Hazards Read
Flood, wetland, wildfire and severe-weather exposure for one site, cited to FEMA, USFWS, USGS, NOAA and state fire-agency sources.
One location or a short list · Tools: fetch_location, fetch_batch
· 1 lookup per location (23 fields).
Example prompt
“Do a hazards read for 9 Dock St, Cedar Key, FL. Is it in a flood zone, near wetlands, or exposed to wildfire?”
Or pick the hazards_read prompt from the Isopleth MCP server in your client.
How it works
- Call fetch_location with the location, preset "flood_risk" and the extra hazard fields listed below.
- Flood: report the FEMA flood zone (nfhl_flood_zone), whether the point is inside the mapped floodplain, coastal high-hazard status, elevation and distance to the coast.
- Water and wetlands: say whether the point intersects a mapped wetland or water area, the wetland type, and how many wetlands are within 100 m and 500 m.
- Fire and weather: report the fire hazard severity zone and the distance to the nearest past fire perimeter with its year (both from CAL FIRE, so mainly California), and the annual wildfire, tornado and hail frequencies (nationwide). Add the seismic design category and landslide susceptibility.
- Keep "absent" (nothing mapped there) separate from "failed" (temporary). Never call a site safe because a field failed.
Fields used
- Preset
flood_risk:elevation,coast_distance_m,within_floodplain_polygon,intersects_nhd_area,intersects_wetland,wetland_type,wetland_subtype,wetland_acres,nearest_wetland_distance_m,wetlands_within_100m_count,wetlands_within_500m_count,surface_water_permanence_pct,nearest_waterbody_name nfhl_flood_zone: FEMA flood zone code at this point from the National Flood Hazard Layer, such as AE, A, AO, VE or X. Where several zones overlap, the one that sets the flood-insurance requirement is used.coastal_high_hazard: True when the FEMA flood zone here is a V zone (V, VE, V1-30): a coastal area exposed to waves 3 feet or higher.fire_hazard_severity_zone_class: California's official Fire Hazard Severity Zone at this point (Moderate, High, Very High, or Non-Wildland), as mapped by CAL FIRE's Office of the State Fire Marshal. California only.nearest_fire_perimeter_distance_m: Distance in meters from this point to the edge of the closest past wildfire in CAL FIRE's FRAP fire perimeter history. 0 when the point is inside a burned area.most_recent_burn_year: Year of the most recent wildfire in CAL FIRE's FRAP history that burned this point, or of the nearest fire when none covered it.wildfire_annual_frequency: Expected wildfire events per year for the census tract containing this point, from the FEMA National Risk Index.tornado_annual_frequency: Expected tornado events per year for the census tract containing this point, from the FEMA National Risk Index.hail_annual_frequency: Expected hail events per year for the census tract containing this point, from the FEMA National Risk Index.seismic_design_category: ASCE 7-22 seismic design category (A to F) for this point from the USGS design maps service, assuming the default site class D.landslide_susceptibility_index: USGS landslide susceptibility score from 0 to 81: how many of the 81 small (10 m) cells inside this 90 m cell have slopes and relief prone to landslides. Nationwide.
Tool call
What the agent sends to fetch_location:
{
"lat": 30.2672,
"lng": -97.7431,
"preset": "flood_risk",
"fields": [
"nfhl_flood_zone",
"coastal_high_hazard",
"fire_hazard_severity_zone_class",
"nearest_fire_perimeter_distance_m",
"most_recent_burn_year",
"wildfire_annual_frequency",
"tornado_annual_frequency",
"hail_annual_frequency",
"seismic_design_category",
"landslide_susceptibility_index"
]
}
Output
A one-paragraph risk summary, then a table grouped as Flood, Water and wetlands, Fire, Weather and ground, each row with its source.
SKILL.md
Save this as isopleth-hazards-read/SKILL.md in your agent's skills folder
(for Claude Code, ~/.claude/skills/), or download it.
---
name: isopleth-hazards-read
description: Flood, wetland, wildfire and severe-weather exposure for one site, cited to FEMA, USFWS, USGS, NOAA and state fire-agency sources. Uses the Isopleth MCP server (https://api.isopleth.dev/mcp).
---
# Hazards Read
Flood, wetland, wildfire and severe-weather exposure for one site, cited to FEMA, USFWS, USGS, NOAA and state fire-agency sources.
## Requirements
- The Isopleth MCP server connected at `https://api.isopleth.dev/mcp` with an API key in the `Authorization: Bearer` header (see https://isopleth.dev/docs/mcp).
- Tools used: `fetch_location`, `fetch_batch`.
- Cost: 1 lookup per location (23 fields).
## Steps
1. Call fetch_location with the location, preset "flood_risk" and the extra hazard fields listed below.
2. Flood: report the FEMA flood zone (nfhl_flood_zone), whether the point is inside the mapped floodplain, coastal high-hazard status, elevation and distance to the coast.
3. Water and wetlands: say whether the point intersects a mapped wetland or water area, the wetland type, and how many wetlands are within 100 m and 500 m.
