Natural Disasters

1
Natural Disasters

• Natural disasters by far account for the greatest
  loss of life and the greatest amount of property
  damage than any other type of event.
• The United States is becoming more vulnerable to
  natural hazards mostly because of changes in
  population and national wealth density--more
  people and infrastructure have become
  concentrated in disaster-prone areas.

2
Worst Earthquake

• July 28, 1976 - The world's most devastating
  quake of the 20th century (magnitude 7.8) hit the
  sleeping city of Tangshan, in northeast China.
• The official death toll was 242,000.
• Some unofficial estimates put the actual number
  of dead as high as 655,000.

3
Worst Volcano

• May 8, 1902 - Mt. Pelee erupted on the Caribbean
  island of Martinique, destroying the capital city
  of St. Pierre. Up to 40,000 were killed.

4
Worst Flood

• July-August 1931 - Massive flooding of China's
  Yangtze River led to more than three million
  deaths from drowning, disease and starvation.

5
Worst Pandemic

• 1918-1919 - An epidemic of "Spanish Flu" spread
  around the world. At least 20 million died,
  although some estimates put the final toll at 50
  million.
• It is estimated that between 20 per cent and 40
  per cent of the entire world's population got
  sick.

6
Worst US Flood

• 1889
• May 31, Johnstown, Pa. collapse of South Fork
  Dam left more than 2,200 dead.

7
Worst US Hurricane

• 1900
• Sept. 8, Galveston, Tex. an estimated
  6,0008,000 dead, mostly from devastation due to
  tidal surge.

8
Worst US Tornado

• 1925
• March 18, Mo., Ill., and Ind. great Tri-State
  Tornado 689 dead over 2,000 injured. Property
  damage estimated at 16.5 million.

9
Worst US Earthquake

• 1906
• April 18, San Francisco earthquake accompanied
  by fire razed more than 4 sq mi estimates range
  from 700 to 3,000 dead or missing.

10
Natural Disasters

• Natural hazards are more predictable than any
  other hazard.
• Although may not know exactly when a natural
  disaster will occur, precisely where they will
  strike, or how severe they will be, past
  experience can be used to identify areas that are
  most vulnerable to certain types of natural
  disasters.

11
Natural Disasters

• The largest single category of repetitive threats
  results from weather or geological events that
  can affect any area of the country.
• Their impact can be localized or widespread,
  predictable or unpredictable resulting damage
  can range from minimal to major.

12
Natural Disasters

• Depending on the severity of the incident, they
  can have a long-term impact on the infrastructure
  (roads, bridges, and utilities) of any given
  location.
• Threats involving landslide, tornado, tsunami,
  volcano, wildlife, thunderstorm, and winter
  storm.

13
Natural Disaster Planning

• Specifically, the following steps are involved in
  the process
• Writing a management policy
• Organizing a planning committee
• Identifying perils or threats and assessing
  vulnerability to these hazards
• Assessing the availability and capabilities of
  public emergency services, company personnel, and
  equipment resources
• Deciding the level of response capability based
  upon local needs and regulatory requirements
• Organizing the emergency response team
• Writing the plan
• Training personnel
• Testing the plan

14
Earthquakes

• An earthquake is a wave-like movement of the
  earth's surface.
• The earth's crust and upper part of the mantle
  are consistently pushing and moving against one
  another along what are known as fault lines.
• When rock masses slip along a fault, the energy
  of an earthquake is released in seismic waves.
• An earthquake also can be produced by volcanic
  eruptions. Earthquakes can be extremely violent.

15
Interstate highway collapse in 1989 San Francisco
Earthquake where 41 motorists were killed.
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Richter Scale

• Richter scale, invented by Charles F. Richter in
  1934.
• The damage caused by an earthquake depends on its
  severity or intensity.
• The most widely known indicator of severity, the
  Richter scale, measures the energy released
• A change of one full point in the Richter scale
  represents a difference factor of about 30 in
  energy released.
• Thus, an earthquake of magnitude 7 is roughly 30
  times as powerful in terms of energy released
  as one of magnitude 6.

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Richter Scale
Richter Magnitudes Earthquake Effects
Less than 3.5 Generally not felt, but recorded.
3.5-5.4 Often felt, but rarely causes damage.
Under 6.0 At most slight damage to well-designed buildings.
Can cause major damage to poorly constructed buildings over small regions.
6.1-6.9 Can be destructive in areas up to about 100 kilometers across where people live.
7.0-7.9 Major earthquake. Can cause serious damage over larger areas.
8 or greater Great earthquake. Can cause serious damage in areas several hundred kilometers across.
18
Modified Mercalli (MM) Intensity scale

• Another scale is the Mercalli scale.
• Invented by Giuseppe Mercalli in 1902
• Today, geologists use what is known as the
  Modified Mercalli (MM) Intensity scale to measure
  the intensity of ground shaking at a particular
  site.

