2 is compatible with ArcGIS Pro versions 3.4-3.6.
  • Hurricane Only Hazus 7.1 State Database Availability: For running a large study area for time-sensitive analyses, users may prefer to use the Hurricane Only Hazus 7.1 State Databases. This allows entire states such as Florida to be run in one Hazus analysis due to the simplified mapping schemes implemented in the database version.
  • Performance Optimization: For optimized performance, users that have already installed Hazus 7.0 or Hazus 7.1, can proceed with installing Hazus 7.2 and run the 'hazusenv_uninstall.bat' script to remove the custom Hazus 7.1 python environment to save hard drive storage space. Once Hazus 7.2 is installed, it is not required to run the script, however, please ensure that the environment in ArcGIS Pro settings is set to the default environment, arcgispro-py3 when using Hazus 7.2.

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reCAPTCHA must be completed before you can download Hazus in ArcGIS Pro

Steps to use Hazus 7.0

  1. Download Hazus 7.0: Download and extract the "HazusPro_App" media and save it to a known file location.
  2. Review Release Guides: Open and read the "Hazus 7.0 Getting Started Guide" to install and run Hazus. The "Hazus 7.0 Release Notes" are available for more detailed information.

Access to Inventory Data

Hazus has made it easier to get started by taking care of all the back-end database setup. All you need to do is open Hazus and begin using the software. There is no longer a need for users to manually download and extract Hazus databases, like in previous releases. For data availability purposes, the Hazus 7.2 state databases are available in the table below.

IMPORTANT: Information Regarding Hazus Inventory Data

Please Note: Users with Study Areas using the Hazus 7.1 state databases will need to manually delete or detach the 7.1 state database before downloading the 7.2 state database. Refer to the Getting Started Guide for steps to delete the 7.1 state databases.

Steps to use Hazus 7.2

  1. Ensure system meets the minimum system and software requirements. Users must have ArcGIS Pro and Hazus 7.0 installed first.
  2. Download Hazus 7.2: Download and extract the "Hazus_7_2_patch" media and save it to a known file location.
  3. Review Release Guides: Open and read the "Hazus 7-2 Getting Started Guide" to install and run Hazus. The "Hazus 7-2 Release Notes" are available for more detailed information.

Hazus 7.1 hurricane only state databases are available for download to use on large hurricane study areas with shorter run times. The Hazus 7.1 hurricane only state databases include simpler mapping schemes and should not be used for the U.S. Geological Survey's earthquake ShakeMap scenarios.

State and Territory Hurricane Only Hazus 7.1 State Database Direct Download Managed Download Hazus 7.2 State Database Direct Download Managed Download
Alabama DL:Direct Download Hazus Alabama dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Alabama dataset
Alaska DL:Direct Download Hazus Alaska dataset
Arizona DL:Direct Download Hazus Arizona dataset
Arkansas DL:Direct Download Hazus Arkansas dataset
American Samoa DL:Direct Download Hazus American Samoa dataset
California DL:Direct Download Hazus California dataset
Colorado DL:Direct Download Hazus Colorado dataset
Connecticut DL:Direct Download Hazus Connecticut dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Connecticut dataset
Delaware DL:Direct Download Hazus Delaware dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Delaware dataset
District of Columbia DL:Direct Download Hazus District of Columbia dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus District of Columbia dataset
Florida DL:Direct Download Hazus Florida dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Florida dataset
Georgia DL:Direct Download Hazus Georgia dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Georgia dataset
Guam DL:Direct Download Hazus Guam dataset
Hawaii DL:Direct Download Hazus Hawaii dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Hawaii dataset
Idaho DL:Direct Download Hazus Idaho dataset
Illinois DL:Direct Download Hazus Illinois dataset
Indiana DL:Direct Download Hazus Indiana dataset
Iowa DL:Direct Download Hazus Iowa dataset
Kansas DL:Direct Download Hazus Kansas dataset
Kentucky DL:Direct Download Hazus Kentucky dataset
Louisiana DL:Direct Download Hazus Louisiana dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Louisiana dataset
Maine DL:Direct Download Hazus Maine dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Maine dataset
Northern Mariana Islands DL:Direct Download Hazus Northern Mariana Islands dataset
Maryland DL:Direct Download Hazus Maryland dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Maryland dataset
Massachusetts DL:Direct Download Hazus Massachusetts dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Massachusetts dataset
Michigan DL:Direct Download Hazus Michigan dataset
Minnesota DL:Direct Download Hazus Minnesota dataset
Mississippi DL:Direct Download Hazus Mississippi dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Mississippi dataset
Missouri DL:Direct Download Hazus Missouri dataset
Montana DL:Direct Download Hazus Montana dataset
Nebraska DL:Direct Download Hazus Nebraska dataset
Nevada DL:Direct Download Hazus Nevada dataset
New Hampshire DL:Direct Download Hazus New Hampshire dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus New Hampshire dataset
New Jersey DL:Direct Download Hazus New Jersey dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus New Jersey dataset
New Mexico DL:Direct Download Hazus New Mexico dataset
New York DL:Direct Download Hazus New York dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus New York dataset
North Carolina DL:Direct Download Hazus North Carolina dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus North Carolina dataset
North Dakota DL:Direct Download Hazus North Dakota dataset
Ohio DL:Direct Download Hazus Ohio dataset
Oklahoma DL:Direct Download Hazus Oklahoma dataset
Oregon DL:Direct Download Hazus Oregon dataset
Pennsylvania DL:Direct Download Hazus Pennsylvania dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Pennsylvania dataset
Puerto Rico DL:Direct Download Hazus Puerto Rico dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Puerto Rico dataset
Rhode Island DL:Direct Download Hazus Rhode Island dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Rhode Island dataset
South Carolina DL:Direct Download Hazus South Carolina dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus South Carolina dataset
South Dakota DL:Direct Download Hazus South Dakota dataset
Tennessee DL:Direct Download Hazus Tennessee dataset
Texas DL:Direct Download Hazus Texas dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Texas dataset
Utah DL:Direct Download Hazus Utah dataset
Vermont DL:Direct Download Hazus Vermont dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Vermont dataset
Virginia DL:Direct Download Hazus Virginia dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus Virginia dataset
U.S. Virgin Islands DL:Direct Download Hazus U.S. Virgin Islands dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus U.S. Virgin Islands dataset
Washington DL:Direct Download Hazus Washington dataset
West Virginia DL:Direct Download Hazus West Virginia dataset DL:Direct Download Hazus West Virginia dataset
Wisconsin DL:Direct Download Hazus Wisconsin dataset
Wyoming DL:Direct Download Hazus Wyoming dataset

