According to WIKIPEDIA …..
A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth; examples include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, storms, and other geologic processes.
A natural disaster can cause loss of life or damage property and typically leaves significant economic damage in its wake, the severity of which depends on the affected population’s resilience and on the infrastructure available.
An adverse event will not rise to the level of a disaster if it occurs in an area without vulnerable population. In a vulnerable area, however, such as Nepal during the 2015 earthquake, an adverse event can have disastrous consequences and leave lasting damage, which can take years to repair.
Watch OR Warning ?
| Do you know the meaning of the two different terms: Weather Watch and Weather Warning ? Most people don’t know the difference and it is extremely important that you do. There is a fine line between the two meanings so we will define them here for you AFTER we have presented a visual easy-to-understand image : |
A Weather Watch means that conditions are favorable for the conditions to produce a disaster such as a hurricane or tornado. A Weather Warning means that not only are conditions favorable, a tornado or hurricane is eminent. You also need to take the closeness of the storm into consideration. It is important to stay tuned in to your radio or local TV station to keep abreast of the latest updates. A watch normally precedes a warning. But, that it isn’t always the case. Storms can sometimes be violent and unpredictable. Always try to pay attention during bad weather so that you can stay prepared. If you hear a weather forecaster or meteorologist say the word “watch” you need to start paying attention to whatever weather is heading your way. If, on the other hand, they mention the word “warning” usually the next words out of their mouth are “take cover in a safe place.” Weather warnings can come instantaneously so you always need to be alert. Tornado and hurricane watches can easily change into warnings in the blink of an eye. If you hear that a weather “watch” has been issued, they are advising you that you need to take some precautionary measures. This is so that you will be prepared in case the weather is escalated to a “warning.” There are all sorts of weather “watches” that can be issued: blizzard or winter storm, thunderstorms (can contain tornadoes), flash flooding (especially in low tidal areas). In some areas there is the possibility of raging wildfires that can quickly get out of control. A weather watch is letting people know that the conditions could worsen and eventually be escalated to a “warning”. A weather warning means that the event is near your area and that something is likely to happen. It could also mean that the event is already happening. A warning indicates that all of the conditions have been met so they elevate the event to a warning. They key to surviving a natural event is to stay alert. Also, on the flip side of this is the fact that you need to be properly prepared if and when this watch does turn to a warning and the unthinkable occurs. Here is a guide (in table form) to help you assess your situation should you hear any of these terms being used by your local weather station or on the radio: |
| Message / Bulletin | Comment / Consequence |
| Tropical Storm Watch | Winds 39-73 mph in your area. |
| Tropical Storm Warning | Will usually occur within 24 hrs. in your area. |
| Hurricane Watch | Conditions favourable in your area. |
| Hurricane Warning | Sustainable winds over 74 mph is probable in your area ; Take Hurricane Preparations seriously. |
| Tornado Watch | Conditions favourable for tornadoes. |
| Tornado Warning | An actual tornado has been sighted on the ground. |
| Flood Watch | Conditions right for a flood. ( You could possibly live in a low lying area OR downstream from water rushing down off a mountain. Tides ebb & flow at 6 hr. intervals so if they use this term, watch the water levels near you). |
| Flood Warning | Flood is imminent so you should already be fully prepared. |
| Flash Flood Watch | Flash Floods can occur when there is too much rainfall at one time. |
| Flash Flood Warning | Flooding is occurring so advice is don’t drive near low-lying areas. Again, watch the levels near your home if you live in a flood zone. |
| Severe Thunderstorm Watch | Conditions are favourable for thunderstorms. |
| Severe Thunderstorm Warning | Thunderstorms are heading for your area. IMMEDIATELY go inside & take shelter. Lightning strikes Can and Do kill people. |
| Any time you see or hear your local television or radio station issue a watch or warning it is time to pay attention. These natural disasters can and do cause extreme damage. You need to make preparations long before these watches and warnings occur. |
Man-Made Disasters have an element of human intent, negligence, or error involving a failure of a man–made system, as opposed to natural disasters resulting from natural hazards. Such man–made disasters include crime, arson, civil disorder, terrorism, war, biological/chemical threat, cyber-attacks, etc.
At the time of this writing, the world is on fire. There is rampant terrorism and civil unrest and you can’t be sure if it won’t end up in your area in the near future. People want to destroy other people’s way of life. By wreaking havoc on a society, everything comes to a grinding halt. If there were an Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) today would you 1) know what that is ? and 2) how to survive in a world without electricity? That’s what an EMP is: a pulse that sends out an electrical pulse wave over the area and knocks out anything and everything electrical. This pulse can cause devastation far and wide. Think about it. How would you survive with no electricity? There would be no gas for your car, no cash from the bank, no electricity in your home, no forms of communication, no grocery deliveries to your local market, etc. There would be no transportation, no cell phones, i pods, ipads or computers. Everything and anything electrical would be wiped out during an EMP. The list is endless of how such a disaster would have an effect on society. It is essential that you prepare today: not tomorrow, today ! Look at China today. Their smog situation is so bad it is staggering. Coastal waters during the BP disaster in the United States created a catastrophe of epic proportions. Not only were the coastal businesses and residence devastated, it also killed a lot of the wildlife indigenous to those areas. There are aviation, rail, road and space disasters. The nuclear bomb is a man-made disaster just waiting to happen when tempers flare between countries. Wars are man-made disasters because of the devastation that occurs to the country and its people. Man-made means that man has created this devastating event. Fires can sometimes be man-made disaster whether set intentionally (arson) or unintentionally (cigarette thrown for a car window, campfire not extinguished properly). At any time a man-made disaster could occur. Are you going to be prepared when this happens or are you going to be one of those who wished he/she had taken the time to prepare beforehand? So, up to now we have discussed concisely a number of significant disasters ( natural and man-made). In our 30-Day course we discuss these again along with others using appropiate visual publications so as to include : – necessary precautions to take BEFORE an critical event occurs – what to do and not do during the crisis – what to do AFTER the critical event has passed. Other notable examples are Wars, Terror Attacks. ( Plagues,Epidemics and Pandemics are related to spread of disease and will discussed in the Quarantine sub-section of this Prep & Survival Subject ). Terrorist Attacks are also a danger for ALL of us. For example, an attack on the electricity grid or even on a nuclear power plant. |
This can also be due to a Hacker / Cyber attack . As a result, the power supply could be interrupted or completely cut-off for varying periods of time.Therefore, prepare yourself for self-sufficiency in such an emergency.
With these ideas firmly entrenched in our minds, we can now move on to PART 3 of this Disaster Prep Scenarios and consider an ever-increasing particular type of disastrous phenomenon, not only because of the damage it causes directly BUT ALSO the significant damaging “side effects” that occur. Here we are talking about Power Outages.
Click HERE to go to the final PART 3.
*************************
