The 2017 hurricane season was one of the worst in recent history, with over a dozen named hurricanes striking the United States. Hurricane Harvey alone affected Texas and Louisiana counties where nearly 20 million people live, and recovery efforts are still underway to restore homes and businesses.

Just last week, Hurricane Lane, now a Tropical Storm, dumped more than 40 inches of rain on the Hawaiian Islands, causing severe flooding and mudslides.

But how do recovery organizations such as FEMA tailor their efforts to the people, homes and businesses in each affected area?

They rely heavily on data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Programs such as the American Community Survey provide key demographic, socioeconomic and housing data that help guide not only recovery efforts but planning for future emergencies.