SYRACUSE, N.Y., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- An online real estate resource says Syracuse, N.Y., has the lowest risk of natural disasters for homebuyers.
Trulia, an online marketplace for home buyers, sellers, renters and real estate professionals, has issued three new interactive natural hazard maps that show areas most affected by hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
The maps, created after the federal government last year declared a major disaster on 99 separate occasions, are based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Forest Service.
Syracuse ranked No. 1 among cities with lower risk of natural disasters, followed by Cleveland and Akron, Ohio.
"Buying a house is one of the biggest financial decisions a consumer will ever make, but it's often hard for home shoppers to get information about the potential risks and impact of natural hazards like those we've had in recent years," said Lee Clancy, vice president of Trulia's consumer products. "When Hurricane Sandy hit, we knew we had to provide more information on natural hazards to our consumers. With these new maps, users will be able to visualize where their dream home is located relative to where natural hazards have hit."
Clancy said Trulia provides the information free free of charge.
