Disaster Disaster PreparednessPreparedness

Identifying Disasters and Identifying Disasters and EmergenciesEmergencies

Created by: Megan BrownCreated by: Megan Brown

Types of Emergencies Types of Emergencies and Disastersand Disasters What kind of emergency is this?What kind of emergency is this?

Terrorist attackTerrorist attack

A A terrorist attackterrorist attack is a surprise is a surprise attack involving the deliberate (or attack involving the deliberate (or planned) use of violence against planned) use of violence against civilians because of political or civilians because of political or religious reasons.religious reasons.

What natural disaster What natural disaster is in this picture?is in this picture?

BlizzardBlizzard

A A blizzardblizzard is a very heavy is a very heavy snowstorm with high winds. snowstorm with high winds.

They are common in the They are common in the wintertime in the Northeast U.S. wintertime in the Northeast U.S. and the Midwest (for example, and the Midwest (for example, New York and Minnesota). New York and Minnesota).

What is this natural What is this natural disaster?disaster?

Wildfire (or forest fire)Wildfire (or forest fire)

AA wildfire wildfire (also called a (also called a forest fireforest fire) is ) is an uncontrolled fire, often occurring in an uncontrolled fire, often occurring in forest areas but which can also burn forest areas but which can also burn houses or agricultural resources. They houses or agricultural resources. They often begin unnoticed, but they spread often begin unnoticed, but they spread quickly, igniting brush, trees and quickly, igniting brush, trees and homes. homes.

Southern California suffers from Southern California suffers from wildfires in the dry autumn season.wildfires in the dry autumn season.

What kind of natural What kind of natural disaster is this?disaster is this?

TornadoTornado

A A tornadotornado is a powerful column is a powerful column of wind spiraling around a center of wind spiraling around a center of low atmospheric pressure. It of low atmospheric pressure. It looks like a large black funnel looks like a large black funnel hanging down from a storm cloud. hanging down from a storm cloud. The narrow end will move over The narrow end will move over the earth, moving back and forth the earth, moving back and forth like a tail.like a tail.

What is this What is this emergency?emergency?

House fireHouse fire

House fires House fires involve the burning of involve the burning of a structure where people live. Heat a structure where people live. Heat and smoke from fire can be more and smoke from fire can be more dangerous than the flames. Inhaling dangerous than the flames. Inhaling the very hot air can burn your the very hot air can burn your lungs. It produces poisonous gases lungs. It produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and that make you disoriented and drowsy, so you may fall into a drowsy, so you may fall into a deeper sleep. deeper sleep.

What is this natural What is this natural disaster?disaster?

VolcanoVolcano

A A volcanovolcano is a mountain that opens is a mountain that opens downward to a pool of molten rock downward to a pool of molten rock below the surface of the earth. When below the surface of the earth. When pressure builds up, eruption occurs. pressure builds up, eruption occurs. The burning material that comes out is The burning material that comes out is called lava.called lava.

Active volcanoes in the U.S. are found Active volcanoes in the U.S. are found mainly in Hawaii, Alaska, California, mainly in Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington.Oregon and Washington.

What is this natural What is this natural disaster?disaster?

TsunamiTsunami

A A tsunamitsunami (the “t” is silent when (the “t” is silent when pronounced) is a series of large pronounced) is a series of large water waves in a large body of water waves in a large body of water (like the ocean). They are water (like the ocean). They are caused by many things, like caused by many things, like earthquakes and volcanic earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.eruptions.

What natural disaster What natural disaster just happened in this just happened in this picture?picture?

EarthquakeEarthquake

An An earthquakeearthquake is the sudden is the sudden release of energy in the earth’s release of energy in the earth’s crust that creates seismic waves. crust that creates seismic waves. The location where the The location where the earthquake begins is called the earthquake begins is called the epicenter. Earthquakes are epicenter. Earthquakes are measured on the Richter scale.measured on the Richter scale.

What is this type of What is this type of natural disaster?natural disaster?

FloodFlood

A flood results from days of heavy A flood results from days of heavy rain and/or melting snows, when rain and/or melting snows, when rivers rise and go over their rivers rise and go over their banks. Move to higher ground the banks. Move to higher ground the moment you first notice a flood moment you first notice a flood happening.happening.

What natural disaster What natural disaster is in this picture?is in this picture?

HurricaneHurricane

A A hurricane hurricane is a huge storm. It is a huge storm. It can be up to 600 miles across and can be up to 600 miles across and have strong winds spiraling have strong winds spiraling inward and upward at speeds of inward and upward at speeds of 75 to 200 mph (miles per hour). 75 to 200 mph (miles per hour).