Natural Disasters

Tornadoes Natural Disasters Volcanoes Tsunamis Hurricanes by: Mr. Wells Earthquakes

Table of Contents Slide Introduction………………………………………………………….3 • Chapter 1: Tornadoes…………………………………………4 • Chapter 2: Volcanoes………………………………………….8 • Chapter 3: Tsunamis…………………………………………..12 • Chapter 4: Hurricanes………………………………………..16 • Chapter 5: Earthquakes……………………………………..20 Conclusion………………………………………………..………….24 Glossary…………………………………………………………………25 Bibliography………………………………………………………....26

Introduction A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth; examples include tornadoes, hurricanes, volcano eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes. A natural disaster can cause loss of life or property damage, and typically leaves some economic damage in its wake, the severity of which depends on the affected population's resilience, or ability to recover.

Fun Tornado Facts The most powerful Tornadoes occur in the United States. About ¾ of all tornadoes that happen around the world, occur in the United States. A typical tornado only lasts for a few minutes. Every tornado has its own color, sound and shape. You need to step on the pedal of a car pass 70 miles per hour to outrun the fastest tornadoes. A Tornado can occur at any time, but most often between 3pm and 9pm. Tornadoes

Causes Tornadoes are formed when hot air and cold air are mixed. The clouds grow larger and larger. Finally, a thunderstorm is brewed up with a strong updraft. The moisture in the warm air rises and condenses into large clouds. Click on the photo for an explanation of how tornadoes are formed.

Effects Tornadoes can be very dangerous and destructive. They tornado can destroy homes, stores, and much more. Tornadoes can also make for serious injuries. In the aftermath of tornadoes, many people are left homeless, and cities can be left in ruins. Click on the photo for actual footage of this tornado: On May 22, 2011, one of the deadliest tornados in U.S. history strikes Joplin, Missouri directly killing 159 people and injuring over 1,000.

Safety Measures 1. Know where you go! When a tornado warning is issued, go at once to a windowless, interior room such as a bathroom, storm cellar, basement or lowest level of a building. 2. Don’t loose your roof to high winds! Have your parents install strapping to keep the roof attached to the walls. 3. Make a list of items to bring inside in the event a tornado watch is issued. Don’t forget your pet.

Volcanoes Volcanoes are another kind of natural disaster. Volcanoes exist all around the world. However, Iceland is currently the most volcanically active location on Earth. The world’s biggest volcanic mountain is the Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Growers found that the slopes of volcanoes tend to have fertile soil which is suited for growing crops like grapes, olives and beans. The ancient Romans believed that Vulcan, their god of fire and metalwork, caused volcanic eruptions. The word Volcano comes from Vulcan’s name. When a volcanic mountain gets ready to erupt, its sides may bulge. A person who studies volcanoes is called a volcanologist. Hawaii is still growing due to volcanic eruptions.

Causes Magma forms together with rocks and explodes. Buoyancy is a force that causes lighter material to rise through surrounding denser material. A pool of molten rocks below the surface when pressure builds up it erupts. Click on the photo of the volcano to learn more about how they form, and why they erupt.

Effects Volcanoes can cause serious pain and injury. They can destroy buildings, homes, and lives. Volcanoes can melt lots of landmarks and property. Volcanoes can destroy anything that gets in its path.

Safety Measures • Safety tips1. Wear long sleeved shirts and pants. 2. Keep car or truck engines off.3. If outside find shelter quick

Tsunami Facts A tsunami is a series of ocean waves that sends surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over 100 feet (30.5 meters), onto land. These walls of water can cause widespread destruction when they crash ashore. These awe-inspiring waves are typically caused by large, undersea earthquakes at tectonic plate boundaries. When the ocean floor at a plate boundary rises or falls suddenly it displaces the water above it and launches the rolling waves that will become a tsunami. Most tsunamis, about 80 percent, happen within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” a geologically active area where tectonic shifts make volcanoes and earthquakes common. Tsunamis may also be caused by underwater landslides or volcanic eruptions. They may even be launched, as they frequently were in Earth’s ancient past, by the impact of a large meteorite plunging into an ocean. Tsunamis race across the sea at up to 500 miles (805 kilometers) an hour—about as fast as a jet airplane. At that pace they can cross the entire expanse of the Pacific Ocean in less than a day. And their long wavelengths mean they lose very little energy along the way. Tsunamis

Causes • When an oceanic plate hits a continental plate the plates press together and pressure builds.Eventually the heavier oceanic plate slips under the lighter continental plate and causes an earthquake.The earthquake lifts part of the ocean up and drops other parts down. What happens on the ocean floor is mirrored on the surface of the water above.The gravity acts fast to even out the water’s surface. The seismic energy created that big wave and it doesn’t just disappear. Waves start moving up to 600 miles per hour but you can’t see them.The Tsunami extends thousands of feet deep into the ocean.Tsunamis carry lots of water and energy so they can travel very far.

