disasters

Natural Disasters: 

Natural Disasters How to react How to survive!

Earthquake Preparedness: 

Earthquake Preparedness Prepare a home earthquake plan. Choose a safe place in every room--under a sturdy table or desk or against an inside wall where nothing can fall on you. Practice DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON at least twice a year. Drop under a sturdy desk or table, hold on, and protect your eyes by pressing your face against your arm. If there's no table or desk nearby, sit on the floor against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases, or tall furniture that could fall on you. Choose an out-of-town family contact. Consult a professional to find out additional ways you can protect your home, such as bolting the house to its foundation and other structural mitigation techniques. Learn first aid. Learn to use a fire extinguisher.

Earthquake - When it Shakes: 

Earthquake - When it Shakes DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON! Move only a few steps to a nearby safe place. Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you're sure it's safe to exit. Stay away from windows. In a high-rise building, expect the fire alarms and sprinklers to go off during a quake. If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow. If you are outdoors, find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, and power lines. Drop to the ground. If you are in a car, slow down and drive to a clear place. Stay in the car until the shaking stops.

Earthquake - After the Shaking: 

Earthquake - After the Shaking Check yourself for injuries. Protect yourself from further danger by putting on long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes, and work gloves. Check others for injuries. Give first aid for serious injuries. Look for and extinguish small fires. Eliminate fire hazards. Turn off the gas if you smell gas or think it's leaking. (Remember, only a professional should turn it back on.) Listen to the radio for instructions. Expect aftershocks. Each time you feel one, DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON! Inspect your home for damage. Get everyone out if your home is unsafe. Use the telephone only to report life-threatening emergencies.

Lightning - If you are outside: 

Lightning - If you are outside Don’t go into a shed that stands alone Don’t go under a large tree that stands alone Don’t be higher than your surroundings Don’t stand on a hilltop Don’t stay out in a boat Don’t carry anything made of metal, and don’t be near anything made of metal. Do get inside a hard-topped car. If you are in a field, crouch on your knees and bend over. Don’t lie down because wet ground can carry electricity. If you are in the water, get out. Get away from the beach.

Lightning - If you are inside: 

Lightning - If you are inside Stay away from water faucets, sinks, and tubs, anything that could conduct electricity. Keep away from windows and doors Don’t use the telephone unless there is an emergency. Don’t use electrical appliances – irons, toasters, mixers, lightning could follow the wire. Stay away from the T.V. and computer.

Stormy Weather - Flash Flood: 

Stormy Weather - Flash Flood When it rains heavily, there may be flash floods. Flash floods occur in mountain streams - often in canyons; or flooding of dry washes. But they do happen in cities as well. Flash floods can occur even though it's not raining where you are. It may be raining hard farther upstream. It is raining so hard, water can not sink into the ground. It rushes down the mountainside to the stream. The stream can't carry all the water, so it floods. A flash flood may come at you as a high wave of water. And it moves fast as an express train. Chances are you won't have time to get out of its way, unless you have a plan.

Flash Flood - What to Do: 

Flash Flood - What to Do Flash Flood Watch There may be flooding. Keep alert. Be smart, watch out for heavy storms. Keep your eye on streams to see if water is rising. If streams rise, get out fast. Go to higher ground. Flash Flood Warning There is flooding. Flooding could reach you any moment. Get to high ground. Seconds Count The National Weather Service may not have time to send out flash flood warnings – be alert and ready to act on your own.

Flash Flood - What to Do: 

Flash Flood - What to Do If you are camping. If the forecast is for heavy rain, stay home. If you already have set up camp – stay alert. Watch for signs of rain – not only where you are but upstream. Plan ahead. Pick high ground for your camp. Remember – seconds count. Flash floods move very fast. If you are in a car. Watch for flooding at bridges and dips in the road. Never drive where water is over bridges or roads. If you do drive into the water, don’t try to drive out of it. Get out of the car. Scramble to higher ground. If you are driving through canyon country along a stream and hear a flash flood warning, leave your car and climb to high ground.

Flash Flood - What to Do: 

Flash Flood - What to Do If you are outside Keep out of storm drains in the suburbs and country. Don’t play in irrigation ditches, dry washes or other waterways. There will probably be deadly lighting. When you go to higher ground, stay off hilltops. Don’t get under lone trees. Be smart – remember warnings about what to do and not to do when there is lightning.

