To request the list of current active hazards please use the route defined here:
Query active hazard events
get
Returns a 302 redirect to a pre-signed S3 URL. The resource at that
URL contains gzipped NDJSON (newline-delimited JSON) with one hazard
object per line.
This redirect behaviour applies to both filtered and unfiltered
requests. Clients must follow the redirect and decompress the gzipped
response body to read hazard records.
All query parameters are optional. When none are provided the full set
of active hazards is returned.
Authorizations
AuthorizationstringRequired
JWT access token obtained from POST /authorize. Tokens expire after
15 minutes.
Query parameters
namestringOptional
Filter by hazard name (partial match).
commentstringOptional
Filter by comment text (partial match).
typestringOptional
Filter by hazard type. Comma-separated list for multiple values.
Example: EARTHQUAKE,FLOOD
severitystringOptional
Filter by severity level. Comma-separated list for multiple values.
Example: WARNING,WATCH
categorystringOptional
Filter by hazard category. Comma-separated list for multiple values.
Example: EVENT,NATURAL
countrystringOptional
Filter by country code. Comma-separated list for multiple values.
Example: USA,JPN
started_atstringOptional
Filter hazards started at or after this timestamp (format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS).
Example: 2024-01-01 00:00:00
ended_atstringOptional
Filter hazards ended at or before this timestamp (format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS).
Example: 2024-12-31 23:59:59
created_atstringOptional
Filter by creation timestamp (format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS).
updated_atstringOptional
Filter by last-update timestamp (format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS).
latitudestringOptional
Filter by latitude range as min,max.
Example: -10.0,10.0
longitudestringOptional
Filter by longitude range as min,max.
Example: 100.0,150.0
uuidstringOptional
Filter by hazard UUID(s). Comma-separated list for multiple values.
Responses
302
Redirect to a pre-signed S3 URL. Follow the Location header to
retrieve gzipped NDJSON hazard data. Each line in the decompressed
body is a JSON object matching the ActiveHazard schema.
The pre-signed URL expires after 5 minutes.
The API returns data as gzipped NDJSON (newline-delimited JSON) for optimal performance. When decompressed, each line contains a complete hazard object in JSON format.
Each hazard object includes enriched data with detailed incident information, geographic features, exposure assessments, and related metadata.
Response Fields
Field
Type
Description
uuid
String
A unique universal identifier for the hazard across all DisasterAWARE systems.
name
Array
An array of objects, each defining the hazard name in a specific locale formatted according to RFC 5646 (e.g., "en" for US English). Each object contains locale and value keys. Currently, names are provided only in US English.
description
Array
An array of objects providing localized descriptions of the hazard. These descriptions detail the areas affected by the hazard, as well as an assessment of the populations and infrastructure at risk. Each object contains locale (RFC 5646 format) and value keys.
severity
String
Indicates the likelihood of the hazard impacting populated areas. This property helps assess the potential risk to human settlements, aiding in preparation and response efforts. Values include TERMINATION, INFORMATION, ADVISORY, WATCH, and WARNING. See Requesting Hazard Severities for complete reference.
category
String
The category classification of the hazard (e.g., EVENT, RESPONSE, EXERCISE, OTHER). See Requesting Hazard Categories for complete reference.
type
String
Specifies the phenomenon that caused the hazard, such as EARTHQUAKE, CYCLONE, VOLCANO, FLOOD, WILDFIRE, TSUNAMI, or TORNADO. This property is essential for understanding the hazard's nature and planning appropriate response strategies. See Requesting Hazard Types for complete reference.
comment
String/Null
Optional comment or additional information about the hazard. Currently not populated; reserved for future use.
createdAt
Integer
Unix timestamp (seconds since epoch) indicating when the hazard object was initialized and first logged in the system. Provides a reference point for tracking the timeline of the hazard's identification.
startedAt
Integer
Unix timestamp recording when the event underlying the hazard began. This can include future dates for forecasted hazards (e.g., an anticipated flood), valuable for preparedness and preemptive measures.
updatedAt
Integer
Unix timestamp capturing the last time information within the hazard object was updated. Essential for tracking changes as the hazard may increase/decrease in intensity or move locations. Regular updates ensure current and reliable data.
endedAt
Integer
Unix timestamp specifying when the event ceased to be hazardous. Can be a future date based on forecasts/predictions. The value may change as new information becomes available, providing updated insights into the hazard's duration.
latitude
Float
Geographic latitude coordinate (WGS84 projection). The significance varies by hazard type: may represent an earthquake epicenter, the last observed location of a cyclone, or the weighted center of wildfire perimeters.
