U
N
D
E
R
S
T
A
N
D
I
N
G
N
A
T
U
R
A
L
D
I
S
A
S
T
E
R
S
Understanding Natural Disasters
By Alex Swanson
1
U
N
D
E
R
S
T
A
N
D
I
Natural Disasters
N
G
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard. They cause financial and environmental damage. Different types of natural disasters Hurricane/Tornado/ Cyclone/Typhoon A tropical and cyclonic storm with a violent wind.
Flood
Earthquake
Avalanche
An earthquake, quake or tremor is the outcome of a sudden release of energy in the earth’s crust.
A sudden flow of snow down a slope.
A flood is a surge, body or mass of water that submerges the land.
Bushfires
Tsunami A series of ocean waves with long wavelengths caused by large disturbances of the ocean.
A bushfire is the burning of bush, forest or woodland.
Volcano
Drought
An opening in the earth’s crust which allows hot magma, volcanic gases and ash to escape.
A drought is a long period of time where an area experiences a shortage in their water supply, often because of no rainfall.
Classification Plan Strength Hurricane, Tornado, Cyclone, Typhoon, Flood, Earthquake, Avalanche, Tsunami
Speed Hurricane, Tornado, Cyclone, Typhoon, Flood, Earthquake, Avalanche, Tsunami, Bushfire
Damage Hurricane, Tornado, Cyclone, Typhoon, Flood, Earthquake, Tsunami, Bushfire
Cause
If I lived in an area affected by tornados I would… Have a underground room such as a basement with food and water supplies, beds and activities. I would also have a phone and radio down there. Have all my precious possessions in a room or area low to the ground so that they do not get lost.
What support might affected people need to rebuild their lives?
sturdy foundations and walls.
Volunteers, State Emergency Services, Counseling, Money (funds, donations) Donations of food and clothes.
Tornados, Hurricanes, Cyclones and Typhoons are caused by wind and warm and Have a secure roof and strong and cold air coming together. Volcanoes are formed when two plates of the earth collide and both get pushed upwards where they touch, earthquakes are formed when two plates collide.
By Alex Swanson
Why might people live in an area affected by this disaster? Family links, history, beautiful land, country, views, jobs, work, career, school.
2
U
N
D
E
R
S
T
A
N
D
I
N
G
N
A
T
U
R
A
L
D
I
S
A
S
T
E
R
S
Tornados “A storm with a violent wind.”
Flood
Earthquake
Avalanche
What causes a tornado?
warning is when a tornado has been sighted on the radar. People can also be warned by the dark, greenish sky, wall cloud, large hail and a loud roar.
houses of land, root up trees, destroy buildings, and lift cars, small objects and debris into the air. People can also be killed and injured by tornados.
A tornado is formed in a storm/storm cloud. Before the storm develops there is a change in the wind direction and the wind speed. An increase in height forms a horizontal spinning cylinder in the atmosphere(lower). Rising air in the storm makes the rotating horizontal cylinder rise upwards into a vertical position. The rotating cylinder extends through the storm. The tornado is fully formed here.
School Child: A child’s home or school could be destroyed, they could be injured or someone they know could be injured. Subsistence Farmer: A subsistence farmer’s crops could be destroyed and ripped up. This would mean that the farmers life would be very hard to live.
Where does this kind of disaster occur? Tornados can occur anywhere in the world but mostly occur in the United States. Other countries that experience violent tornados are Argentina, Bangladesh and India. How much warning is there? Meteorologists have weather radars that provide them with information on developing storms and air movement. The early detection of rotational air movement in a storm cloud can let meteorologists give warnings to people before the tornado is formed. People can be informed by the NOAA weather radio or tv. When there are conditions of dangerous weather a tornado watch and severe thunderstorm warning is put out. A tornado watch is when a tornado is possible in your area. When a watch is issued people should remain alert and keep listening to the radio and tv. Tornado
How could people prepare for this type of disaster? Before the storm people can make a plan with their family on what they would do if a tornado was to occur and have a NOAA Weather radio with them. When the storm is occurring, people should move to the safe area that they have organised with their family, like a basement. Underground shelter is the safest but if not accessible, people can go to a inside room or hallway (on the lowest floor if in a multi story house) and get under a piece of furniture that is stable. People should know to stay away from windows and to get out of cars, trucks, boats, etc. What sort of damage does it do to people and the environment? Strong tornadoes are powerful enough to rip
By Alex Swanson
List the ways different people could be affected? Who would be most affected?
Day Labourer: Day Labourers would have heaps of work helping to clean up the mess. Transport Worker: A transport worker would either be busy with people trying to get all over the place to see if friends and family are ok and to help others or they would have no one riding transport because is cleaning up. Large Business Operator: A business operator’s warehouse or trucks could be damaged. Roads might be damaged so they might not be able to get goods out to other people. People who work for them (employees) could be injured or their house might have been damaged. The people who would be most affected would be subsistence farmers as they would everything because their crops is what they live and what they are paid for.
3