Earthquakes

•Occur at fault lines•Most activity is around Ring of Fire•Causes structural damage, and can trigger tsunamis, mudslides, and avalanches•More stringent building codes and paying closer attention to seismic activity are the key adaptations or modifications

Volcanoes

• Formed at convergent plate boundaries, due to melting of subducted oceanic crust that rises to surface

• Damage caused by lava flows, explosive eruptions, and ash

• People have begun to try and predict when volcanoes will erupt based on seismic activity

Hurricanes

• Low pressure, counter-clockwise spinning tropical cyclone• Forms over warm oceans• Causes damage through flooding, storm surge, high

winds, and can spin off tornadoes• Dams, levees, seawalls, and stringent building codes are

attempts to protect against them

Tsunamis

• Giant waves or storm surges created by under ocean earthquakes

• Occur mostly around the Ring of Fire• The destructive power of the initial wave, and the storm

surge devastates land, buildings, and people• Paying close attention to seismic activity, and being able to

recognize the signs of an oncoming tsunami are the only advance in protection

Flooding

• A flood is an overflow or accumulation of an expanse of water that submerges land

• Can occur just about anywhere• Destroys lands, homes, etc.• Dams, levees, better drainage, not building on

flood plains, and building on piers are all ways to deal with floods

Drought

• A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation

• Can happen anywhere• Problems are a lack of drinking water, crops, animals, etc. Leads to

migration or nomadic lifestyle and sometimes war over resources• The only real way to deal with it is to move or conserve water.

Forest Fires

• any uncontrolled fire that occurs in the forest or wilderness• Sometimes beneficial when it removes underbrush, and

provides fertilizer for the forest and farmlands• Destroys habitat, oxygen generating trees, etc.• Prevention includes letting naturally occurring fires burn in

a controlled manner, removing undergrowth, and education