Our Environmental Risk Glossary equips you with knowledge about potential environmental factors affecting your property. Learn about terms related to climate, natural hazards, and sustainability measures, so you can better understand and mitigate risks to your home's safety and value.
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A
Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones (): Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones are regulatory zones in California surrounding active faults, where special development restrictions apply to reduce the risk of surface fault rupture to structures.
B
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) (): Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted water surface elevation during a base flood event, which has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year.
C
Carrying capacity (): Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population or development that an area can sustainably support without compromising its resources, infrastructure, or quality of life.
Community Resilience (): Community resilience refers to a community's ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adverse events, such as natural disasters, economic downturns, or public health crises
D
Defensible Space (): Defensible space refers to the area surrounding a home or structure that has been designed and maintained to reduce the risk of wildfire damage.
Disaster Preparedness (): Disaster preparedness refers to the measures taken to minimize the impact of potential natural or man-made disasters on a property and its occupants.
E
Earthquake Fault (): An earthquake fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock in the Earth's crust, where displacement or movement can occur during an earthquake.
Earthquake Fault Zones (): Earthquake fault zones are areas where the earth's crust has active faults, increasing the likelihood of seismic activity and potential damage to structures.
Earthquake Insurance (): Earthquake insurance is a type of coverage that protects homeowners from financial losses caused by earthquakes, which are not typically covered under standard homeowners insurance policies.
Elevation Certificate (): An Elevation Certificate is a document that provides information about a property's elevation and its relationship to the base flood elevation, which is used to determine flood insurance rates and building requirements in flood-prone areas.
Energy Efficiency (): Energy efficiency refers to the use of energy-saving technologies, materials, and practices in homes and buildings to reduce energy consumption and costs while maintaining comfort and functionality.
F
Fault Lines (): Fault lines are fractures or cracks in the Earth's crust where tectonic plates meet and move against each other, causing seismic activity and potentially leading to earthquakes.
FEMA Flood Maps (): FEMA Flood Maps, also known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), are official maps that delineate flood hazard areas and risk levels within a community, as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Fire Hazard Area (): A Fire Hazard Area is a geographic region that is at high risk for wildfires due to factors such as climate, vegetation, and topography.
Fire-Resistant Building Materials (): Fire-resistant building materials are construction materials designed to withstand fire and slow down the spread of flames, providing increased safety and protection for occupants and structures.
Fire-Resistant Landscaping (): Fire-resistant landscaping is the practice of designing and maintaining outdoor spaces using plants, materials, and strategies that reduce the risk of fire damage to homes and properties.
Flood Elevation Certificate (): A Flood Elevation Certificate is an official document that provides information about a property's flood risk and its compliance with local floodplain management regulations.
Flood Insurance (): Flood insurance is a type of insurance policy that provides coverage for property damage caused by flooding events.
Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) (): A Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is an official map that delineates flood hazard areas and the associated flood risks within a community, as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Flood Mitigation (): Flood mitigation refers to the strategies, policies, and actions taken to reduce the impact and risk of flooding on communities and properties.
Floodplain (): A floodplain is a low-lying area adjacent to a river or stream that is prone to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt.
Flood Zone (): A flood zone is an area that is at risk of flooding, as determined by government agencies, based on historical data and predictive modeling.
G
Greenspace (): Greenspace refers to areas of vegetation, such as parks, gardens, and natural landscapes, within an urban or suburban environment.
Green space (): Green space refers to areas of vegetation, such as parks, gardens, and natural landscapes, within an urban or suburban environment.
Greenways (): Greenways are linear open spaces, such as corridors of land or water, that connect parks, nature reserves, cultural features, or historic sites for recreation and conservation purposes.
L
Liquefaction (): Liquefaction is a phenomenon in which saturated, loose soil loses strength and behaves like a liquid during an earthquake, potentially causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.
N
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (): The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a federal program that provides flood insurance to property owners, renters, and businesses in participating communities, helping to mitigate the financial impact of flood events.
Natural Hazard Zones (): Natural Hazard Zones are geographic areas that are more susceptible to specific natural disasters or hazardous events, such as earthquakes, floods, wildfires, or hurricanes.
P
Preservation Easement (): A preservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that protects a property's historic, cultural, or architectural features by restricting certain changes or development, even if the property is sold.
R
Resilience (): In the context of location intelligence reports, resilience refers to a neighborhood's ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adverse events or changing conditions.
S
Seismic Activity (): Seismic activity refers to the occurrence of earthquakes and other vibrations in the Earth's crust caused by the movement of tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions, or human activities.
Seismic Hazard (): Seismic hazard refers to the potential for earthquakes and related ground shaking to cause damage, injury, or loss of life in a specific area.
Seismic Hazard Maps (): Seismic hazard maps are visual representations that depict the likelihood and potential severity of earthquake-related ground shaking in a specific geographic area.
Seismic Hazard Zones (): Seismic Hazard Zones are areas identified by government agencies as being at higher risk for earthquakes and related hazards, such as liquefaction and landslides.
Seismic Retrofitting (): Seismic retrofitting is the process of strengthening existing buildings to improve their resistance to earthquake damage.
Soil Amplification (): Soil amplification refers to the increase in the intensity of seismic waves as they pass through certain types of soil during an earthquake, potentially leading to greater damage to structures built on these soils.
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) (): A Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is a region that has a higher risk of experiencing flooding, as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Surface Fault Rupture (): Surface fault rupture is the visible displacement or deformation of the ground surface along a fault line during an earthquake.
Sustainability (): Sustainability refers to the environmental, social, and economic factors that contribute to the long-term well-being and resilience of a community or neighborhood.
Sustainable Development (): Sustainable development is an approach to growth and progress that balances economic, social, and environmental needs, ensuring that current and future generations can thrive without compromising the planet's resources.
U
Urban forestry (): Urban forestry is the management and care of trees and green spaces within urban areas to enhance the environment, health, and well-being of communities.
W
Weatherization (): Weatherization refers to the process of making a home more energy-efficient and resistant to the effects of weather, such as extreme temperatures, wind, and moisture.
Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) (): The Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) is the area where human development meets or intermingles with undeveloped wildland vegetation, creating a heightened risk of wildfire impacts on homes and communities.
