1. “Other” Natural Disasters
Sink Holes, Floods, Fires, and Droughts

2. History of Fire
Since the beginning of time man has depended on fire for survival.
Fires have been used to heat homes, cook foods, disinfect instruments, and generate power.
A fire occurs as the result of a chemical reaction (when two chemicals interact causing an explosion at the atomic level) they grow with the addition of oxygen.
Mention steam engines and coal engines both use a source of fire to operate.

3. Fires
Fires can be caused by lightning, volcanic eruptions, droughts, hot weather, or even by humans
Fires can spread quickly with fuel from dead branches, dry leaves, and rotting plants. During periods with little rain, a fire can spread even faster
Fires:
ground fires – burns grass and low lying vegetation
surface fires – burns trunks of trees as well as low lying vegetation
crown fires – burn through the top of trees
brush fires – caused by people either on purpose or accidently
*Think about what you smell, hear, or hear?
*After teacher demonstration, why do you think that happened?

4. forest with periodical fires forest without periodical fires
PROS
keeps ecosystem in balance by clearing away dead and dying plants, making more room for new plants to grow
scrub pines require fire to release their seeds so that new growth replaced the old, dead trees
CONS
damage natural resources
destroy wildlife habitat
destroy beauty of the environment
can lead into increased soil erosion
forest with periodical fires
forest without periodical fires

5. How to put fires out
Because fires are a result of a chemical reaction there are several different ways to put out a fire
Water
Fire extinguisher
Fire blanket
Stop, drop, and roll
Sand
Something VERY important to keep in mind is that fire’s need oxygen to survive so the LAST thing you want to do is blow out a fire or put it in front of a fan, you may make it bigger or spread it!
Water: friction fires, brush fires, open flame, Arson NO CHEMICAL FIRES
Fire Extinguisher: chemical fire and all other fires
Fire blanket: certain chemical fires and all others
Stop drop and roll: humans only animals cant roll around
Use jar candle example to show the need for oxygen

6. Drought
a drought can be classified as a long period of time with dry weather that can cause serious problems such as crop damage and/or water supply shortages.
severity of a drought depends upon the degree of moisture deficiency, the duration, and the size of the affected area
In Florida, we can measure our degree of droughts by the levels of water in Lake Okeechobee
Complete K-O-E flow of water demonstration so students can see importance of water flow
Complete water conservation activity so that students can feel the effects of

7. Droughts
can cause farmers and people to be without a sufficient amount of water and can start water restrictions
Crops and livestock can die without water
can increase risk of fire
*Remember*
-water makes up about 75% of the Earth’s surface
-water makes up about 70% of our own body

8. The great dustbowl of the1930’s
During the 1930’s the western part of the United States suffered the greatest drought in the countries history. 70% of the land completely dried out and began to fly away like dust
Bottom picture is of a giant ball/storm of dust traveling towards a city

9. Floods
Flooding happens during heavy rains, when rivers overflow, when ocean waves come onshore, when snow melts too fast or when dams or levees break.
Flooding may be only a few inches of water or it may cover a house to the rooftop.
Floods that happen very quickly are called flashfloods.

10. Floods
PROS
seasonal flooding can be an important source for lands
floods can recharge water supplies in dams and underground aquifers.
Floods can distribute large amounts of water and suspended river sediment over vast areas.
CONS
Excessive water can destroy homes and endanger peoples lives
People who are not properly prepared for floods or have an emergency plan risk their lives

11. Sink Holes
Sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by groundwater circulating through them. As the rock dissolves, spaces and caverns develop underground. Sinkholes are dramatic because the land usually stays intact for a while until the underground spaces just get too big.

12. Review Fire is a result of _______________
Fire needs _________ to survive
This type of fire happens when you rub two things quickly together
You should use ____ to put out an open flame fire
A chemical reaction
Oxygen
Friction
Chemical
fire extinguisher or water

13. Review A period of extremely dry weather ____
Droughts put ____ in the atmosphere
Droughts can kill (list 3)
Droughts are caused by__________
Droughts also cause water levels to __
What is the lake that provides us with water?
In Miami Dade we are under permanent ________
Drought
Dust/dirt
Animals, plants, vegetation, communities, soil, business
A prolonged period of no rain
Fall
Okeechobee
Water restriction

14. Review Excessive rain or severe weather can cause ____
Floods can be good and bad, why?
_________ are floods that happen quickly
floods
Flashfloods
Floods can be good because they can help replenish the lands soil and natural earth cycle. However, they can endanger peoples lives if they are not prepared.