Natural Disaster

A natural disaster is any naturally occurring hazard, such as a volcanic eruption or a tropical storm, which affects human activities. Without emergency management planning, populations are extremely vulnerable and may suffer severe losses, both of life and of property.

In 2003, there were about 700 natural disasters caused approximately $65 billion in damage (source: Munich Re, 2004). Of this, insured losses accounted for only $15.8 billion.

The Red Cross warns that the frequency and cost of natural disasters will probably increase due to:

  • Environmental degradation
  • Climate change
  • Population growth, especially in cities
  • Globalization

TORNADO


"Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Every state is at some risk from this hazard."-FEMA

"It is a common - and definitely false - myth that tornadoes do not strike downtown areas. The odds are much lower due to the small areas covered, but paths can go anywhere - including over downtown areas. St. Louis, Missouri has taken a direct hit four times in less than a century and Windsor, Ontario, Canada was also struck three times in 50 years. Many of the tornadoes listed were extremely destructive or caused numerous casualties, and the occurrence of a catastrophic event somewhere is inevitable"- "Low-Level Winds in Tornadoes and Potential
Catastrophic Tornado Impacts in Urban Areas".
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
(January 2007)


HURRICANE


"All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas are subject to hurricanes or tropical storms. Parts of the Southwest United States and the Pacific Coast experience heavy rains and floods each year from hurricanes spawned off Mexico. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November, with the peak season from mid-August to late October. Hurricanes can cause catastrophic damage to coastlines and several hundred miles inland. Winds can exceed 155 miles per hour. Hurricanes and tropical storms can also spawn tornadoes and microbursts, create storm surges along the coast, and cause extensive damage from heavy rainfall." - FEMA

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, the average cost of a Category 1 hurricane is $24 million, whereas the average cost of a Category 5 hurricane is $5.9 billion.- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/202344.stm

FEMA - Protect Your Property, Home, or Business from Disaster:
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/howto/index.shtm#4

Texas Department of Transportation - Road Conditions
http://apps.dot.state.tx.us/travel/road_conditions2.htm


FLOOD


USA Today: Floods are one of weather's biggest killers
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/resources/safety/wflood.htm

Floods kill an average of 140 people per year, making them the leading cause of deaths associated with thunderstorms. They may result from prolonged rainfall, or they may occur suddenly if a dam or levee breaks. In order to reduce the amount of destruction, it's best to fully understand and pay attention to all flood warnings issued by a local weather station. Make sure you have flood insurance, and evacuate quickly when advised to.

Port cities are particularly vulnerable because of the rise in sea level and the increased frequency and severity of storms. The risk of flooding will increase substantially for large areas in or close to many coastal cities, including some highly developed city areas (especially those developed on reclaimed lands) and many ports, oil refineries and thermal power stations which are concentrated on the coast.

According to the National Weather Service, the U.S. encountered an estimated $3.745 billion in flood damages in 2006.