Effects • Effects Tsunamis can Make • 1. They can destroy lives/drowned loved ones. • 2. Wash away properties. • 3. Wash away and drowned pets. • 4. The sound will make you scared and after it happens you might not be able to sleep well because you might hear the sound of a tsunami at night. • 5. You won’t have anything to live like: Food, clothes, shelter, beds and blankets.

Safety Measures • How To Be Safe and Prepared For Tsunamis 1. Pack some clothes.2. Pack some pet food if you have any pets. • 3. Pack food for you and your family. • 4. Pack cooking stuff. • 5. Flashlights. • 6. Sleeping bags. • 7. Be ready to get yourself, stuff, family and animals out of the house and to higher ground. • 8. Listen for Tsunami warnings and take them seriously.

Hurricane Facts A hurricane is an intense tropical storm with powerful winds and heavy rain. Other names for a hurricane include cyclone, typhoon and tropical storm. While they are essentially the same thing, the different names usually indicate where the storm took place. Tropical storms that form in the Atlantic or Northeast Pacific (near the United States) are called hurricanes, those that form near in the Northwest Pacific (near Japan) are called typhoons and those that form in the South Pacific or Indian oceans are called cyclones. Hurricanes usually form in tropical areas of the world. Hurricanes develop over warm water and use it as an energy source. Hurricanes lose strength as they move over land. Coastal regions are most at danger from hurricanes. Hurricanes

Causes • What Causes Hurricanes1. Hurricanes are large tropical storms that form in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. • 2. A hurricane has winds up to 74 miles per hour or more. • 3. In the eye of a hurricane it is peaceful, but outside the eye it is rough.

Effects • Effects Hurricanes Make 1. Hurricanes can put families’ lives in danger, kill loved ones, and give your children scary thoughts. • 2. Hurricanes can tear down houses, buildings & trees. • 3. You may have to leave your home, your belongings, and even pets to get out of the way of a hurricane. • 4. Alot of property is also damaged by the floods from the heavy rain that comes with a hurricane.

Safety Measures • Hurricane Safety Tips1. Watch the news to make sure that they don’t say a hurricane is coming. If they do leave ASAP. (As soon as possible) • 2. Don’t try saving your animals. You can get killed. • 3. When you leave your house find a place far away from the hurricane to stay for the night.4. Try to save up money in case your insurance won't replace your house so you will be able to pay for a new one.

Earthquake facts A typical earthquake lasts under 60 seconds. An earthquake can trigger a tsunami or a volcano to erupt. Alaska has the most earthquakes of any states in the US The deadliest earthquake happened in Central China, killing over 800,000 in 1556. People during that time and region lived in caves and died from the caves collapsing About the only places that have never recorded a major earthquake in the US are southern parts of Florida, Alabama and Texas. Earthquakes

Causes • What causes earthquakes and where do they happen? • The earth has four major layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust. (figure 2) The crust and the top of the mantle make up a thin skin on the surface of our planet. But this skin is not all in one piece – it is made up of many pieces like a puzzle covering the surface of the earth. (figure 3) Not only that, but these puzzle pieces keep slowly moving around, sliding past one another and bumping into each other. We call these puzzle pieces tectonic plates, and the edges of the plates are called the plate boundaries. The plate boundaries are made up of many faults, and most of the earthquakes around the world occur on these faults. Since the edges of the plates are rough, they get stuck while the rest of the plate keeps moving. Finally, when the plate has moved far enough, the edges unstick on one of the faults and there is an earthquake.

Effects • The effects of the rumbling produced by earthquakes usually leads to the destruction of structures such as buildings, bridges, and dams. They can also trigger landslides.

Safety Measures • Safety Tips • Have an earthquake readiness plan. • Consult a professional to learn how to make your home sturdier, such as bolting bookcases to wall studs, installing strong latches on cupboards, and strapping the water heater to wall studs. • Locate a place in each room of the house that you can go to in case of an earthquake. It should be a spot where nothing is likely to fall on you. • Keep a supply of canned food, an up-to-date first aid kit, 3 gallons (11.4 liters) of water per person, dust masks and goggles, and a working battery-operated radio and flashlights. • Know how to turn off your gas and water mains.

Conclusion

Glossary • natural disaster • tornado • hurricane • volcano • earthquakes • tsunamis

Bibliography • Tornadoes • Volcanoes • Tsunamis • Hurricanes • Earthquakes

Natural Disasters