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OK,
now you have a supply kit and a
plan, but what do you actually
know about different kinds of
weather events and other
unexpected situations? The words
and terms you hear during
emergencies can be confusing.
Here's an overview of the most
common terms! |
|
Tornado |
A
violent storm that appears as a
funnel-shaped cone with winds
that reach up to 300 miles per
hour. Tornado season commonly
occurs during the months of
March through August, but they
can occur at any time. They can
happen in any state but are most
commonly found in Arkansas,
Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,
Minnesota, Nebraska, North
Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South
Dakota, and Texas - an area of
which is commonly called
"Tornado Alley".
"Tornado" was a 14th-century
sailor's word for a violent,
windy thunderstorm. It may come
from the Spanish word tronada,
meaning "thunderstorm."
If there are weather or news
reports that say there is a
tornado in your area, the most
important thing to do is to take
shelter immediately in a place
without windows, such as a
bathroom or a basement. |
|
Earthquake |
The
movement of the earth along
cracks (called fault lines) in
the earth's surface. Earthquakes
are measured by something called
a Richter scale. While
earthquakes are common on the
West Coast, they can occur in 45
states and territories across
the United States.
In 1280, "earthquakes" were
called "eorthequakynge".
In an earthquake, remember to
DROP, COVER and HOLD ON. DROP to
the floor and get under
something for COVER and HOLD ON
until the shaking stops. |
|
Fire
Emergencies |
Fires are unexpected events that
can happen anywhere at school,
at home, in a store or shopping
mall, or even in the outdoors in
a forest or field. It is
important to always know where
the emergency exits are and to
remember to be calm during a
fire emergency. The most
important thing you can do
during a fire is listen to the
direction of adults around you,
like your teacher or parent.
Remember to use the stairs
(NEVER use an elevator) to leave
the building or fire area right
away, then call 911.
At Yellowstone National Park,
the average time when fires are
reported is 3:03 in the
afternoon! This is because fires
burn more vigorously during the
middle of the day when the sun
is very hot. These smoky fires
are easily seen and often
reported by park visitors! |
|
Flooding |
This natural condition happens
as a result of river overflow,
heavy rains, a dam breaking, or
snow melting too fast. This is
the most common natural weather
event and can happen in every
U.S. state.
The word "flood" comes from Old
English and means "a flowing of
water, river, or sea."
Stay as far away from flood
water as you can. Moving flood
water can be dangerous because
it can knock you off your feet.
And any type of flood water can
be contaminated, meaning it can
contain dangerous substances. |
|
Tsunami |
A
giant wave produced by
underwater movement due to a
variety of natural events such
as earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, landslides, and
meteorites. Tsunamis generally
appear in the Pacific Ocean.
"Tsunami" is a Japanese word.
Tsu means "harbor" and nami
means "wave."
If you feel an earthquake in the
Pacific Coast area, turn on your
battery-powered radio to learn
if there is a tsunami warning.
If you hear a tsunami warning,
and they say to evacuate, do
this immediately. |
|
Hurricane |
A
tropical storm with an "eye."
Winds must be 74 miles per hour
or stronger for weather to be
classified as a hurricane.
"Hurricane" comes from the
Spanish word huracan.
When hurricanes come onto land,
their heavy rain, strong winds
and heavy waves can damage
buildings, trees and cars. It is
important to take shelter in a
hurricane and listen to the
television or radio for
instructions. |
|
Terrorism |
Terrorism is the use of threat
or violence to scare governments
into changing their policies. A
terrorist can be an individual
or a member of an organization.
The attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon on
September 11, 2001, are examples
of acts of terrorism.
The word "terrorism" first
appeared in France (terrorisme)
in 1795.
Talk to your parents or teachers
if you have questions about this
type of emergency. |
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