Natural Disasters

Natural disasters are events that threaten
lives, property, and eco-systems.

Resulting in fragmentation or the destruction of ecosystems, billions of dollars in damage to property, and injury or death to domestic and wild animals, as well as people.

With all disasters it is important to have a preparedness plan and have emergency survival supplies on hand.

Most Common Natural Disasters

These events are associated with:

Water - (tsunamis, floods, droughts & avalanches)
Geological - (earthquakes, volcanos, fires & landslides)
Weather - (hurricanes, tornados, & winter storms)
Other - (solar storms & pandemics)

90% of Disasters are result from Extreme Weather

There were a total of 245 events in 2009 which affected 58 million people around the world and yet, the United Nations noted that 2009 was the mildest natural disaster year of the decade. 2010 was a different story!

The United Nations reports that 90% of these events were "extreme weather related" of which many were floods and associated mudslides.

According to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) the U.S. has sustained 96 weather-related disasters over the past 30 years in which overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion.

Additional Disaster Facts

Over the past decade, about 258 million people have been affected by natural disasters worldwide every year.

Caused by an undersea earthquake in the Indian Ocean, the 2004 tsunami was the deadliest in history.

More than 225,000 people were killed in 11 countries and communities along the coast were flooded by 100 foot waves.

A destructive tsunami hits the West Coast of the United States about once every 18 years.

Every year an average of 10,000 people die because of earthquakes.

A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when the speed of its winds goes over 74 mph.

Storm surges (the huge waves created during a hurricane) are usually more dangerous than the strong winds and storms.

Floods account for about 46% of disaster-related deaths in the Americas.

It is more difficult to find clean water than food after a water-related disaster because water supplies become contaminated.

Tornadoes can form anywhere in the US. Their average size is about 660 feet wide.

The best place to find shelter during a tornado is in a room without windows and doors.

For more information go to US Disaster Statistics

Amazing Human Compassion

The human impact is immense - beyond the pain of losing a loved one, the hardest struggle for many is the loss of their homes and all of their possessions.

The video below is a compilation of scenes
of the impact of different disasters and the amazing compassion
shown to those who have been impacted.