What is Disaster Management ?

Don't believe everything you see in the movies. A doorway isn't the safest place to be in during an earthquake (you should seek shelter under a table instead). Research the safest way to protect yourself and your family in a disaster situation.

The Valdivia Earthquake (also known as the Great Chilean Earthquake) in 1960 is to date the most powerful earthquake ever recorded on Earth. It was rated 9.5 on the Moment Magnitude scale, and generated a tsunami that caused damage over 9,000 miles away.

In a dangerous situation, like a terrorist attack, never over-estimate your capability, says Singh. Don't be a hero, and don't panic. Remain alert and look for a place to hide.

In 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan caused a deadly 23-foot tsunami in the country’s north. The tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling of three nuclear reactors in the Fukushima plant, triggering a nuclear accident.

It only takes about 5 seconds for avalanches to reach speeds of 80mph.

Train in useful skills. Singh says a course in medical first aid and basic fire management goes a long way in preparing for every eventuality-natural or man-made. Skills in management of children and the elderly in trauma are equally useful.

The Japanese earthquake also amplified the rotation speed of Earth, shortening the length of a day by 1.8 microseconds.

The survival rate for victims rescued within the first 18 minutes of an avalanche is greater than 91%. In Rescues between 19-35 minutes, survival rates drop to 35%. Dogs play a large role in locating people who are buried under the snow.

Once you and your family are safe, look for ways to help, perhaps by volunteering at that time, or after the disaster, with rebuilding the community

In 1812, a series of earthquakes near Missouri caused the soil beneath the Mississippi river to rise and temporarily caused the river to flow backwards. Some Muskogee people thought that the cause was a river god called the Tie Snake, twisting under the ground.

The string of volcanoes, sites of seismic activity or earthquakes around the Pacific Ocean is known as the Ring of Fire. Approximately 90% of all earthquakes occur along the ring, and it contains 75% of all active volcanoes on Earth.

In 1931, China was besieged by devastating floods that caused the death of as many as 3.7 million people.  The event, known as the Central China Floods, affected more than 51 million people, and remains the worst natural disaster in history.

As the two sides of the San Andreas Fault slip past one another, San Francisco moves towards Los Angeles at a rate of about 2 inches per year. In several million years, the two cities will meet.

The molten lava spewed from the Hawaiian volcano of Kilauea reaches temperatures of 2,120 F. Lava is made of melted rock which is known as magma until it breaches the surface of the Earth.

Some Scientists believe that some animals are able to feel vibrations in the earth before an Earthquake. Dogs, birds and elephants have all been said to flee or retreat an area right before a disaster hits.

On the night of Aug 21, 1986, a low lying white cloud grew over Lake Nyos in Cameroon. The cloud was created by a release of carbon dioxide gas at the bottom of the lake, which floated across the ground and into a near by village, where it killed around 1700 people.

In 1861, a massive 43-day storm put Southern California underwater for six months. Geologic research shows that epic storms of “biblical proportions” have occurred in the region roughly every 200 years for the last 2000 years, and researchers say that California may be due for another big one soon.

The biggest volcanic eruption ever recorded was the explosion of Mount Tambora on Sumbawa Island in 1815. It ranked super colossal on the Volcanic Explosion Index, which is the second highest possible rating. The ash from the eruption column dispersed around the world and lowered global temperatures, leading to worldwide harvest failures in an event sometimes known as the Year Without a Summer in 1816.

The Banqiao dam was built on the Ru River in China in the 1950s as part of a program aimed at controlling the Huang He (Yellow River). It was constructed to withstand massive floods, expected to occur only once a millennium. Sadly, in 1975 Typhoon Nina hit with such intensity the dam collapsed causing unprecedented flooding and destruction downstream.

The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii is the most active volcano on Earth. It’s been continuously erupting since January 3, 1983, recording 61 eruptions, and destroying more than 200 structures.

The state of Florida sits on an unbroken bed of Limestone which makes sinkholes a common problem- especially in Central Florida. It’s called “sinkhole alley”, and 2/3 of sinkhole insurance claims come from this area.

Tornado Alley is located in the American Plains states and is one of two regions in the U.S. that record a disproportionate number of tornadoes. Most of the 1000 tornadoes that hit the U.S on an annual basis occur in this region.

The Great Blue Hole of Belize is a large underwater sinkhole near the center of Lighthouse Reef. It originally formed as a limestone cave during the last glacial period, but as the ocean began to rise, the cave system flooded and eventually collapsed. In 1971, Jacques Cousteau made the site famous by declaring it one of the top ten best diving site in the world.

Super Cells, which are essentially enormous thunder storms, create the conditions that produce tornadoes tornadoes. First there must be a wind shear, or a a difference in wind speed or direction, which create a spinning tube of wind. The updrafts and down drafts that are common in super cell storms then pull these tubes into a vertical position creating a tornado.

The Great Blue Hole of Belize is a large underwater sinkhole near the center of Lighthouse Reef. It originally formed as a limestone cave during the last glacial period, but as the ocean began to rise, the cave system flooded and eventually collapsed. In 1971, Jacques Cousteau made the site famous by declaring it one of the top ten best diving site in the world.