What’s the Difference between Hazus in ArcGIS Pro and Hazus 6.1?

Please note that FEMA no longer supports the download of Hazus 6.1 due to the retirement of ArcGIS Desktop. FEMA acknowledges that not all functionalities from previous and retired Hazus versions (Hazus 6.1 and earlier) are available in Hazus 7.0, 7.1, or 7.2. Some models, like tsunami, are not yet available. Please refer to the Hazus Package Region (.hpr) Restoration document to access files within the .hpr.

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Hazus 7.2 is built as an extension of ArcGIS Pro (v3.4-3.6). See the Table below covering the general functionality of Hazus 7.2. For detailed information about what is available in Hazus 7.2, please refer to the respective Release Notes available with each Hazus application download.

General Functionality Available in Hazus 7.2

Feature Hazus 7.2
Software Compatibility ArcGIS Pro v3.4-3.6
Hurricane Analysis Available for National Hurricane Center data. User Supplied analysis built into the software is available in 7.1 and above
Flood Analysis Available to users with hazard data (i.e., flood inundation depth grids)
Average Annualized Loss (AAL) Available only for the flood model, specifically for users with hazard data (i.e., any three or more multi-return period depth grids)
Probabilistic Analysis Available only for the flood model, specifically for users with hazard data (i.e., depth grids representing flood probability intervals)
Earthquake Analysis Hazus 7.2, users can now model earthquake scenarios using integrated U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap event data.
Tsunami Analysis Not yet available
Flood Depth Grid Creation Not yet available
Reports Report generation is now built into the software for Flood, and Earthquake in addition to Hurricane, starting in Hazus 7.2

Comparison in ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro

This resource offers Hazus users a side-by-side comparison of the differences between the latest versions of Hazus on two GIS platforms, ArcGIS Desktop (known as ArcMap) and ArcGIS Pro. FEMA’s Hazus Program no longer supports Hazus in ArcMap (versions 6.1 and earlier) due to the retirement of ArcMap. We encourage users to reference this side-by-side contrast for awareness of which capabilities have been transitioned to ArcGIS Pro.

