The question I get asked most often is, “What are natural disasters?” There are so many different types of natural disasters that it’s difficult to know where to begin. This article will focus on two of the most common: earthquakes and hurricanes.
Earthquakes are caused by shifting plates in the earth’s crust. The plates are made up of the earth’s crust and the mantle, which is the layer of the earth beneath the crust. When the plates shift, they cause the earth to shake and eventually crack. The cracking causes the earth to become unstable and then a quake occurs. Earthquakes can be caused by a number of things, including volcanic eruptions, underwater plate movements, or even meteor strikes. The largest earthquake ever recorded was the Tohoku Earthquake off Japan in March 2011. It was a 9.0 magnitude quake and it caused a tsunami that killed over 15,000 people.
Hurricanes are also caused by shifting plates. Hurricanes occur when there is a strong high pressure system in the atmosphere that is located over the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricane forms as the high pressure pushes water into the air. This water rises into the atmosphere and then becomes a hurricane. The hurricane travels across the Atlantic Ocean until it reaches land. When it does, it hits land and then it starts to move towards the shore. As the hurricane moves towards land, it picks up speed and the wind picks up too. The wind and water combine to make a storm surge. A storm surge is when the water rushes onto the land and this causes flooding. Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst hurricanes in history. It killed over 1,800 people and caused $100 billion dollars in damage.
If you live in an area prone to earthquakes or hurricanes, it is important to have a disaster plan in place. You should know how to take shelter if you need to and how to prepare for a natural disaster. Having a plan in place will help keep your family safe.
