- Disaster name - Earthquake
- What happens - The ground shakes violently, causing buildings to crack, collapse, or shift. Roads can buckle, and objects fall from shelves.
- Cause - Sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust, usually due to tectonic plates moving and slipping past each other along faults.
- How to survive/prepare - Drop, cover, and hold on during shaking. Secure heavy furniture, practice drills, have an emergency kit, and know safe spots in your home.
- Disaster name - Flood
- What happens - Water overflows onto land that is normally dry, submerging homes, roads, and fields. It can carry debris and contaminate water supplies.
- Cause - Heavy rainfall, overflowing rivers, storm surges from hurricanes, or dam/levee failures.
- How to survive/prepare - Evacuate if advised, avoid walking or driving through floodwaters, elevate important items, and have a plan for high-ground shelter.
- Disaster name - Tornado
- What happens - A powerful, rotating column of air extends from a thunderstorm to the ground, destroying everything in its path with extreme winds and flying debris.
- Cause - Formed when warm, moist air collides with cool, dry air, creating instability and rotation within a severe thunderstorm.
- How to survive/prepare - Seek shelter immediately in a basement or interior room without windows. Stay away from doors and windows, and wear protective clothing if possible.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of catastrophic events worksheet.