longitude
Float
Geographic longitude coordinate (WGS84 projection). The significance varies by hazard type: may represent an earthquake epicenter, the last observed location of a cyclone, or the weighted center of wildfire perimeters.
version
Integer
Tracks the number of updates made to the hazard object, serving as a version counter that increments with each modification (intensity changes, movement, or other attribute updates). Maintains a clear record of how the hazard has evolved.
creator
String
Identifies the system or person responsible for reporting the hazard. "RICHTER" indicates the new hazard identification system, "D2P2" indicates the legacy system, or a username for manually created hazards by the monitoring team. Crucial for tracking the source and ensuring accountability.
relatedHazards
Array
A placeholder for future use. Currently returns an empty array. Once implemented, will contain UUIDs of related hazards (e.g., earthquake that triggered a tsunami, tornadoes associated with a cyclone). Will enhance comprehensiveness by illustrating connections between events for holistic risk assessments.
incident
Object
Details the event classified as hazardous. Contains: uuid (unique identifier), sourceRecordId (identifier from reporting agency like USGS or NHC), type (phenomenon type), and properties (dictionary of key/value pairs describing specific attributes that vary by phenomenon, such as epicenter location and magnitude for earthquakes).
source
Object/Null
Identifies the authoritative agency responsible for reporting the hazard. Includes: id (source ID in the system), name (agency name), longName (full agency name), and description (agency scope and expertise). Not all hazards have a source populated. When absent, this field is null. Source is fully populated for hazards from known agencies (e.g., USGS for earthquakes, VAAC for volcanoes, AI for Humanity for geopolitical events). Source population is being expanded to cover all hazard types.
alertGeometry
Object
A GeoJSON FeatureCollection delineating an area for notification purposes. Designed to intersect with user areas of interest for early-warning notifications (subject to user filtering settings). Intentionally larger than the actual impact area to inform nearby assets and individuals, allowing proactive decisions like altering travel plans.
features
Object
A GeoJSON FeatureCollection representing geographic features associated with the hazard (not included for all hazard types). When present, provides detailed geographical information specific to the hazard, such as the track of a tropical cyclone. Crucial for visualizing movement or extent over time.
exposureAreas
Object
A GeoJSON FeatureCollection with polygons defining areas exposed to the hazard, categorized by severity level: 1 = moderate severity, 2 = strong severity, 3 = severe. Allows for nuanced understanding of potential effects across different regions, helping authorities and residents prepare based on graded risk levels. Note: These severity levels differ from the hazard's overall severity property.
exposureAssessment
Object
A comprehensive report utilizing exposureAreas geometry to estimate affected populations. Provides detailed breakdown by region and exposure severity, including population estimates segmented by age group and vulnerability status. Details critical infrastructure (hospitals, airports, etc.), highlighting potential impact on essential services. Includes humanitarian needs estimates with specific units (CAL for food, liters for water, 100-liter units for waste, square meters for shelter).
Field Details
Timestamps
All timestamp fields (createdAt, updatedAt, startedAt, endedAt) are Unix timestamps representing seconds since January 1, 1970 UTC.
Important Notes:
startedAt and endedAt can include future dates for forecasted hazards
updatedAt changes as hazards evolve (intensity, movement, etc.)
Future date values may change as new forecasts become available
Geographic Data
latitude and longitude use the WGS84 coordinate system (EPSG:4326)
The meaning of coordinates varies by hazard type:
Earthquakes: Epicenter location
Tropical Cyclones: Last observed position
Wildfires: Weighted center of perimeter polygons
Geographic feature collections (alertGeometry, features, exposureAreas) follow the GeoJSON specification
Incident Object
The incident property contains event-specific details that vary by hazard type:
uuid: Unique identifier for the incident
sourceRecordId: ID from the reporting agency (e.g., USGS event ID, NHC advisory number)
type: The phenomenon type (matches the hazard's type field)
sourceId: Numeric identifier for the data source
properties: A dictionary of hazard-specific attributes (e.g., magnitude and depth for earthquakes, wind speed and pressure for cyclones)
Source Object
The source property identifies the authoritative reporting agency:
id: Numeric identifier in the DisasterAWARE system
name: Short agency name (e.g., "USGS", "NHC")
longName: Full official agency name
description: Details about the agency's scope, expertise, and geographic coverage
This is particularly relevant when multiple agencies report on the same hazard type (e.g., different cyclone warning centers covering specific ocean basins).
Alert Geometry
The alertGeometry GeoJSON defines the notification boundary:
Intentionally larger than the actual impact area
Used to trigger alerts for users with intersecting areas of interest
Allows people near (but not directly in) the hazard zone to make proactive decisions
Subject to additional user-defined filtering preferences
Feature properties are currently empty ({} or null). The geometry alone defines the notification boundary.
