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2 read maps. learn how to protect yourselves against the elements of nature. In this lesson you will find out about natural disasters.

3 Natural disasters come in many shapes and sizes. Hurricanes, for example, are severe tropical storms.

4 Hurricanes form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. They gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters.

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7 Hurricanes rotate in a counter- clockwise direction around an "eye“. Hurricanes have winds of at least 74 miles per hour. When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees and cars and, of course, take human lives.

8 We can use meteorological instruments to predict an oncoming hurricane. An earthquake, however, is another story.

9 Most times, you will notice an earthquake by the gentle shaking of the ground. You may notice hanging lamps swaying or objects wobbling on shelves. Sometimes, you may hear a low rumbling noise or feel a sharp jolt.

10 shakingsway sound of noisewobbling movementrumbling

11 Earthquakes are the shaking, rolling or sudden shocking of the earth’s surface. Earthquakes occur along "fault lines" in the earth’s crust.

12 Earthquakes can be felt over large areas, although they usually last less than one minute. Earthquakes cannot be predicted -- although scientists are working on it!

13 The intensity of an earthquake can be measured on an instrument called the Richter scale. Earthquakes below 4.0 on the Richter scale do not usually cause damage.

14 Earthquakes over 5.0 on the scale can cause damage. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake is considered strong and a magnitude 7.0 is a major earthquake.

15 “A new earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale ripped through northwestern India flattening hundreds…”

16 1. severe damage 2. no damage 3. minor damage 4. considerable damage 7.2 on the Richter scale tells you the earthquake caused :

17 Here is a picture of a rescue worker in Ahmedabad, in Western India, risking his life to detach a potentially deadly gas cylinder.

18 1.by the falling pieces of building (debris). 2.from disconnecting the gas balloon 3. both 1 and 2. The rescue worker can get hurt

19 toll from the powerful quake, which devastated western India, reached over 50,000. Praying in the Rubble An Indian man prays in front of his house in the western Indian city of Bhuj, after a massive earthquake destroyed it. The death

20 These residents of Hyderabad, Pakistan, about 100 miles from the port city of Karachi, sit outside their collapsed home. Although the epicenter was in neighboring India, today's earthquake killed at least four in the southern Pakistani province of Sindh. Ruined Home

21 In your opinion, if your house were destroyed,what would you miss the most? I think I would miss __________ ___________________the most.

22 In addition to earthquakes and hurricanes, man has to deal with many other kinds of natural phenomena, such as thunderstorms, lightning, floods, and drought.

23 Thunderstorms effect small areas when compared with hurricanes. The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes.

24 Nearly 1,800 thunderstorms are happening at any moment around the world. That's 16 million a year!

25 15 Diameter of thunderstorm 30 Length of average thunderstorm 1,800 16,000,000 Number of thunderstorms per year Number of thunderstorms occurring right now

26 Despite their small size, all thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people than tornadoes do, each year. Tornadoes are __________dangerous ___________________ lightning.

27 The lightning is seen before the thunder is heard, because light travels faster than sound.

28 The average flash of lightning could turn on a 100 -watt light bulb for more than 3 months.

29 The air near a lightning strike is hotter than the surface of the sun!

30 Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000.

31 You can reduce your chances of being struck by lightning by following safety rules.

32 Try to see how well you remember the words we mentioned in today’s lesson.

33 Unscramble each of the clue words. Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number.

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35 Homework Think of five things that you could do to help the victims of a flood. Take into consideration what the families have lost and what they would need the most. Remember, sometimes it’s the little things that count the most.