Volcanoes are an opening in the earth’s surface generally found where tectonic plates are diverging or converging. Erupting volcanoes can eject a variety of material that can cause potential hazards to human life and property. These include: ash, falls, pyroclastics flows, lava flow and gas emission. In addition volcanic eruptions may also produce secondary impacts, […]
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. The winds are capable of causing extreme destruction and may leave a significant damage path depending on the strength of the storm. While the winds themselves are destructive, the debris
Tsunamis are a series of large ocean waves generated by major earthquakes beneath the ocean floor or major landslides into the ocean. When the waves enter shallow water, they may rise to several feet or, in rare cases, tens of feet, striking the coast with devastating force. The first wave in a tsunami may not
La Cruz Roja capacita constructores en el uso de técnicas de resistencia a huracanes para la construcción de casas de madera más seguras para una vida mejor.
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Thunderstorms are very common. NOAA estimates that 1,800 thunderstorms occur at any moment around the world. Severe thunderstorms may bring heavy rain, flooding, hail, strong winds, and tornadoes that may damage homes, businesses, and government facilities. Additionally, community infrastructure may be damaged, such as utility poles, causing widespread power outages. Household To stay safer during a thunderstorm follow
An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the ground caused by the shifting of rocks beneath the earth’s surface. Earthquakes strike suddenly, without warning, and can occur at any time of the year- day or night. The impacts of earthquakes include deaths, injuries and property damage, loss of shelter and livelihood, disruption of critical
Hazards originating from technological or industrial accidents, dangerous procedures, infrastructure failures or specific human activities that may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation. Examples of technological hazards include industrial pollution, nuclear radiation, toxic wastes, dam failures, transport, industrial or technological accidents (explosions, fires, chemical spills).
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A heat wave is defined by the ARC as a ‘prolonged period of excessive heat and humidity’. This is a useful definition because it emphasizes the combined effects of both air temperature and humidity. Heat kills by pushing the human body beyond its limits. In extreme heat and high humidity, evaporation is slowed and the
During a landslide (also known as a landslip or mudslide), water-saturated masses of rock, earth, and debris move down a destabilized slope, having the ability to cause service disruptions, damage to property and agriculture, human injuries, and in severe cases, death. Landslides have various causes including earthquakes, storms, volcanic eruptions, fires, and human modifications to
As more people live closer and closer together, particularly as a result of urbanization, risks associated with fire increase. House fires are predominantly accidental, usually in relation to the use of indoor lamps, stoves or heaters that use an open flame. However, careless use of cigarettes is another leading cause of fires, and fires may