1

2

read maps.

learn how to protect yourselves

against the elements of nature.

In this lesson you will

find out about natural disasters.

3

Natural disasters come in

many shapes and sizes.

Hurricanes, for example,

are severe tropical

storms.

4

Hurricanes form in the

southern Atlantic Ocean,

Caribbean Sea, Gulf of

Mexico, and in the eastern

Pacific Ocean. They gather

heat and energy through

contact with warm ocean

waters.

5

6

7

Hurricanes rotate in a counter-

clockwise direction around an

"eye“. Hurricanes have winds of

at

least 74 miles per hour.

When they come onto land, the

heavy rain, strong winds and

heavy waves can damage

buildings, trees and cars and, of

course, take

human lives.

8

We can use meteorological

instruments to predict an

oncoming hurricane.

An earthquake, however, is

another story.

9

Most times, you will notice

an earthquake by the gentle

shaking of the ground. You may

notice hanging lamps swaying or

objects wobbling on shelves.

Sometimes, you may hear a low

rumbling noise or feel a sharp jolt.

10

swayshaking

wobblingsound of noise

rumblingmovement

11

Earthquakes are the

shaking, rolling or

sudden shocking of the

earth’s surface.

Earthquakes occur along

"fault lines" in the

earth’s crust.

12

Earthquakes can be felt

over large areas, although

they usually last less

than one minute.

Earthquakes cannot be

predicted -- although

scientists are working on

it!

13

The intensity of an

earthquake can be

measured on an

instrument called the

Richter scale. Earthquakes

below 4.0 on the Richter

scale do not usually cause

damage.

14

Earthquakes over 5.0

on the scale can cause

damage. A magnitude

6.0 earthquake is

considered strong and a

magnitude 7.0 is a

major earthquake.

15

“A new earthquake

measuring 7.2 on the

Richter scale ripped

through northwestern

India flattening

hundreds…”

16

1.   severe damage

2.     no damage

3.     minor damage

4.     considerable damage

7.2 on the Richter scale tells you the earthquake caused:

17

Here is a picture

of a rescue

worker in

Ahmedabad, in

Western India,

risking his life to

detach a

potentially

deadly gas

cylinder.

18

1. by the falling pieces of building

(debris).

2. from disconnecting the gas balloon

3. both 1 and 2.

The rescue worker can get hurt

19

toll from the powerful

quake, which devastated

western India, reached

over 50,000.

Praying in the RubbleAn Indian man prays in front of his

house in the western Indian city of

Bhuj, after a massive earthquake

destroyed it. The death

20

These residents of Hyderabad, Pakistan, about 100 miles from the port city of Karachi, sit outside their collapsed home. Although the epicenter was in neighboring India, today's earthquake killed at least four in the southern Pakistani province of Sindh.

Ruined Home

21

In your opinion, if your house

were destroyed,what would

you miss the most?

I think I would miss __________

___________________the most.

22

In addition to

earthquakes and

hurricanes, man has to

deal with many other

kinds of natural

phenomena, such as

thunderstorms, lightning,

floods, and drought.

23

Thunderstorms effect

small areas when

compared with

hurricanes. The typical

thunderstorm is 15 miles

in diameter and lasts an

average of 30 minutes.

24

Nearly 1,800

thunderstorms are

happening at any moment

around the world.

That's 16 million a year!

25

15 Diameter of thunderstorm

30 Length of averagethunderstorm

1,800

16,000,000 Number of thunderstorms per year

Number of thunderstormsoccurring right now

26

Despite their small size, all

thunderstorms are dangerous.

Every thunderstorm produces

lightning, which kills more

people than tornadoes do, each

year. Tornadoes are __________dangerous

___________________ lightning.

27

The lightning is seen

before the thunder is

heard, because light

travels faster than

sound.

28

The average flash of

lightning could turn

on a 100 -watt light

bulb for more than 3

months.

29

The air near a

lightning strike is

hotter than the

surface of the sun!

30

Your chances of Your chances of

being struck by being struck by

lightning are lightning are

estimated to be 1 estimated to be 1

in 600,000 . in 600,000 .

Your chances of Your chances of

being struck by being struck by

lightning are lightning are

estimated to be 1 estimated to be 1

in 600,000 . in 600,000 .

31

You can reduce your

chances of being

struck by lightning

by following safety

rules.

32

Try to see how well

you remember the

words we mentioned

in today’s lesson.

33

Unscramble each of the

clue words. Copy the

letters in the numbered

cells to other cells with the

same number.

34

35

Homework

Think of five things that you could do to help the victims of a flood. Take into consideration what the families have lost and what they would need the most. Remember, sometimes it’s the little things that count the most.

http://www.fema.gov/kids/p_fld.htm