Features
The features GeoJSON is not included for all hazard types. When present, it contains geographic features specific to the hazard's source data. The structure and properties vary by hazard type:
Cyclones: Storm track segments (observed and forecast paths), forecast cones (72hr/120hr), position points with detailed meteorological data, and wind radii polygons (34kt, 50kt, 64kt thresholds). See Cyclone Sample.
Floods: Watershed severity points and flood incident area polygons from the NASA Global Flood Model. Properties include featureType ("INCIDENT" or "WATERSHED"), pfafId (Pfafstetter basin ID), risk scores (rfrScore, cfrScore), GloFAS return period flags, DFO/VIIRS satellite observation scores, and exposureLevel.
Volcanoes: Volcanic Ash Advisory polygons from VAAC sources with forecast time steps (0hr, 6hr, 12hr, 18hr). Properties include featureType ("ASH_CLOUD", "SMART_ALERT", or "INCIDENT"), advisory details, ash cloud observations, eruption information, and summit elevation.
Landslides: Landslide incident polygons. Properties include featureType ("INCIDENT"), senderName, risk scores, and exposure levels.
Geopolitical (COMBAT, TERRORISM, ACCIDENT, CIVILUNREST): Smart Alert area and exposure area features. Properties include featureType ("SMART_ALERT" or "EXPOSURE_AREA"), casualty data, and incident details.
Weather (WINTERSTORM, SEVEREWEATHER, HIGHWIND, HIGHSURF, TORNADO, STORM, EXTREMETEMPERATURE): CAP (Common Alerting Protocol) info features with source-provided alert polygons. Properties include featureType ("CAP_INFO"), senderName, headline, urgency, severity, certainty, and alert timing fields.
Note: The features property may be null or contain an empty features array for some hazard types (e.g., earthquakes prior to ShakeMap availability, wildfires).
Exposure Areas
The exposureAreas GeoJSON contains polygons categorized by severity level. The number of levels and their meaning vary by hazard type:
Source-provided alert area (NWS, Environment Canada, BoM) or SmartAlert Area
No Exposure: CYBER, MANMADE types have no exposure areas.
Note: These exposure severity levels are distinct from the hazard's overall severity property (which indicates likelihood of impact on populated areas).
Exposure Assessment
The exposureAssessment object provides critical humanitarian planning data with the following structure:
Population Breakdown (population): The population field is an object containing demographic estimates for the affected area:
total: Total estimated population within all affected areas
total0_14: Estimated population aged 0-14
total15_64: Estimated population aged 15-64
total65_Plus: Estimated population aged 65 and over
households: Estimated number of households
vulnerable: Estimated vulnerable population
Capital/Infrastructure Breakdown (capital): The capital field is an object containing infrastructure exposure data:
total: Total estimated capital/infrastructure value at risk (USD)
school: Number of schools exposed (when non-zero)
hospital: Number of hospitals exposed (when non-zero)
Humanitarian Needs:
foodNeeds / foodNeedsUnit: Food requirements (units: MRE - Meals Ready to Eat, or CAL - calories)
waterNeeds / waterNeedsUnit: Water requirements (units: gal - US gallons, or liter)
wasteNeeds / wasteNeedsUnit: Waste management needs (units: 25 gal - 25-gallon units, or 100 liter)
shelterNeeds / shelterNeedsUnit: Shelter space requirements (units: sq feet, or sq meters)
Note: Units may vary by country within the same hazard. Check the *Unit fields for each entry rather than assuming a single unit system.
Geographic Breakdowns:
totalByCountry: Array of objects providing exposure totals broken down by country. Each entry includes population (object), capital (object), humanitarian needs, country (ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code), and admin0 (country name).
totalByAdmin: Array of objects with the same structure as totalByCountry, broken down by administrative region. Includes admin0 (country), admin1 (province/state), and admin2 (municipality/district) when available.
Exposure Levels Array (exposureLevels): Breakdown by severity level. Each level contains the same population, capital, humanitarian needs, totalByCountry, and totalByAdmin structure as the top level:
level: "1" (moderate), "2" (strong), or "3" (severe)
exposureDescription: Human-readable description of the exposure zone (varies by hazard type)
data: Object containing all exposure metrics for that specific level
Note: The hazardUuid, hazardType, version, and exposureDescription fields at the top level of exposureAssessment may be empty strings in the current implementation and are reserved for internal use. The level field within exposureLevels is returned as a String (e.g., "1", "2", "3"), not an Integer.
