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Types of Natural Disasters


Tornadoes* Hurricanes Earthquakes Volcanoes Floods Tsunamis

Winter Storms
Wildfires
*localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground

Tornadoes
Rotating, funnel*-shaped clouds from

powerful thunderstorms Winds up to 300 MPH capable of producing major damage More occur in the United States than anywhere else in the world; they occur in every state in America.
*conical shape with a wider and a narrower opening at the two ends

Tornado

Effects of Tornadoes in Alabama

Tuscaloosa County: December 16, 2000

Hurricanes
Massive severe storms occurring in

the tropics Winds greater than 75 MPH Clouds & winds spin around the eye Produce heavy rains, high winds, large waves, and spin-off tornadoes
* by product

Hurricane

Effects of Alabama Hurricanes

Hurricane Frederick - 1979

Hurricane Ivan 2005

Earthquakes
Shaking caused by movements of plates* in the earths crust Occur along faults borders between two plates Occur most often along the Ring of Fire
*A rigid layer of the Earth's crust that is believed to drift slowly

Earthquakes

Volcanoes
More than 500 active volcanoes in the world; over half in the Ring of

Fire Pressure builds below the earths surface producing eruptions of lava, rock, and volcanic gases

Volcano

Floods
Result from heavy rains May involve rivers overflowing,

storm surge*/ocean waves, & dams or levees* breaking Most common natural hazard Flashfloods = floods that happen very fast

*A sudden forceful flow * An embankment that is built in order to prevent a river from overflowing

Flood

Tsunamis
Form as a result of earthquakes, volcanoes,

or landslides* under the ocean Waves grow taller as they reach the coast Four out of Five occur in the Ring of Fire Over 200,000 people killed in the 12/ 26/05 Indian Ocean tsunami

*A slide of a large mass of dirt and rock down a mountain or cliff

Tsunami

Effects of Tsunamis
Indian Ocean Tsunami December 26, 2005

Winter Storms
May include snow, ice storms,

sleet*, freezing rain, and extremely cold temperatures Most deaths occur in automobiles Storms may cause widespread power outages*
*The amount of something (as whiskey or oil) lost in storage or transportation

*Partially melted snow (or a mixture of rain and snow)

Winter Storm

Wildfires
Occur in forests, grasslands,

and wooded areas Most common causes: lightning and human accidents Burn more than 4 million acres in the U.S. each year

Wildfires

Using what you have just learned, choose the natural disaster that interests you the most.
Family Disaster Plan: Imagine that the disaster you have

Assignment

chosen is about to strike your town. How would your family prepare? Think about the preparations that you could make to help protect your family. Write an expository paragraph explaining the steps you would take to prepare for the disaster. Disaster Supply Kit: Think about the materials and supplies that would help your family survive a natural disaster. On your big paper, draw and label the contents of a good disaster supply kit.

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