Stormy Weather - Thunderstorm: 

Stormy Weather - Thunderstorm Keep an eye on the sky. On a hot day, cumulus clouds build up. They grow larger, towering higher and higher. They darken. The top of the clouds may be spread out by winds at high altitudes. As clouds develop, particles in the clouds become charged with electricity. When the charges overflow, they make a lighting flash. Lightning may go from one part of a cloud to another, or cloud to cloud. It may go from a cloud to earth, or from earth to a cloud. Lightning takes the shortest path. It hits the highest objects – a tall tree or house, a tower, or a person standing alone in a flat field. Lightning can hit the same place, or person, more than once.

Thunder and Lightning: 

Thunder and Lightning Thunder and lightning occur together. The light reaches you at once. Sound takes some time to reach you. Usually you see the lightning strike before you hear the thunder. As soon as you see lightning, count the seconds until you hear the thunder. If there are 5 seconds, it is about 5 miles away. If you see lighting and hear thunder at just about the same moment, watch out, the storm is right above you, only a few hundred feet away.

Thunder and Lightning: 

Thunder and Lightning Thunderstorms, Lighting and Hail Severe thunderstorms have lightning, strong winds and other hazards. There may be damaging hail. Hail can be the size of marbles or others as big as golf balls or baseballs. Lightning can be a killer. Lightning strikes people directly. It also starts fires and many people die from those fires. It can do strange things, it can explode a tree. It heats up the sap, changes it steam, steam expands and blows the tree apart. Sometimes when it is stormy, you don’t see lightning but the sky lights up occasionally. It means the storm is very far away, too far for you to see and you don’t hear any thunder either.

Stormy Weather - Tornadoes: 

Stormy Weather - Tornadoes A big black cloud with a funnel-like extension could be a tornado. If it goes through a town, it can flatten houses, buildings, lift cars and trucks, shatter mobile homes. But you don’t always see the funnel. It may be raining too hard. Or the tornado may come at night. When there is a tornado, there can be a lot of lighting. Stay away from anything that uses electricity. Stay away from anything metal – faucets, radiators, sinks and tubs. Tornadoes can be scary. They pack a lot of energy Tornado Watches The National Weather Service forecasts a tornado might develop later. The sky may be blue at the time of the watch. Don’t be fooled. Listen to the radio for the latest news.

Stormy Weather - Tornadoes: 

Stormy Weather - Tornadoes Tornado Warnings A tornado has been sighted. It may move towards you. Dark clouds boil in the sky. There may be thunder and lighting and heavy rain or hail. When you see large hail, you may be close to a tornado. Seek shelter. Power may go off. Funnels reach down from the black clouds. If you are downtown or on the street Go to an inside hall on the lowest floor. Get off the street Go into a building, stay away from windows and doors

Tornadoes - What to Do: 

Tornadoes - What to Do What to do if you are inside your house Keep your eye on the sky for signs of a possible tornado and listen to the radio for the latest advice from National Weather Service. Get away from windows. They may shatter. Go to the basement. Get under a heavy workbench or stairs. If you don’t have a basement, go to an inside closet, bathroom or hallway on the lowest level of the house. Get under a mattress. Protect your head. If you are at school Go to an inside hall on the lowest floor. Crouch near the wall. Get down with your hands on your head. Keep away from glass and stay out of big rooms.

Tornadoes - What to Do: 

Tornadoes - What to Do If you live in a mobile home Even if tied down, a mobile home can be shattered by a tornado It can be lifted up and dropped Get to a safer place If you can’t get to a safer place, lie in a ditch and cover your head with your hands If you are outside Get out of a car and inside a house or building Don’t try to outrun a tornado in a car Lie in a ditch or crouch near a strong building Cover your head with your arms.

Wildfires: 

Wildfires Wildfire is one of the most destructive natural forces on the planet. While sometimes caused by lightning, most wildfires are caused by people. An average of 106,000 wildfires break out each year in the U.S. These fires consume an average of 4 million acres! Wildfire experts say there are four reasons why wildfires happen more often now. 1. The way forests were handled in the past allowed fuel in the form of fallen leaves, branches and plant growth, to accumulate. This fuel feeds a wildfire. 2. Increasingly hot, dry weather in the U.S. 3. Changing weather patterns across the country 4. Homes built in areas called the wildland / urban interface, meaning homes are built closer to wildland areas where wildfires can occur.

