1. Natural Disasters in Latin America
SSWG5 Analyze human interactions with the world’s environments.
SSWG5 (D). Analyze international and varied local governmental responses to natural disasters in countries around the world (e.g., hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis).

2. Natural Disasters
The effect of a natural hazard that impacts the environment, and leads to financial, environmental and/or human losses.

3. Earthquakes Caused by the tectonic plates colliding.
Lead to fires, building collapses and tsunamis
Measured by a seismograph
Classified by the Richter scale
Occur at fault line, near volcanoes and around the Ring of Fire

5. Chilean Earthquake, 1960
Largest recorded earthquake measured 9.5 on the Richter scale in Chile on May 22, 1960
Led the Chile improving their infrastructure to withstand high magnitude earthquakes

6. Haitian Earthquake, 2010
7.0 M earthquake in January 2010 followed by 52 aftershocks
Left 1 million people homeless and 530,000 dead or injured
Haiti’s poor infrastructure caused much of the damage and death

7. Largest Earthquakes

8. El Nino and La Nina
A warm ocean current that flows off the west coast of South America every few years
Changes weather patterns around the world
Causes extreme weather like floods, droughts and other weather disturbances
Developing countries dependent on agriculture and fishing are most affected

10. Hurricanes Storm that forms over warm, tropical ocean waters
Produce powerful winds, torrential rain, high waves and storm surges
Storms start out off the coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean and move west toward the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea

12. Cyclones/ Typhoons
Tropical cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans
Typhoons are mature tropical cyclones within the Northwest Pacific Ocean
Rotating, organized systems of clouds and thunderstorms
Take place over tropical or subtropical waters
Once it reaches 74 MPH, it is considered a hurricane

13. Tsunamis
Series of waves that send surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over 100 feet, onto land
Caused by underwater earthquakes
Leaves extensive damage
Occurs mostly in Pacific Ocean and near Indonesia

14. Monsoons
 A seasonal shift in wind direction that usually brings a different kind of weather
Asian Monsoons
Asian countries prepare for these disasters yearly, yet many people still die from monsoons every year

15. Impact of Natural Disasters
Human Impact
Economic Impact
Infrastructure Impact
Political Impact