1. What are Natural Disasters?

2. Types of Natural Disasters
Tornadoes
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
Volcanoes
Floods
Tsunamis
Winter Storms
Wildfires

3. The World is always changing.
Natural disasters are changes which are so great they may cause damage to the shape of the land or to the lives of people and other living things.
Great changes happen deep inside the Earth and on its surface. The changes on the outer part of the Earth happen because of different kinds of weather.

4. A tall column of air spinning round very fast is a …
tornado

5. 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

6. Tornado Preparation
Visit this website for tornado safety tips for home, school, outdoors, mobile homes, and large buildings.
National Weather Service: Tornado!

7. Effects of Tornadoes in Alabama
Tuscaloosa County: December 16, 2000

8. Effects of Tornado in Joplin, MO
JHS Video Footage

9. Joplin Damage

10. Path

11. An extremely violent wind or storm is a…
hurricane

12. 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

13. Hurricane Preparations
Visit this website to learn more about preparing for the effects of hurricanes and tropical storms.
Hurricane Preparedness for Kids

14. Effects of Alabama Hurricanes
Hurricane Frederick
Hurricane Ivan 2005

15. A violent tropical storm in which the air goes round and round is a …
cyclone

16. A shaking of the ground is an…
earthquake

17. 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

18. Preparing for Earthquakes
Visit this site to learn more about earthquakes. Scroll down through the page to discover valuable tips for earthquake safety.
Weather Wiz Kids: Earthquakes

19. Volcanoes Volcano World Virtual Field Trips
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

20. Preparing for a Volcano
Visit this site for safety tips before, during, and after a volcano.
Weather Wiz Kids: Volcano Safety

21. A large amount of water that covers an area is a …
flood

22. 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

23. Flood Preparations
Visit this site to learn more about floods, and scroll down to discover important flood safety tips.
Weather Wiz Kids – Rain and Floods

24. A huge wave caused by an earthquake which flows onto land is a …
tsunami

25. 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

26. Tsunami Preparedness
Visit this website for important tips for surviving a tsunami.
FEMA Hazards Fact Sheets: Tsunami

27. Effects of Tsunamis
Indian Ocean Tsunami – December 26, 2005

28. A large mass of snow falling down the side of a mountain is an…
avalanche

29. 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

30. Winter Storm Preparations
Visit these sites for tips on how to prepare for a winter storm.
CDC: Winter Storm Facts
Winter Storm Fact Sheet

31. A period of time with no rain is a …
drought

32. Heat Wave
Prolonged period of excessively hot weather which can be accompanied by high humidity.
Severe heat waves have caused catastrophic crop failures, thousands of death and widespread power outtages.

33. 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

34. Preparing for Wildfires
Visit this site to learn important tips for protecting your family and home during a wildfire.
Risk Watch: Wildfires

35. Famine
Extreme scarcity of food.

36. Disease
An abnormal condition that affects the body of an organism. It is often constructed as a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and sings. Can originate from external source (infectious disease).