The Palmetto State is also one of the most seismically vulnerable states in the East, averaging ten earthquakes a year. In addition, the state's industrial facilities produced more than 260,000 tons of hazardous waste in 1995. The South Carolina Atlas of Environmental Risks and Hazards is a computer-based resource for understanding environmental threats like these. Each section of the atlas provides a general description of one environmental hazard and offers practical preparedness information. Detailed explanations and extensive maps and graphs illustrate the historic and geographic patterns of hazards that affect the state.
Fascinating photographs reveal the damage that environmental hazards pose to life and property.
The hazards of everyday life are also included. For example, the atlas has sections on motor vehicle accidents, crime, and house fires. A final section examines global hazards and how South Carolina fits into the national and international environmental context. Links throughout the atlas enable readers to consult additional resources, World Wide Web sites, and data tables. Its founding director, Susan L. Cutter, is a professor and the chair of the Department of Geography.