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Signs and Warnings

• Earthquakes usually occur without warning.
• Earthquake monitoring is conducted by the U.S.
  Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and
  Atmospheric Administration, and universities
  throughout the United States.
• However, the exact time and place an earthquake
  will occur still cannot be precisely.

20
Earthquake Risk Maps

• Though quakes usually strike without warning,
  scientists have produced risk maps that show
  areas where an earthquake is likely to occur.
• Other clues to the probability of a quake come
  from studying faults, measuring the tilt of the
  earth's crust, watching changes in the water
  levels of wells, and even observing the behavior
  of animals.

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Immediate Dangers

• The actual movement of the ground is seldom the
  direct cause of death or injury.
• Earthquake-related casualties are commonly caused
  by
• partial or total building collapse, including
  toppling chimneys or walls, falling ceiling
  plaster, light fixtures, and pictures
• flying glass from broken windows and skylights
  (this danger may be greater from windows in
  high-rise structures)
• overturned bookcases, fixtures, and other large
  furniture and appliances
• fires from broken chimneys and broken gas lines
• fallen power lines and
• an inappropriate or drastic human reaction caused
  by fear.

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Secondary Emergencies

• Fires caused by earthquakes are particularly
  dangerous.
• Water mains may be broken and fire-fighting
  equipment may be unable to reach the fire.
• Broken gas lines often are a major cause of
  earthquake-related fires. Damage to buildings,
  utility lines, bridges, or dams.
• Water supplies can become contaminated by seepage
  around broken water mains.
• Damage to roadways and to other means of
  transportation may create food and other resource
  shortages if transportation is interrupted.

23
Advanced National Seismic System Network

• The Advanced National Seismic System Network will
  be a nationwide network of at least 7000 shaking
  measurement systems, both on the ground and in
  buildings.

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Advanced National Seismic System Network

• Provide emergency response personnel with
  real-time earthquake information.
• Provide engineers with information about building
  and site response.
• Provide scientists with high-quality data to
  understand earthquakeprocesses and solid earth
  structure and dynamics.

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Seismic Probability MapsU.S. Geological Survey

• Hazard maps are available from the US Geological
  Survey
• http//earthquake.usgs.gov/research/hazmaps/produc
  ts_data/images/nshm_us02.gif

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Floods

• Floods can be slow or fast rising.
• They are sometimes seasonal, as when winter or
  spring rains and melting snow fill river basins
  with too much water too quickly.
• Flash floods are usually the result of extremely
  heavy rain or snow and are sudden.

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1993 Mississippi Flood

• The 1993 midwest flood was one of the most
  significant and damaging natural disasters ever
  to hit the United States.
• Damages totaled 15 billion, 50 people died,
  hundreds of levees failed, and thousands of
  people were evacuated, some for months.

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Comparison Photos of the Mississippi, 1993
29
Mississippi and Missouri River Basin, 1993
30
Flood Experiences

• On the average, each year more than 300,000
  people are driven from their homes by floods, 200
  flood-related fatalities occur, and 2 billion in
  total flood damages are sustained.
• The worst recorded flood in terms of loss of
  lives was the 1889 flood in Johnstown,
  Pennsylvania, which resulted in the loss of more
  than 2,200 lives.

31
FEMA Map Services

• Special flood hazard areas for some 18,000
  communities are identified on a Flood Hazard
  Boundary Map or a Flood Insurance Rate Map issued
  by FEMA.
• Many maps provide base flood elevations.

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Floodways

• FEMA also provides many communities with data to
  help them designate floodways.
• The floodway is that part of the stream channel,
  plus any adjacent floodplain land, that must be
  reserved in order to allow the discharge of the
  base flood ("100-year flood") without increasing
  flood heights.

33
National Flood Insurance Program

• Every community participating in the National
  Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is required to
  maintain a repository for their flood maps.
• The NFIP is a Federal program enabling property
  owners to purchase flood insurance.
• FEMA administers the NFIP in communities
  throughout the United States.
• Communities in the NFIP must require new
  buildings in the special flood hazard area to be
  constructed so that the lowest floor will be
  located at or above the base flood elevation.

34
Signs and Warnings

• A flood may be build in areas near streams and
  rivers
• Monitor radio for flood forecasts
• Flash floods occur swiftly.
• Flood warnings are issued by the National Weather
  Service.
• Local police, the sheriff, the highway patrol,
  the county flood control district office, and
  other local agencies may also supply flood
  warnings.

