"Annualized Earthquake Losses (AEL) are economic losses from earthquake shaking-related building damage. These data use the most recent National Seismic Hazard Maps (the years 2008 and 2014 cycles), updated census data on population, and economic exposure estimates of general building stock to quantify annualized earthquake loss (AEL) for the conterminous United States. The AEL analyses were performed using the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Hazus software, which facilitated a systematic comparison of the influence of the 2014 National Seismic Hazard Maps in terms of annualized loss estimates in different parts of the country.

These data do not include losses from ground-failure effects such as landslide, liquefaction, surface fault rupture, or losses due to other secondary effects such as fires following earthquakes. Building economic losses are direct economic losses including structural damage, non-structural damage, and content damage; as well as building damage-related economic losses, such as inventory loss, relocation cost, loss of proprietors’ income, and rental income loss. These do not include losses associated with business interruption. Replacement costs and loss valuations are based on 2014 dollars."