1. Natural Catastrophes

2. Wildfires

3. Lightning strikes cause one out of every five wildfires. Drought conditions, wind, high temperatures, and low humidity are conditions that help wildfires spread. Wind has the biggest impact on a wildfire. Wind gives the fire additional oxygen, further dries the fuel, and pushes the fire faster. A wildfire can destroy millions of acres of forest. Animals may become endangered due to habitat destruction.

4. Bastrop, Texas Wildfire 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature= player_detailpage&v=vhJeDYQVtdQ

5. Hurricanes

6. On average, ten tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, or the Gulf of Mexico each year. About six of these develop into hurricanes. Hurricanes start out as tropical storms (tropical cyclones). Moist, warm air above the ocean rises and cools forming clouds. Air from the oceans surfaces rushes into the space caused by the upward motion of the warm air. This air begins to spiral upward causing wind. When the winds reach a constant speed of 74 mph or more it is upgraded to a hurricane. Hurricane winds blow in a spiral around a calm center called an eye. The eye can be up to 30 miles wide and the storm can be 400 miles in diameter. A hurricane can have torrential rains, high winds, and a storm surge as it approaches land.

7. Hurricane Wilma, 2005, Miami Beach, Florida  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDFK 40UMotc&feature=player_detailpage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDFK 40UMotc&feature=player_detailpage

8. Drought

10. Texas Drought 2010-2011  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts_2c 6NERo8&feature=player_detailpage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts_2c 6NERo8&feature=player_detailpage

11. Volcano

13. Too Close For Comfort  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature =player_detailpage&v=IAxj2ob_JoU http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature =player_detailpage&v=IAxj2ob_JoU

14. Tornado

16. EF4 Tornado, Tuscaloosa, AL, 2011  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ohI VzIZLuQ&feature=player_detailpage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ohI VzIZLuQ&feature=player_detailpage

17. Earthquake

18. An earthquake is the vibration of the Earth’s surface that occurs after a release of energy in the crust. This release of energy can be caused by a volcanic eruption or movement of segments of the crust (faults), or plate tectonic collisions. Earthquakes can cause damage to the environment by liquefaction of the ground, landslides, avalanches, fires, or tsunamis. The main impact to humans is property damage and loss of life.

19. Earthquakes  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y- 62Ti5_6s&feature=player_detailpage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y- 62Ti5_6s&feature=player_detailpage

20. Tsunamis

21. Tsunamis are ocean waves produced by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, meteorite impact, or underwater landslides. Tsunamis are a series of waves that can travel between 450-600 mph in the open ocean. Tsunamis often come ashore as a rapidly rising turbulent surge of debris filled water. Impact includes drowning, flooding, contamination of drinking water, loss of habitat or human homes, fires from broken gas lines, etc.

22. Tsunamis hits Japan  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5- zfCBCq-8I&feature=player_detailpage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5- zfCBCq-8I&feature=player_detailpage

23. Flood

24. A flood is an overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. A flood can be caused by intense or long term precipitation from thunderstorms, hurricane storm surges, or melting snow and ice. The amount of flooding is controlled by the amount of water that builds up as well as how porous the soil is and the amount of water already in the soil. Floods can cause loss of life, disease, property loss or damage, contamination of drinking water, and destruction of crops and livestock.

25. Tucson, Arizona Flash Flood  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature =player_detailpage&v=tCfL619drqM http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature =player_detailpage&v=tCfL619drqM