35
Signs and Warnings

• A flash flood watch is issued when flash flooding
  is possible within the designated watch area be
  alert
• A flash flood warning is issued when a flash
  flood has been reported or is imminent take
  necessary precautions
• A flood warning is issued as an advance notice
  that a flood is imminent or is in progress at a
  certain location or in a certain river basin.

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Immediate Dangers

• The immediate danger from flash floods is from
  the strength of the water current as it surges
  through an area, carrying debris and causing
  injuries and drowning
• Floods can interrupt power, disable fuel sources,
  and make roads impassable. People may be stranded
  in their homes, or be unable to reach their
  homes.

37
Long Term Dangers

• Long-term dangers include the outbreak of
  disease, widespread animal death, broken sewage
  lines and widespread water supply pollution
  broken gas lines, downed power lines, and fires.
• Large-scale flooding can disrupt a community for
  a long time while utilities are restored, debris
  is cleared, and property is repaired.

38
Preparedness

• Stockpile emergency building materials such as
  sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber.
• Develop an evacuation and preparedness plan.
• If in a flash flood area, have several alternate
  routes to ensure rapid evacuation.
• Maintain emergency supplies such as a first aid
  kit, portable radio,
• Store drinking water in jugs and bottles.

39
Prevention

• Avoid building in a floodplains
• Implement flood prevention strategies into
  building designs and equipment designs

40
Mitigation

• FEMA'S The Mitigation Division manages the
  National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and a
  range of programs designed to reduce future
  losses to homes, businesses, schools, public
  buildings and critical facilities from floods,
  earthquakes, tornadoes and other natural
  disasters.
• Mitigation includes such activities as
• Complying with or exceeding NFIP floodplain
  management regulations.
• Adopting zoning ordinances that steer development
  away from areas subject to flooding, storm surge
  or coastal erosion.

41
Response

• As flood waters rise, take these key precautions
• Secure all outdoor items or store them inside on
  upper levels
• Move all valuable household possessions to upper
  levels away from rising floods.
• Move cars, machinery, and all livestock to higher
  ground
• Check emergency food and water supplies keep
  them high and dry.
• Listen to radio announcements from emergency
  officials. If you are told to evacuate, do so
  immediately.
• Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road
• In a flash flood warning, move immediately to
  high ground.
• Because of the speed with which a flash flood
  travels, there is no time to save any possessions
  or implement any precautionary measures.

42
Recovery

• Have all drinking water tested by local health
  authorities before using.
• Before entering a building, check for structural
  damage make sure it is not in danger of
  collapsing.
• Check utilities
• Report broken utility lines to appropriate
  authorities
• Keep in mind that floods can cause landslides,
  mudflows, and power outages

43
Tornadoes

• Tornados are relatively short-lived local storms.
  
• They are composed of violently rotating columns
  of air that descend in the familiar funnel shape
  from thunderstorm cloud systems.
• The weather conditions that tend to generate
  tornados are unseasonably warm and humid earth
  surface air, cold air at middle atmospheric
  levels, and strong upper-level jet stream winds.
• Tornados can occur anywhere in the United States
  during any month of the year.
• The destruction path of a tornado averages about
  250 yards in width and 15 miles in length.
• However, in extreme conditions, a tornado may
  travel more than 300 miles and leave a path of
  total destruction more than a mile wide.
• Tornados will travel up to sixty miles per hour,
  with wind speeds approaching 400 miles per hour
  within the tornado's center.

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SKYWARN Spotters Network

• To obtain critical weather information, the
  National Weather Service of the U.S. Department
  of Commerces National Oceanic and Atmospheric
  Administration, and cooperating organizations,
  have established SKYWARN Spotter Networks

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Greensburg, KS, June 4, 2007

• At 945 p.m. CDT on May 4, 2007, Greensburg was
  hit by an EF5 tornado.
• The tornado was estimated to be 1.7 miles in
  width and traveled for nearly 22 miles.
• Ninety-five percent of the city was confirmed to
  be destroyed, with the other five percent being
  severely damaged.
• The National Weather Service estimated winds of
  the tornado to reach 205 mph.
• Twelve fatalities were attributed to the tornado,
  ten of them residents of Greensburg.
• Tornado sirens sounded in the city twenty minutes
  before the tornado struck, and a tornado
  emergency was issued, which undoubtedly saved
  many lives.

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Greensburg, KS, June 4, 2007
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Tornado Myths

• MYTH Areas near rivers, lakes, and mountains are
  safe from tornadoes. FACT No place is safe from
  tornadoes. In the late 1980's, a tornado swept
  through Yellowstone National Park leaving a path
  of destruction up and down a 10,000 ft. mountain.
• MYTH The low pressure with a tornado causes
  buildings to "explode" as the tornado passes
  overhead.FACT Violent winds and debris slamming
  into buildings cause most structural damage.
• MYTH Windows should be opened before a tornado
  approaches to equalize pressure and minimize
  damage.FACT Opening windows allows damaging
  winds to enter the structure. Leave the windows
  alone instead, immediately go to a safe place.