Wildfires - Prevention: 

Wildfires - Prevention Wildfires can be prevented by: Not smoking or by being careful with cigarettes in the outdoors. They should be carefully extinguished and disposed of. Not parking cars or trucks on dry grass. Knowing your county’s outdoor burning regulations and never burning trash in an unlawful manner Inspect your campsite when you leave so your camp fire is out. Never taking burning sticks out of a fire Never taking any type of fireworks on public land Keeping stoves, lanterns and heaters away from things that can catch on fire Storing containers with flammable liquids in a safe place Never using stoves, lanterns or heaters inside of a tent.

Wildfires - Prevention: 

Wildfires - Prevention One of the most important things to remember is that your house should have a working smoke detector. Look around your house to see if you have a smoke detector on every floor in the house. Check if your smoke detectors are working. Check also to see if your family has a working fire extinguisher. Your family should have an escape plan. If you are caught in a fire REMEMBER, stay low to the ground where the smoke is not so heavy. NEVER hide during a fire. Always get out. And once you are out, stay out. DO NOT go back for anything. Tell an adult if there is a person left behind in the burning house. Wildfire is a danger for people who live in forest, prairies or wooded areas. They are sometimes started by lightning or by accident. They can move very fast and burn many acres. Remember, if there is a wildfire near you and your family is told to evacuate -- go right away! And remember to bring your pets with you!

Stormy Weather - Winter Storms: 

Stormy Weather - Winter Storms Snowstorms occur in the winter and sometimes in early spring or late fall. Usually the snow piles up slowly, so you have time to get to a safe place. But not always. In a winter storm a few flakes may fall and the next moment there is a blinding snow. It's so heavy you can't see to drive or walk. It piles up deeper and deeper. All at once you may be stalled in a huge drift. You may be trapped! Once a winter storm hits, it’s too late to do much about it. Prepare your house, your car and you clothing ahead of time. Most winter tragedies occur because people were not ready for the storm. Be smart. Prepare for a winter storm.

Winter Storms: 

Winter Storms When the National Weather Service issues a Winter Storm Watch There is potential for severe winter weather developing within the next day or so. The storm has not yet arrived, but if it does, it might include heavy snow, blizzards, freezing rain, ice or sleet. When the National Weather Service issues a Winter Storm Warning   There is severe weather occurring or imminent. Be alert. Be prepared. If you are thinking of going outside in a heavy snowstorm, don’t. Stay inside.

Winter Storms: 

Winter Storms Before a Storm Prepare you car for deep snow Have a first aid kit, foods that give quick energy, matches, candles, warm blanket, tow chains, booster cables, paper towels, windshield scraper, jackknife, flashlight. If your car is stuck Tie a bright cloth to your antenna and raise it high so rescuers can find you. As you sit, exercise. Clap your hands, stamp your feet, swing your arms about. Keep your blood circulating. Keep warm, don’t leave the car. If the engine is running, keep window open a bit. Conserve gas and food. You may be stranded a long time.

Winter Storms: 

Winter Storms If you are stuck at home Have a supply of food, water, flashlights, lamps or candles for light. Electricity may go off – have a way to cook and keep warm. The furnace may not work. Have a battery operated radio – with spare batteries During an extreme snowstorm or blizzard, stay inside. Wear mittens, they are warmer than gloves. Wear several layers of clothing. Several layers are warmer than a single garment. Layers should include wool and a windbreaker. Wear a hood that covers your mouth. Wear a hat and ear muffs.

Tsunami: 

Tsunami A tsunami is a series of huge waves that happen after an undersea disturbance, such as an earthquake or volcano eruption. The waves travel in all directions from the area of disturbance, much like the ripples that happen after throwing a rock. The waves may travel in the open sea as fast as 450 miles per hour. As the big waves approach shallow waters along the coast they grow to a great height and smash into the shore. They can be as high as 100 feet. They can cause a lot of destruction on the shore. Hawaii is the state at greatest risk for a tsunami. They get about one a year, with a damaging tsunami happening about every seven years. Alaska is also at high risk. California, Oregon and Washington experience a damaging tsunami about every 18 years. Tsunami Warning Centers in Honolulu Hawaii and Palmer Alaska monitor disturbances that might trigger tsunami. When a tsunami is recorded, the center tracks it and issues a warning when needed.

