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Disaster

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5 views

Disaster

Uploaded by

malavmatieda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WHAT IS A DISASTER

A disaster is defined as a "sudden or great misfortune" or simply "any unfortunate


event." More precisely, a disaster is "an event whose timing is unexpected and whose
consequences are seriously destructive. Types of disasters usually fall into two broad
categories: natural and man-made. Natural disasters are generally associated with
weather and geological events, including extremes of temperature, floods, hurricanes,
earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and drought. Man-made
disasters are usually associated with a criminal attack such as an active shooter
incident, or a terrorist attack using weapons such as explosive, biological, or chemical
agents. However, man-made disasters can also refer to human-based technological
incidents, such as a building or bridge collapse, or events related to the manufacture,
transportation, storage, and use of hazardous materials, such as the 1986 Chernobyl
radiation leak and the 1984 Bhopal toxic gas leak. A prime example is the March 2011
Tohoku earthquake leading to a tsunami (natural) that triggered the Fukushima Daiichi
nuclear disaster (man-made).

STROM SURGE
Storm surge, the temporary rise in sea level beneath a storm, becomes dangerous when the
storm – typically a hurricane or other tropical storm - reaches land. The water is unable to
escape anywhere but onto land as the storm moves towards the shore, which causes flooding
along the coast and other types of hurricane damage. For example, the force of waves and
currents can cause land to erode and buildings to be destroyed. Saltwater that gets into
freshwater lakes, streams, and aquifers is hazardous to aquatic life and drinking water.
Storm surge flooding in New Jersey by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012
U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen

When high tide occurs at the same time as storm surge, the combination of
the two is called storm tide. During a storm tide, the water level may be 20
feet or more above normal. This is especially dangerous for low-lying islands
or coastal areas where the land is not much higher than sea level.

Larger storm surge is more likely along coasts that bow inward than those
that bow outward. Places with bays are especially vulnerable because the
mound of water can get funneled into a small area. Coastal areas where the
adjacent seafloor is shallow are more likely to be affected by large storm
surge as compared with coastal areas where the nearby seafloor is deep.

As winds swirl around a hurricane or tropical storm, seawater is pushed into a


mound at the storm’s center. Faster wind is able to pile up more water.
Because wind speed determines a hurricane’s category according to the
Saffir-Simpson Scale, Category 4 and 5 storms are able to produce a larger
mound of water than Category 1 and 2 storms. The mound of water isn’t
noticeable out at sea, but as it approaches a coast, the impact is seen as
storm surge flooding.

Water will travel to the lowest available point. That's why basements flood. Basements
are sort of like a bulwark against flood waters damaging the rest of the house. To a
certain extent, the basement is meant to flood. If your neighborhood is prone to flooding
of any type, you should elevate the furnace, water heater and electrical panel. Seal the
basement walls with waterproof compounds. Install backflow plugs and valves to
prevent water from getting into the rest of the home. These devices can stop toilets,
shower stalls, baths and sinks from becoming geysers of fetid water. Also, know how to
turn off the electricity and other utilities

And know your property. Are you in an area that is prone to storm-surge damage? Have
your neighbors experienced such flooding in the past? If you live in a storm-surge zone,
be prepared. Storm surges can strike at any time. Know the evacuation route. Know
how to contact family members. Make sure the basement windows are closed and your
car is fueled. Keep an inventory of all your property. Make sure you have everything you
need in an emergency supply kit. Include changes of clothes, battery-powered radios,
batteries and flashlights

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