1. COS: Identify ways to prepare for natural disasters in the United States. Examples: preparing for earthquakes by identifying structural needs of homes before building, constructing houses on stilts in flood-prone areas, buying earthquake and flood insurance, providing hurricane or tornado shelters, establishing evacuation routes

2. What is a Natural Disaster? Natural disasters are natural (as opposed to man-made) events that kill people or damage property or the environment. There are many different kinds of natural disasters, some of which are very common. Read more: What Is a Natural Disaster for Kids? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_7154750_natural-disaster- kids_.html#ixzz2LmgCVVDpWhat Is a Natural Disaster for Kids? | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/facts_7154750_natural-disaster- kids_.html#ixzz2LmgCVVDp

3. Examples of Natural Disasters  Tornadoes  Hurricanes  Tsunamis  Floods  Volcanoes  Earthquakes  Violent Storms  Fires

4. Tornadoes  A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.  The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of up to 300 mph. They can destroy large buildings, uproot trees and hurl vehicles hundreds of yards.  Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide to 50 miles long.  In an average year, 1000 tornadoes are reported nationwide.

5. Effects of Tornadoes

6. Hurricanes  A hurricane is a huge severe storm over the tropics (oceans).  It can be up to 600 miles across and have strong winds spiraling inward and upward at speeds of 75 to 200 mph.  Hurricanes rotate in a counter- clockwise direction around an "eye" in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.  The center of the storm or "eye" is the calmest part.  Hurricanes produce heavy rain, large waves, high winds and sometimes tornadoes http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-hurricane.htm

7. Effects of Hurricanes Famous Hurricanes Hurricane Sandy, 2012 Hurricane Katrina, 2005 Hurricane Ivan, 2004

8. Tsunamis  Tsunamis form as a result of earthquakes, volcanoes or landslides under the ocean  In March 2011, the Tohoku earthquake off the eastern coast of Japan caused a tsunami that was a major factor in the death of over 15000 people.  Waves grow taller as they reach the coast More Tsunami Facts

9. Earthquakes  Earthquakes are the shaking, rolling or sudden shock of the earth’s surface.  They are the Earth's natural means of releasing stress.  More than a million earthquakes rattle the world each year.  The West Coast is most at risk of having an earthquake, but earthquakes can happen in the Midwest and along the East Coast.  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!

10. Weather Safety Preparedness Use this link for weather safety tips for you and your family