Disasters can take many
different forms, and the duration can range from an hourly disruption to days
or weeks of ongoing destruction. Below is a list of the various types of
disasters – both natural and man-made or technological in nature – that can
impact a community.
different forms, and the duration can range from an hourly disruption to days
or weeks of ongoing destruction. Below is a list of the various types of
disasters – both natural and man-made or technological in nature – that can
impact a community.
Natural
Types of Disasters
Types of Disasters
·
Agricultural diseases & pests
Agricultural diseases & pests
·
Damaging Winds
Damaging Winds
·
Drought and water shortage
Drought and water shortage
·
Earthquakes
Earthquakes
·
Emergency
diseases (pandemic influenza)
Emergency
diseases (pandemic influenza)
·
Extreme heat
Extreme heat
·
Floods and flash floods
Floods and flash floods
·
Hail
Hail
·
Hurricanes
and tropical storms
Hurricanes
and tropical storms
·
Landslides & debris flow
Landslides & debris flow
·
Thunderstorms and lighting
Thunderstorms and lighting
·
Tornadoes
Tornadoes
·
Tsunamis
Tsunamis
·
Wildfire
Wildfire
·
Winter and ice storms
Winter and ice storms
·
Sinkholes
Sinkholes
Hurricanes and tropical
storms are among the most powerful natural disasters because of their size and
destructive potential. Tornadoes are relatively brief but violent, potentially
causing winds in excess of 200 mph. Both earthquakes and tornadoes strike
suddenly without warning.
storms are among the most powerful natural disasters because of their size and
destructive potential. Tornadoes are relatively brief but violent, potentially
causing winds in excess of 200 mph. Both earthquakes and tornadoes strike
suddenly without warning.
Flooding is the most common
of natural hazards, and requires an understanding of the natural systems of our
environment, including floodplains and the frequency of flooding events.
Wildfires are more prevalent in the event of a drought. Disasters impacting
food supply can be extremely costly; American officials say that a food
contamination scare similar to the one that hit the Belgian poultry industry in
the 1990’s could jeopardize U.S. agricultural exports in excess of $140
billion.
of natural hazards, and requires an understanding of the natural systems of our
environment, including floodplains and the frequency of flooding events.
Wildfires are more prevalent in the event of a drought. Disasters impacting
food supply can be extremely costly; American officials say that a food
contamination scare similar to the one that hit the Belgian poultry industry in
the 1990’s could jeopardize U.S. agricultural exports in excess of $140
billion.
Man-made
and technological types of disasters
and technological types of disasters
·
Hazardous
materials
Hazardous
materials
·
Power
service disruption & blackout
Power
service disruption & blackout
·
Nuclear power
plant and nuclear blast
Nuclear power
plant and nuclear blast
·
Radiological
emergencies
Radiological
emergencies
·
Chemical
threat and biological weapons
Chemical
threat and biological weapons
·
Cyber attacks
Cyber attacks
·
Explosion
Explosion
·
Civil unrest
Civil unrest
Disasters also can be caused
by humans. Hazardous materials emergencies include chemical spills and
groundwater contamination. Workplace fires are more common and can cause
significant property damage and loss of life. Communities are also vulnerable
to threats posed by extremist groups who use violence against both people and
property.
by humans. Hazardous materials emergencies include chemical spills and
groundwater contamination. Workplace fires are more common and can cause
significant property damage and loss of life. Communities are also vulnerable
to threats posed by extremist groups who use violence against both people and
property.
High-risk targets include
military and civilian government facilities, international airports, large
cities and high-profile landmarks. Cyber-terrorism involves attacks against
computers and networks done to intimidate or coerce a government or its people
for political or social objectives.
military and civilian government facilities, international airports, large
cities and high-profile landmarks. Cyber-terrorism involves attacks against
computers and networks done to intimidate or coerce a government or its people
for political or social objectives.
Causes
of natural disasters
of natural disasters
Scientists have researched and so far
there is no specific reason on how a natural disaster is caused but there are
theories that scientists have made and one of them is that the Earth’s
atmosphere is slowly changing and the way the Earth is adjusting to it is by somehow
creating what we call a natural disaster.
there is no specific reason on how a natural disaster is caused but there are
theories that scientists have made and one of them is that the Earth’s
atmosphere is slowly changing and the way the Earth is adjusting to it is by somehow
creating what we call a natural disaster.
In no particular order
1.
Thermonuclear activity on the center of
the earth.
Thermonuclear activity on the center of
the earth.
2.
Moving of earth’s plate.
Moving of earth’s plate.
3.
Human exploration gone wrong.
Human exploration gone wrong.
4.
Plague.
Plague.
Natural disasters come from 2 main sources.
The sun, and the earth’s core.
The
Earth’s core heat the earth and allows the tectonic
plates to move, it is the colliding up these plates that cause earthquakes and
tsunamis, and it is the heat and pressure applied to gaps in these plates that
causes volcanic eruption.
BUT what we call disaster are really just signs that the earth is alive.
Earth’s core heat the earth and allows the tectonic
plates to move, it is the colliding up these plates that cause earthquakes and
tsunamis, and it is the heat and pressure applied to gaps in these plates that
causes volcanic eruption.
BUT what we call disaster are really just signs that the earth is alive.
