Natural Disasters

Types of Natural Disasters

 Tornadoes
 Hurricanes
 Earthquakes
 Volcanoes
 Floods
 Tsunamis
 Winter Storms
 Wildfires
 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.
 Related Websites:
FEMA for Kids
National Geographic: Nature’s Fury
Scholastic Weather Watch
National Geographic: Tornado Chasers
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
 Related Websites:
NOAA: Hurricanes Tropical Twisters
National Geographic Kids – Hurricane!
BrainPop movie
Effects of Alabama Hurricanes

Hurricane Frederick - 1979 Hurricane Ivan 2005

 Earthquakes
 Shaking caused by movements of plates in the
earth’s crust
 Occur along faults – borders between two
plates
 Occur most often along the Ring of Fire
 Related Websites:
 National Geographic: Earthquakes
 Exploratorium Faultline Project
 USGS: Earthquakes for Kids
 Volcanoes

 More than 500 active volcanoes in the world; over

half in the Ring of Fire
 Pressure builds below the earth’s surface
producing eruptions of lava, rock, and volcanic
gases
 Related Websites:
National Geographic Kids – Volcano!
Build a Volcano Activity
Volcano World Virtual Field Trips
 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
 Related websites:
PBS: In Focus – Floods!
How TVA Stops Floods
Nova – Hot Science: The River’s Gift
 Tsunamis
 Form as a result of earthquakes, volcanoes, or
landsides 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
 Related Websites:
National Geographic Kids – Killer Wave!
Pacific Tsunami Museum – Student Corner
PBS – Savage Earth: Tsunamis
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
 Related Websites:
National Weather Service: Winter Storms
Risk Watch: Severe Winter Storms
Scholastic – Winter Storms
 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
 Related Websites:
Smokey Bear: Kids
National Geographic: Wildfires
Dialogue for Kids – Wildfire Facts
 Assignment
 Using what you have just learned, choose the
natural disaster that interests you the most.
 Family Disaster Plan: Imagine that the disaster
you have 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.