1. NATURAL DISASTERS Are weprepared?

2. Whatis a Natural Disaster? What’sthedifferencebetween natural disaster and natural hazard? Can wepredictthem? What can we do topreventdisaster? Are we in danger?

3. They are the shaking, rolling or sudden shock of the earth’s surface. They happen along "fault lines" in the earth’s crust. They can be felt over large areas although they usually last less than one minute. They cannot be predicted -- although scientists are working on it! Most of the time, you will notice it by the gentle shaking of the ground. Its intensity can be measured. One measurement is called the Richter scale. Earthquakes

4. It happens during heavy rains, when rivers overflow, when ocean waves come onshore, when snow melts too fast or when dams break. It may be only a few centimetres of water or it may cover a house to the rooftop. When they happen very quickly are called flashfloods. It is the most common of all natural hazards Floods

5. Hurricanes They are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. They rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around an "eye." They have winds at least 74 miles per hour. When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees and cars.

6. Tornadoes They are nature’s most violent storms. They come from powerful thunderstorms and appear as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds. They cause damage when they touch down on the ground. The ability to predict tornadoes is limited

7. Tsunami It is a series of huge waves that happen after an undersea disturbance, such as an earthquake or volcano eruption. The waves may travel in the open sea as fast as 450 miles per hour They can cause a lot of destruction on the shore.

8. Volcano It is a mountain that opens downward to a pool of molten rock below the surface of the earth When pressure builds up, eruptions occur Gases and rock shoot up through the opening and spill over or fill the air with lava fragments

9. Wildfire They are a danger for people who live in forest, prairies or wooded areas. These fires are sometimes started by lightning or by accident. They can move very fast and burn many acres.

10. Drought It is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region.

11. Which are more likely to occur in your town? antoniaromanblog@blogspot.com