General Features

Feature ArcMap ArcGIS Pro
Esri Software
  • ArcMap v10.8.2
  • ArcGIS Pro v3.4-3.6
System Recommended Requirements
  • Computer speed: 2.4 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Disk Space: 100 GB
  • Operating System: Windows 10 or 11. 64-bit
  • Extensions: ESRI’s Spatial Analyst required for Flood and Tsunami analysis.
  • Frameworks: Windows 4.8 .NET Framework
  • Computer speed: 4 CPU cores (or higher) & GPU
  • RAM: 16 GB or more
  • Disk Space: 100 GB
  • Operating System: Latest version of Microsoft Windows v11.
  • Extensions: ESRI’s Spatial Analyst required for Flood analysis.
  • Frameworks: Windows .NET 8 Framework
Installation
  • Users must have ArcMap installed prior to installation of Hazus.
  • Streamlined installation process accommodates users of all technical levels.
  • Users must have ArcGIS Pro installed prior to installation of Hazus. Installation will install SQL Server Express 2022.
Update Process
  • Users must delete their previous versions of Hazus, download the newest version, and follow the normal installation process.
  • Future versions (7.1 and above) can be downloaded and updated in place without having to delete previous versions.
  • Users must have Hazus 7.0 installed prior to 7.1 and above. Versions 7.1 and above are update patches to 7.0.
Improved User Interface
  • Dropdown Menus: Users must go through dropdown windows to progress through an analysis.
  • User Messaging: Error messages are displayed after attempting a step if an issue is found.
  • Inventory and Results: Users must add inventory or results manually to view attributes.
  • Ribbon Interface: Gives a structured step-by-step workflow.
  • Improved User Messaging: Progress and error messages have been refined to give clear and helpful information through your process.
  • Attribute Table Integration: Now allows users to view inventory and results directly in attribute tables.
  • Map Symbology: Enhanced auto-loaded symbology.
  • Tooltips: Users can hover over tools or icons to view brief descriptions and guidance, eliminating the need to consult the technical manual.
State Data Inventory
  • Users must download Hazus datasets by state, extract them, and place them in the correct folder location.
  • Users no longer need to manually search for, download, extract, and place state datasets in the correct file locations. Hazus now handles this entire process, streamlining data preparation and enabling fast project setup.
Comprehensive Data Management System (CDMS) Comprehensive Data Management System is available:
  • Users can view, query, and edit the default inventory that is referenced in hazard models.
  • Users can import their own datasets to run region-specific analyses.
  • Building-specific data can be imported to provide more accurate building characteristics for a more detailed analysis.
Comprehensive Data Management System is not available:
  • At this time, users cannot import region-specific datasets for their analyses.
  • Users cannot export default inventories for use in analysis outside of Hazus.
Study Region (6.1)/Study Area (7.0)
  • You must select and create your study region before opening your Hazus project.
  • You must determine the necessary hazards before selecting the study region.
  • You select study regions through a list at multiple scales including State, County, Census Tract, Census Block, National Flood Insurance Program Community, or Watershed.
  • You create the study area within Hazus upon startup of a new project.
  • You can interactively select your study area through exploring the default map and manually selecting your area of interest.
  • Study areas can be created at multiple scales including State, County, Census Tract, National Flood Insurance Program Community, or Watershed.
Report Generation
  • Results can be exported into many different report summaries.
  • Pre-existing reports include global summary reports and individual reports to summarize specific details of the hazard model.
  • Specific reports range in options from damage summaries for Essential Facilities, User Defined Facilities, Debris Generation, Shelter Requirements, and many more.
  • Report generation is now built into the software for Flood and Earthquake in addition to Hurricane, starting in Hazus 7.2.
Results Export
  • Users can use the Hazus-export tool, as a stand-alone open-source tool designed to give users an easy way to access, analyze, and share risk assessment results.
  • Hazus export tool is incorporated into Hazus 7.1 and above. Users no longer have to download the open-source export tool, and can export results directly from Hazus including losses, reports, draft emails, and thumbnails.
Limitations
  • Data inventories will not be updated any longer. If users are relying on the most up-to-date data, they are encouraged to move to Hazus 7.0.
  • ArcGIS Pro Basic License Limitations: includes difficulties with file geodatabase rasters in flood models and challenges importing shared project files.
  • Low-End Systems: Users may experience slower performance on machines that only meet minimum requirements.
  • Windows Only: Cannot run on Macintosh or Linux.
  • Maximum 10GB limit on study area Database size.
  • Help pages will not open if usernames contain a space in the name.

Flood Hazard Features

Feature ArcMap ArcGIS Pro
Depth Grid Import
  • Users can import specific depth grids. If they do not have one, they can create a depth grid within Hazus running through default steps.
  • If projection issues exist when the depth grid is imported, users will be notified with an error message after Hazus attempts to import.
  • Depth grids are required to run a flood model. If users do not have a depth grid, they cannot run a flood analysis.
  • Users must be able to create depth grids on their own or obtain a depth grid from an outside source.
  • If projection issues exist when the depth grid is imported, users will be notified before they attempt to import it.
Depth Grid Generation
  • If users do not have a depth grid to import for their study region, Hazus will guide the user through the steps of creating a depth grid within the software.
  • Users do not have the ability to create depth grids within Hazus.
Average Annualized Loss (AAL) Calculation
  • Users can run AAL with standard return periods; 10-year, 25-year, 50-year, 100-year, and 500-year return periods.
  • Users can run AAL with a minimum of three return periods, but users can now input any combination of return periods. This can be important for areas with unique hydrological characteristics, resulting in better risk prioritization and planning.
Debris Generation
  • Users can analyze, view and map building debris results by census blocks.
  • Not available at this time. The Hazus development team uncovered latent issues in the previous methodology that they are resolving for future releases. To ensure there are no methodology issues, flood debris analysis has been disabled in Hazus 7.1 and 7.2.
Coastal
  • Users could run models for a single return period or a full suite of return periods.
  • Users must identify the start and end of shorelines for analysis as well as other specific information, such as stillwater elevations, and optionally wave setup, and wave heights.
  • A depth grid is required to run a coastal flood model.
  • Improvements were made to coastal Depth Damage Functions, which now have more precise methods of automatically assigning damage functions in A Zones and V Zones using depth-limited approach.
  • Hazus can now differentiate between coastal depths and wave heights for A and VE zones.
Study Region (6.1)/Study Area (7.0)
  • Users can create a study region down to the census block level.
  • Users are not able to define study areas at the census block level, however, you can aggregate at the census tract level.

