In every part of the world, there are natural disasters that can cause damage to property, land, wildlife, and even humans. A natural disaster is a major event that is caused by natural processes around the world. The following activities will introduce students to the different types of disaster and help them be prepared for common natural disasters in their area.
Volcanic eruptions occur when magma is pushed out onto the Earth’s surface due to high pressure.
An avalanche occurs when a large mass of snow and ice slides down a mountainside at high speed.
Hurricanes, also known as typhoons or tropical cyclones, are giant, swirling, tropical storms associated with very high wind speeds.
A heat wave is a period of excessively high temperatures, often with high humidity.
A drought is when the rainfall in an area is less than average to the point where it has a negative effect on the water supply.
WILDFIRE
BLIZZARD
Natural Disasters
FLOOD
TORNADO
LANDSLIDE
Also known as forest fires, wildfires are large uncontrollable fires that are fueled by dry vegetation. Wildfires often occur alongside a drought.
Blizzards are a type of dangerous snowstorm where there are powerful winds with a minimum speed of 35 mph (56 kph).
A flood is where land is covered by water when it normally is dry. This occurs when a large amount of precipitation or melting ice causes bodies of water to overflow.
Tornadoes are also known as twisters, whirlwinds or cyclones. They are a funnel of rapidly moving air that are in contact with the ground.
Landslides involve fast moving land that slides down a slope.