Social and Environmental Issues: Natural Disasters by Ryan Tok

The source of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and cyclones are the sun and the earth’s core. The earth’s core, which is a ball of heat in the centre of earth, heats up the earth causing the earth plates to move and collide, causing earthquakes and tsunamis. The heat and pressure applied to the gaps in the earth plates cause volcanic eruption. The sun causes water to evaporate and create rain and creates pressure systems which generate wind. Cyclones are formed when two directions of wind flow next to each other thus causing a spiral.

How people react and suffer from natural disasters

When natural disasters happen, people try and save other people while saving themselves. Some people even risk their own lives for their neighbours. Although natural disasters are threatening, only a small number of people will be panicking. It is sometimes thought that people are unable to handle information about a threat to themselves of their property, that it will cause panic of they will over-react. It is true that if information is incomplete, vague, or ambiguous, its effect on a group or community will be unpredictable and often unhelpful. However, on the other hand it has been found that people are reluctant to believe in the reality of a threat which is unexpected and outside their ordinary experience. Some people refuse to be evacuated even when urged to do so by Police.

Agencies looking into the problem

The agency FEMA is currently looking into the problem by handling natural disasters in Florida, Louisiana and Hawaii. They are also teaching kids how to be prepared for disasters and prevent disaster damage when a natural disaster happens. Besides that, the PDC is warning people when a natural disaster might come. The ISDR is giving away supplies to countries which have been hit by a natural disaster.

In conclusion, I think we should all be prepared in case of a natural disaster