Hurricane Hazard Features

Feature ArcMap ArcGIS Pro
Scenarios Probabilistic
  • This scenario considers the impacts of thousands of potential storms.
Deterministic
  • Users can select from preloaded historic storms or hypothetical hurricane tracks.
Probabilistic
  • Not available.
Deterministic
  • Users can select scenario data from the National Hurricane Center.
  • Users can directly access and import windspeed data within Hazus when creating a scenario. There is no longer a need for the open-source tool to import.
Storm Tracks
  • Users can select historic storm events and storm tracks.
  • Users can manually define a storm track.
  • Users can import storm tracks and hurricane wind data.
  • Users can edit storm track and wind data per each track.
  • Users can select historic storm events and storm tracks from 2005 or later. (Only .hvx files are compatible.)
  • Users cannot yet manually edit storm track data. This feature is expected for future releases.
National Hurricane Center
  • Users need to download the Hurricane Hazard Import Tool to import National Hurricane Center data.
  • Users can set up an account and follow multiple steps to import data.
  • The ability to incorporate National Hurricane Center hurricane data has been incorporated into Hazus.
  • Users no longer need to go through the process of obtaining and running the Hurricane Hazard Import Tool.
  • Users can search through National Hurricane Center hurricane scenario data by using filters for basin, year, or storm type, but also through a keyword search bar.
Model Limitations
  • Whole state aggregation fails with insufficient memory resources. This is addressed by reverting the hurricane mapping schemes to the previous before the update, v6.0.
  • Hazus 7.1 addresses prior issues with incorrect damage state functions for certain multi-family residential buildings and incorrect specific building type damage state calculations.
  • Hazus 7.1 uses simplier mapping schemes (the same as in Hazus 6.0) to alleviate memory issues when building large study areas. This reduces the run time when performing a loss analysis.
  • Hazus 7.2 implements advanced mapping schemes to allow for more detailed analysis. Hurricane Only Hazus 7.1 State Databases with simplified mapping schemes are also available for download and use in Hazus 7.2.

Earthquake Hazard Features

Feature ArcMap ArcGIS Pro
Scenarios Historical Events
  • Users can select historical epicenters, which will come with pre-loaded details such as magnitude, fault type, fault depth and width, rupture details and more.
Arbitrary Event
  • Users can select any point location within their study region and provide their own details to run the model as if the earthquake would originate from that point.
Probabilistic
  • Users can specify the desired return period and magnitude. Alternatively, users can select the Annualized Loss option to estimate average annualized loss.
Fault Source Event
  • Users can select a scenario from the U.S. Geological Survey supplied fault database
U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap
  • This is the primary recommended source, available for both real events and scenarios. Users can select a real event or a scenario that comes with preloaded hazard data inputs.
User-Supplied Hazard
  • Requires users to supply digitized data inputs for this option.
Available in Hazus 7.2:
U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap
  • This is the primary recommended source, available for both real events and scenarios. Users can select a real event or a scenario that comes with preloaded hazard data inputs.

Tsunami Hazard Features

Feature ArcMap ArcGIS Pro
Hazard Type Runup Only-Mean Sea Level
  • Requires Maximum Runup Height grid in raster format and DEM raster.
Quick Look-Single Maximum Runup
  • Requires DEM raster and single maximum runup value.
Depth Above Ground Level and Velocity
  • Requires Maximum Depth grid and Velocity grid in raster format, OR Maximum Depth and Velocity NetCDF NOAA SIFT files.
Depth AGL and Momentum Flux
  • Requires Median Depth grid in raster format, AND Median Momentum Flux grid in raster format.
Not available at this time.

Additional Resources and Data

Additional Resources


Data Resources

National Structure Inventory (NSI 2022): The Hazus Program partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to develop the National Structure Inventory (NSI 2022). This dataset was used in the creation of the Hazus Inventory general building stock (GBS) data. Download the data and learn more about it here.