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Signs and Warnings

• Tornados develop during severe thunderstorms and
  hurricanes.
• While not all thunderstorms and hurricanes create
  tornados, the potential is there.

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The Enhanced Fujita Scale

• The Fujita Scale is used to classify the
  intensity and damage from tornadoes.
• Developed in 1971 by Tetsuya "Ted" Fujita
• Through extensive research the Fujita Scale was
  developed based on damage, not wind speeds
• Storm researchers came up with the Enhanced
  Fujita scale to better reflect a tornados
  strength.
• The new Enhanced Fujita scale started use in
  February  2007.

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Tornado Watches and Warnings

• The National Severe Storms Forecast Center in
  Kansas City, Missouri, issues tornado watches.
• Local National Weather Service offices issue
  tornado warnings.
• Local officials may sound sirens in a tornado
  warning.
• A tornado watch indicates that conditions are
  right for a tornado to develop and that the sky
  should be watched.
• A tornado warning indicates a tornado has been
  sighted or is spotted on radar.
• Warnings will give the location of the tornado
  and the area immediately affected by the warning.

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Immediate Dangers

• The immediate threat from tornados is danger to
  life and damage to property from violently
  whirling winds and debris hurled through the air
  by winds.

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Long-Term Dangers

• Long-term risks include the possibility of
  building collapse, fallen trees and power lines,
  broken gas lines, broken sewer and water mains,
  and the outbreak of fires.
• Agricultural crops and industries may be damaged
  or destroyed.

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Preparedness

• The best preparation for a tornado is to
  designate a safe place as a tornado shelter.
• Tornado shelters are safest if they are
  underground.
• A basement away from windows offers the best
  protection.
• If neither of these are available, plan to find
  shelter under heavy furniture near an inside wall
  on the ground floor.
• Get under solid furniture.

56
Prevention

• Follow relevant building code practices such as
  the use of wind-resistant design.

57
Response

• Get to adequate shelter immediately
• Do not drive.
• If driving in a city and spot a tornado, get out
  of your car and go into a nearby building.
• If driving in open country, drive at a right
  angle away from the tornado's path if you can
  safely do so.
• Do not try to outrun the storm.
• If you cannot avoid the tornado, get out of your
  car.
• Lie flat in the nearest depression, such as a
  ditch, culvert, or ravine.
• Protect your head, and stay low to the ground.

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Recovery

• Communicating with employees, vendors and clients
• Recovering documents and electronic data
• Protecting equipment and physical resources
• Locating alternate physical facilities
• Finding alternate suppliers/ sources of raw
  materials
• Maintaining cash flow
• Addressing legal issues
• Processing insurance and medical claims.

59
Hurricane Preparedness

• Hurricane hazards come in many forms
• storm surge
• high winds
• tornadoes
• flooding

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Storm Surge

• Storm surge is simply water that is pushed toward
  the shore by the force of the winds swirling
  around the storm. This advancing surge combines
  with the normal tides to create the hurricane
  storm tide, which can increase the mean water
  level 15 feet or more.

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Storm Surge

• One tool used to evaluate the threat from storm
  surge is the SLOSH model.

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Hurricane Katrina
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SLOSH Model

• SLOSH (Sea, Lake and Overland Surges from
  Hurricanes) is a computerized model run by the
  National Hurricane Center (NHC) to estimate storm
  surge heights and winds resulting from
  historical, hypothetical, or predicted hurricanes
  by taking into account
• Pressure
• Size
• Forward speed
• Track
• Winds

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Hurricane Katrina
65
SLOSH Model

• The SLOSH model is generally accurate within plus
  or minus 20 percent. For example, if the model
  calculates a peak 10 foot storm surge for the
  event, you can expect the observed peak to range
  from 8 to 12 feet.

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High Winds

• Hurricane intensity measured on the
  Saffir-Simpson Scale
• The scale was developed in 1971 by civil engineer
  Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Bob Simpson, who
  at the time was director of the U.S. National
  Hurricane Center (NHC).
• Categories 1-5
• Based upon wind speeds

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Hurricane Katrina
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Estimating Potential Damage from Disasters

• FEMAs HAZUS-MH
• Potential loss estimates analyzed in HAZUS-MH
  include
• Physical damage to residential and commercial
  buildings, schools, critical facilities, and
  infrastructure
• Economic loss, including lost jobs, business
  interruptions, repair and reconstruction costs
  and
• Social impacts, including estimates of shelter
  requirements, displaced households, and
  population exposed to scenario floods,
  earthquakes and hurricanes.