Tsunami - What to Do: 

Tsunami - What to Do If you feel an earthquake in the Pacific Coast area, turn on your battery-powered radio to learn if there is a tsunami warning. If you hear a tsunami warning, and they say to evacuate, do this immediately. You should have an evacuation plan. A small tsunami at one beach can be a giant wave a few miles away. Do not let the small size of one wave make you forget how dangerous tsunami are. The next wave could be bigger. Get away from the shoreline right away. When you see a tsunami it is too late to escape. And stay away until you hear the "all clear" from officials. A tsunami is a series of waves, not a single wave, and the danger may not be over when you think it is.

Volcanoes: 

Volcanoes A volcano is a mountain that opens downward to a pool of molten rock below the surface of the earth. When pressure builds up, eruptions occur. Gases and rock shoot up through the opening and spill over or fill the air with lava fragments. Eruptions can cause lateral blasts, lava flows, hot ash flows, mudslides, avalanches, falling ash and floods. Volcano eruptions have been known to knock down entire forests. An erupting volcano can trigger tsunamis, flashfloods, earthquakes, mudflows and rockfalls. Active volcanoes in the U.S. are found mainly in Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington. The greatest chance of eruptions near areas where many people live is in Hawaii and Alaska. The danger area around a volcano covers about a 20-mile radius.

Volcanoes - What to Do: 

Volcanoes - What to Do When there is an active volcano - Do not visit the volcano site. You could be killed by a sudden explosion. Public officials may tell you where it is safe to view. If here is ash in the air, avoid being downwind from the volcano. A building offers good shelter from volcanic ash, but not from lava flows or rocks. If ash is falling, stay indoors unless there is a danger of the roof collapsing. Close doors, windows and all ventilation in the house. Cover your nose and mouth to avoid breathing ash. Be aware of flying rocks and mudflows. Mudflows can move faster than you can walk or run.

Hurricanes: 

Hurricanes The air that surrounds our planet is moving all the time - swirling, blowing, sinking, rising. In summer and early fall, great masses lay over the warm oceans. They get hot, pick up lots of moisture, and start swirling. A hurricane is born. If the hurricane moves toward the shore, it could wipe out towns and villages. The National Weather Service knows about it. As it comes closer to land, special weather radars track it. Get out when you are told to do so When the hurricane hits the sea may rise as high as 25 feet above normal high tide. This is called the storm surge – the great wall of water surges over the beaches – sinking boats, knocking down piers, washing out houses and buildings. Most people who die from hurricanes drown because of the storm surge. If you are near the shore, plan to go inland where it is safe. That’s the best thing to do.

Hurricanes: 

Hurricanes Hurricane Watches When weather forecasters decide the storm might reach land within two days, they issue a Hurricane Watch. This tells people along the coast that the hurricane over the ocean might reach land. The National Fire Service tells you what is happening. Keep listening to the radio or television. Hurricane Warnings Winds in a hurricane will blow more than 74 miles an hour. Dangerous high water and very rough seas are expected within 24 hours. Hurricanes are ranked according to their strength.

Hurricanes: 

Hurricanes Hurricane Watches When weather forecasters decide the storm might reach land within two days, they issue a Hurricane Watch. This tells people along the coast that the hurricane over the ocean might reach land. Keep listening to the radio or television. Hurricane Warnings Winds in a hurricane will blow more than 74 miles an hour. Dangerous high water and very rough seas are expected within 24 hours. Hurricanes are ranked according to their strength. In a big hurricane The speed of the winds may be over 150 miles an hour. Trees and houses may be blown down. Windows are blown out.

Hurricanes - What to Do: 

Hurricanes - What to Do Prepare for the storm Put tape criss-cross on the windows. It prevents flying glass. Put board or storm shutters over big windows But stay away from windows during the storm. Get a battery radio and flashlight – power will probably go off. Store water in bathtubs, jugs and pails. Water may be polluted. Pick up loose things in the yard – toys, tools, flowerpots. The wind could pick them up and make them fly like bullets.

Hurricanes - What to Do: 

Hurricanes - What to Do When the hurricane comes Stay indoors. Trees could fall on you. You could be blown over. Flying boards, limbs, chairs could crash into you. You could be hit by a live electric wire. Beware of the eye. A hurricane is a big doughnut of winds with a calm section at the middle - that's the eye of the hurricane. The calm center may last from a few minutes to an hour or more. The sun may come out and you think the storm is over. But it isn't. As the hurricane moves winds will blow just as hard, but from the opposite direction. Hurricanes are killer storms. Don't be caught by one. Get out of its way.