1. Chapter 7 Natural Disasters in Florida

2. Vocabulary Natural disaster Storm surge Wildfire Flood Drought
Sink Hole
Tornado

3. What is a natural disaster?
Is a natural event that causes severe or widespread destruction.
Examples: hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, floods, wildfires.
Florida has been struck by hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. These have caused great destruction to our state.

4. HURRICANES What is a hurricane?
Storm with powerful winds and heavy rains.
Water from the ocean and lakes may rush onshore and cause flooding.
Storm surge- the rush of water that is caused by powerful winds. Rush of ocean water onshore, on the coast.

5. Animated Model of a Hurricane
s/hurricane-science/

6. Dry season runs from Nov/Dec-Apr/May.
Is a large fire that spreads quickly over a natural area. Wildfires can start by lightning, arson, or debris burning, especially when land is dry.
Dry season runs from Nov/Dec-Apr/May.
Florida’s landscape is shaped by wildfires.
Florida’s pinelands and scrubs contain pine trees. These pine trees have a thick bark and can withstand wildfires.
Wildfires in Florida

7. Forest Fire Web Cam!!

8. Ways to try and control flooding:
Floods
overflowing of water in a normally dry area.
Floods are not only caused by hurricanes, but by overflowing of rivers or storm surges.
Storm surges are from the ocean or from large lakes.
Ways to try and control flooding:
Building Dams-
barrier across a river that redirects
the flow of the river into other channels.
Levees- is a mound of earth that is built around a lake, river, and/or ocean.

9. Flood Images & Examples

10. Video of New Orleans flooding…
(I know it’s not Florida!!

11. Drought
long period of scarce rainfall or dry weather. Reduces the supply of groundwater and surface water.
Cause of a drought
-dry weather systems that remain in one place for weeks or months at a time.
Droughts can cause crop failure and famine
in places people grow their own food.
If drought is severe, water use may be
regulated.

12. Sinkholes Areas of land where water gathers and cannot drain out.
Florida is on top of Limestone, which is a porous rock.
Dirt, sand, & clay on top of the limestone.
If the stone is “eaten” away the ground will get too heavy & sink!
Anything on top will sink right in!!

13. Amazing Sinkholes!

14. YouTube Sinkholes Segment…
Only watching the beginning up until the intro to NOVA

15. 1. Continuous precipitation hits Florida
3. A pond will start to form
2. Porous Limestone underneath ground gets too much water
4. Eventually the ground weakens and sinks

16. Tornadoes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmWh9jV_1ac What are they?
How do they form?
How do they disappear?
Let’s find out!

17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eey ou7BL_0g
Tornadoes in Action!
ou7BL_0g

18. How do we measure Tornadoes?

19. Protecting yourself from hazardous weather
Hurricane- weather satellites track hurricanes.
-hurricane watch- hurricane conditions expected within 36 hrs.
-hurricane warning- hurricane conditions expected within 24 hrs.
- if told to evacuate, leave the area immediately.
Tornado- weather satellites try to predict tornados.
-tornado watch- tornado is possible
-tornado warning- tornado has been seen in sky or on weather radar.
-safest place to be is in a storm shelter or basement.
Thunderstorm Safety-
-safest place is indoors, try not to touch telephones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures.
-avoid bodies of water

20. The sun is harmful to your skin.
Sun Exposure Safety
The sun is harmful to your skin.
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause sunburn and may lead to skin cancer.
Here are some things you can do!
Protect your skin, and limit your time in the sun.
Use sunscreen, UVA and UVB protection.
Use hats and sunglasses.
Clouds DO NOT block the sun’s harmful rays.
Don’t be this guy!