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How to use PLRB Catastrophe Services
API Access
PLRB Members and Affiliates can utilize PLRB’s ArcGIS REST API to access Weather/CAT data. The ArcGIS REST API supports responses in several formats such as JSON and HTML. Also, the map services can be used in web applications, ArcGIS for Desktop, ArcGIS Online, and other GIS client applications. A map service makes maps, features, and attribute data available inside many types of client applications. Users can conduct an API query directly from the ArcGIS REST Services directory by entering parameters such as date range and type of peril. Users can also automate requesting data via the API URL. To obtain and ID and password needed to access the API, please contact Andrew Louchios at alouchios@plrb.org. For an in-depth list of catastrophe data that PLRB archives please see the following PDF document.
Maps & Apps Portal
PLRB Catastrophe Services has created a Maps & Applications Portal utilizing the latest technology from Esri. The smaller focused apps are intended to allow the user to find information quickly and easily. View maps and search our large database of severe weather and catastrophe geospatial data. PLRB will continue to create new web apps and refine existing web apps. PLRB has created web apps for:
- Current Weather & Forecasts
- Earthquakes
- Hail Research
- Hail Risk Analysis
- Historical RADAR Viewer
- Hurricane Dorian (2019)
- Hurricane Florence (2018)
- Hurricane Harvey (2017)
- Hurricane Helene (2024)
- Hurricane Ian (2022)
- Hurricane Ida (2021)
- Hurricane Idalia (2023)
- Hurricane Irma (2017)
- Hurricane Laura (2020)
- Hurricane Matthew (2016)
- Hurricane Michael (2018)
- Hurricane Milton (2024)
- Hurricane Nicole (2022)
- Risks and Hazards
- Tornado Risk Analysis
- Wildfires
- Wind/Tornado Research
- Zika Virus Transmission
One-Stop Weather Data
Designed to quickly and easily retrieve all of PLRB’s weather/CAT data for a particular address and date range. Simply enter an address and click Locate, then enter a date range and click Search. Any severe weather reports (tornadoes, hail, wind) and other storm reports (flood, freezing rain, debris flows); weather observation station data; lightning data; observed precipitation; snowfall analysis; historical watches/warnings/advisories; fire smoke analysis; earthquake ShakeMaps will be listed. For an in-depth list of catastrophe data that PLRB archives please see the following PDF document.
Lightning Data
Designed to more quickly and easily determine if lightning existed in the area of a claimant, this web page is specifically designed for researching lightning probability and general areas of lightning detected by satellite. Simply enter an address and click Locate, then enter a date range and click Search.
Power Outage Reports
Catastrophe Services has teamed with Gridmetrics to provide historical power outage reports via their Power Event Notification System (PENS). PENS power sensors are tightly aligned with population density and cover many metro, urban, and suburban areas of the United States. Gridmetrics offers the most comprehensive, independent, real-time, hyper-local view of the power distribution grid, today covering ~150m people in the US. Please click here to view a sample report. The Get a Power Outage Report link is available on the Weather & CATs Resource Hub or you may click here.
Major Events Archive
PLRB provides information regarding active tropical cyclones that may threaten U.S. interests including any active watches or warnings, state of emergency documents, evacuation orders, links to National Weather Service forecast maps and advisories, and a storm log which summarizes past watches and warnings. The Major Events Archive link is available on the Weather & CATs Resource Hub or you may click here.
Severe Storm and Occurrence Summary (SSOS)
View a list of storm reports within the past 72-hours on the ssos web page. To subscribe to the receive the daily SSOS email alert please contact Andrew Louchios at alouchios@plrb.org. The email will also have links to a text file of the storm reports and a link to the static map.
Threats Assessment
The Threats Assessment email alert summarizes the threats for the next few days into one web page. View maps regarding severe weather potential, winter weather, and tropical weather. To subscribe to the receive the daily Threats Assessment email please contact Andrew Louchios at alouchios@plrb.org.
Historical Database Search
Search for storm reports (tornado, wind, hail, flood, freezing rain, etc) by date range and location parameters such as State and/or City, ZIP, County. No date range limit. The Historical Database Search link is available on the Weather & CATs Resource Hub or you may click here.
Occurrence Numbers
View a list of PLRB’s active and inactive occurrence numbers. PLRB assigns an occurrence number to a frontal system’s severe weather reports as well as individual incidents such as large explosions, fires, and earthquakes (if damage is reported). The Occurrence Numbers link is available on the Weather & CATs Resource Hub under Weather & CATs Resources or you may click here.
