Natural Disaster Risks
Every natural disaster has risks associated with it. Knowing the risks and being properly prepared for them decreases fatalities and injuries. The American Red Cross offers information on CPR, staying informed, planning and emergency kits. According to the book "At Risk: Natural Hazards, People's Vulnerability and Disasters," natural disaster risks are based on the understanding that "disasters occur when hazards meet vulnerability," meaning human susceptibility combined with lack of emergency management leads to financial, environmental or human loss.
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Floods
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According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. Floods can affect local areas such as neighborhoods or large areas such as multiple states. Some floods come slowly, so there is ample time to prepare. Flash floods develop very quickly, sometimes within minutes and with no signs of rain. Floods can damage homes, power lines and gas lines. Floods can happen anywhere, but low-lying areas and nears near water or dams are at higher risk.
Thunderstorms
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All thunderstorms produce lightning. According to FEMA, an average of 300 people are injured and 80 people are killed each year by lightning. Most lightning injuries are not fatal, but the damage can cause serious injuries. Thunderstorms can flood roadways and damage homes and trees. Thunderstorms also can damage utility poles, causing power outages.
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Earthquakes
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An earthquake is a sudden and rapid shaking of the earth when rocks break and shift beneath the surface. Earthquakes can be very sudden, day or night. Earthquakes in populated areas can cause many fatalities and injuries, as well as property damage. Doorways are no stronger than any other part of a structure, according to the American Red Cross, which recommends getting under a sturdy piece of furniture and holding on to avoid injury from falling objects.
Tornadoes
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Tornadoes are long, rotating columns of air that extend down from the base of a thunderstorm. Tornadoes can cause destruction and fatalities within seconds. Every state is at risk from tornadoes. Sometimes tornadoes can develop so quickly that there is little or no warning possible. Before a tornado hits, there is usually a calm period in which the wind dies down and the air is very still. Tornadoes can reach whirling wind speeds of 300 miles per hour with an average forward speed of 30 mph, varying from stationary to 70 mph, according to FEMA.
Heat Wave
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Heat waves are prolonged periods of excessive heat and humidity. Heat waves kill by pushing the body beyond its limits, causing it to work harder to maintain a normal temperature. Heat-related problems can also be caused by overexertion for a person's age or physical condition and overexposure to heat. Urban areas have a higher risk than rural areas. Asphalt and concrete store heat longer and gradually release it at night, causing higher nighttime temperatures (urban heat island effect). An early warning sign is heat cramps, muscle pain and spasms due to high heat and fluid or electrolyte loss.
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