4. Fire and weather: report the fire hazard severity zone and the distance to the nearest past fire perimeter with its year (both from CAL FIRE, so mainly California), and the annual wildfire, tornado and hail frequencies (nationwide). Add the seismic design category and landslide susceptibility.
5. Keep "absent" (nothing mapped there) separate from "failed" (temporary). Never call a site safe because a field failed.
## Arguments
```json
{
"preset": "flood_risk",
"fields": [
"nfhl_flood_zone",
"coastal_high_hazard",
"fire_hazard_severity_zone_class",
"nearest_fire_perimeter_distance_m",
"most_recent_burn_year",
"wildfire_annual_frequency",
"tornado_annual_frequency",
"hail_annual_frequency",
"seismic_design_category",
"landslide_susceptibility_index"
]
}
```
## Output
A one-paragraph risk summary, then a table grouped as Flood, Water and wetlands, Fire, Weather and ground, each row with its source.
Every value carries its source, license and attribution. Keep the source next to each value, and show the attributions if you share the results.
Connect your agent
ChatGPT
ChatGPT connects with your Isopleth sign-in, no key needed. Custom MCP servers are available on ChatGPT web for Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu accounts (workspace admins may need to allow them).
- Open Plugins in ChatGPT, select +, then Add custom MCP server. (Older layouts: Settings → Apps → Create, with developer mode on.)
- Name it Isopleth and enter the server URL
https://api.isopleth.dev/mcp. - Choose OAuth for authentication and leave the client ID and secret blank. ChatGPT registers itself.
- Accept the risk notice and create it. ChatGPT opens the Isopleth sign-in: enter your email, open the sign-in link we send you in the same browser, and choose Allow access.
- Start a chat, type
@and pick Isopleth.
Claude.ai (web, desktop and mobile)
Claude connects with your Isopleth sign-in too. Custom connectors are on Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans; on Team and Enterprise an owner adds the connector first, then each person connects their own Isopleth account.
- Go to Customize → Connectors (formerly Settings → Connectors), select Add, then Add custom connector.
- Name it Isopleth and enter
https://api.isopleth.dev/mcp. Keep the detected sign-in settings and leave the OAuth client fields blank. - Select Connect, sign in to Isopleth with your email and choose Allow access.
- Turn Isopleth on from the connectors menu in a chat. A connector added on claude.ai also shows up in Claude Desktop and the mobile apps.
How app sign-in works
- Approving an app gives it access to Isopleth's MCP tools only. It can't see your API keys or billing, and its token is refused by the REST API.
- Lookups made through an app count against your plan, with the same rate limit and daily cap as your API keys. All your connected apps share one rate limit.
- Access tokens expire after an hour and the app renews them quietly. Renewal stops after 30 days without use.
- See and disconnect apps any time under Connected apps on your dashboard. A disconnected app loses access immediately.
- Technical details: OAuth 2.1 with PKCE (S256), dynamic client registration and client ID metadata documents, and
discovery at
https://api.isopleth.dev/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource/mcp.
Claude Code
claude mcp add --transport http isopleth https://api.isopleth.dev/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer $ISOPLETH_KEY"
Or skip the key: add it without the header, then run /mcp in Claude Code and choose to authenticate.
Claude Desktop
The simplest route is the connector set up on claude.ai, which Claude Desktop picks up. To
use an API key instead, go through the mcp-remote bridge (needs Node.js 18 or later): open Settings →
Developer → Edit Config, add this to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.
{
"mcpServers": {
"isopleth": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-remote",
"https://api.isopleth.dev/mcp",
"--header",
"Authorization:${ISOPLETH_AUTH}"
],
"env": {
"ISOPLETH_AUTH": "Bearer YOUR_ISOPLETH_KEY"
}
}
}
}
Cursor
Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (all projects) or .cursor/mcp.json (one project). Leave out
headers to sign in with your Isopleth account instead of a key.
{
"mcpServers": {
"isopleth": {
"url": "https://api.isopleth.dev/mcp",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_ISOPLETH_KEY"
}
}
}
}
VS Code (Copilot agent mode)
Add to .vscode/mcp.json. VS Code asks for the key once and stores it securely. Without the
headers block VS Code offers to sign in with your Isopleth account.
{
"servers": {
"isopleth": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.isopleth.dev/mcp",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer ${input:isopleth-key}"
}
}
},
"inputs": [
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "isopleth-key",
"description": "Isopleth API key",
"password": true
}
]
}
OpenAI Codex CLI
Add to ~/.codex/config.toml and export ISOPLETH_KEY in your shell.
[mcp_servers.isopleth] url = "https://api.isopleth.dev/mcp" bearer_token_env_var = "ISOPLETH_KEY"
Other MCP clients
Any client that supports Streamable HTTP works: server URL https://api.isopleth.dev/mcp, then either the header
Authorization: Bearer <your key> or the client's OAuth sign-in. Clients that only speak stdio can use
the mcp-remote bridge shown for Claude Desktop.