The
sun,
creates weather by heating up sections of the earth. It causes water to
evaporate to create rain and creates wind the pressure systems. Heat from the
sun creates high pressure and high pressure flows to low pressure and it is
that flow that we call wind. Tornadoes and hurricanes (cyclones) are cause when
two directions of wind flow next to each other causing a spiral, the strength
of the wind and the amount of water in the air can cause anything from a small
“willy willy” to a full blow cyclone the causes severe waves, wind
and rain.
Of course this is a very simplified version of the answer, the full facts are
far more complicated.
*Hollering: I am moving everything from the question to the discussion to avoid
confusion to sake
sun,
creates weather by heating up sections of the earth. It causes water to
evaporate to create rain and creates wind the pressure systems. Heat from the
sun creates high pressure and high pressure flows to low pressure and it is
that flow that we call wind. Tornadoes and hurricanes (cyclones) are cause when
two directions of wind flow next to each other causing a spiral, the strength
of the wind and the amount of water in the air can cause anything from a small
“willy willy” to a full blow cyclone the causes severe waves, wind
and rain.
Of course this is a very simplified version of the answer, the full facts are
far more complicated.
*Hollering: I am moving everything from the question to the discussion to avoid
confusion to sake
Disaster
prevention & management
Preparing
for and possibly preventing disasters, both natural and man-made, is a vital
task for everyone. Whether it be acts of God that you can only prepare for or
acts of man that can actually be prevented by doing something as simple as
regular maintenance, having plans in place for all contingencies is vital to
making sure that at the end of the day, everybody comes out safe.
for and possibly preventing disasters, both natural and man-made, is a vital
task for everyone. Whether it be acts of God that you can only prepare for or
acts of man that can actually be prevented by doing something as simple as
regular maintenance, having plans in place for all contingencies is vital to
making sure that at the end of the day, everybody comes out safe.
1.
Plan for what’s likely
Planning for disasters that
your area is more likely to succumb to allows for your jurisdiction to focus
more time, effort and resources to sufficiently prepare for whatever nature (or
man) may bring. If you live in Kansas, having a plan for getting your family or
jurisdiction into shelters to protect them from an oncoming tornado is far more
rational than planning for an earthquake or a tidal wave. Likewise, if you live
in the mountains in an area that gets lots of rainfall, having plans of action
for fighting forest fires caused by lightning strikes or having alternate
routes for emergency vehicles when the main roads are cut off because of
mudslides from torrential rains is much more logical than planning for
tornadoes, which are rare in mountainous areas.
your area is more likely to succumb to allows for your jurisdiction to focus
more time, effort and resources to sufficiently prepare for whatever nature (or
man) may bring. If you live in Kansas, having a plan for getting your family or
jurisdiction into shelters to protect them from an oncoming tornado is far more
rational than planning for an earthquake or a tidal wave. Likewise, if you live
in the mountains in an area that gets lots of rainfall, having plans of action
for fighting forest fires caused by lightning strikes or having alternate
routes for emergency vehicles when the main roads are cut off because of
mudslides from torrential rains is much more logical than planning for
tornadoes, which are rare in mountainous areas.
2. Multiple contingencies
You always want to have more
than one plan for any impending disaster. Many major cities have several plans
of action for everything from city-wide evacuations to how to clear a street
when a water main breaks. Even trailer parks have plans of action for local
disasters like tornadoes and fire.
than one plan for any impending disaster. Many major cities have several plans
of action for everything from city-wide evacuations to how to clear a street
when a water main breaks. Even trailer parks have plans of action for local
disasters like tornadoes and fire.
3. Emergency services on standby
It is always important to
have emergency services on standby. What this means can differ depending on the
size of the jurisdiction. In cities this usually means having some form of
volunteer fire brigade or EMT service that can be called up if needed. In gated
communities or trailer parks this can mean having a small contingent to fight
house fires or respond to domestic issues and contain the situation until the
proper authorities arrive. In a single household, this can be as simple as
having the police or fire department on speed dial on the home phone.
have emergency services on standby. What this means can differ depending on the
size of the jurisdiction. In cities this usually means having some form of
volunteer fire brigade or EMT service that can be called up if needed. In gated
communities or trailer parks this can mean having a small contingent to fight
house fires or respond to domestic issues and contain the situation until the
proper authorities arrive. In a single household, this can be as simple as
having the police or fire department on speed dial on the home phone.
4. Frequent drills/maintenance
Running emergency drills is a
good way to ensure that when the time comes, everybody will act accordingly to
best resolve the situation. Most schools and some businesses carry out fire and
tornado drills so everybody knows where to go to be safe during disaster. City
disaster management services run monthly drills to prepare for everything from
earthquakes to enemy attacks. Further disaster prevention can be done by simply
maintaining infrastructure, such as bridges or, around the house, simply doing
things like reshingling the roof or replacing old pipes.
good way to ensure that when the time comes, everybody will act accordingly to
best resolve the situation. Most schools and some businesses carry out fire and
tornado drills so everybody knows where to go to be safe during disaster. City
disaster management services run monthly drills to prepare for everything from
earthquakes to enemy attacks. Further disaster prevention can be done by simply
maintaining infrastructure, such as bridges or, around the house, simply doing
things like reshingling the roof or replacing old pipes.
