WILDFIRE

Link:

What is it?

Forest fires are large uncontrolled fires that take place in the forest

Causes:

Natural:

• Lightning in places of dry vegetation
• volcanic activities
• spontaneous combustion of dry vegetation.

Man-made:

• Carelessness while Smoking or using mosquito coil or candles or camp-fires
• Arson or intentional
• Tribal ritual/tradition

Negative effects on the population:

• disappearance of native species.
• increase the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
• soil erosion

Security measures

• Don’t try to outrun the fire, find a pond or river to crouch in.
• Cover yourself with soil or anything else that will shield you from the fire’s heat.
• You must breath air closest to the ground through a moist cloth to avoid inhaling smoke.

How to prevent it?

• Educate people and create awareness about forest fires.
• Fire detection system and watchtowers and network for communication.
• Patrolling by the forest department.
• Strict approvals and warnings for those using the forest for adventure activities

How to help?

• Immediately notify the appropriate authorities.
• Clean your property so that the fire can’t spread.

FLOODS HAZARD: FRECUENCY & DISTRIBUTION

Link: https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/?v=-238.85984400773089,-89.54582497485345,145.32765599226911,84.82917502514655&t=2011-06-01-T00%3A00%3A00Z&as=2011-01-25-T00%3A00%3A00Z&ae=2012-04-01-T00%3A00%3A00Z&l=NDH_Flood_Hazard_Frequency_Distribution_1985-2003,MODIS_Terra_CorrectedReflectance_Bands721,Coastlines&av=1&ab=on

What is it?

Flood can be defined as an overflow of large quantities of water onto a normally dry land.

Causes:

weather events:

• heavy or prolonged rains
• storm surge
• sudden snowmelt

human-driven elements

• Bad waterways manage
• Land alterations
• Increased urbanization
• Under-maintained infrastructure

MORE

Many factors can go into the making of a flood. There are weather events (heavy or prolonged rains, storm surge, sudden snowmelt), and then there are the human-driven elements, including how we manage our waterways (via dams, levees, and reservoirs) and the alterations we make to land. Increased urbanization, for example, adds pavement and other impermeable surfaces, alters natural drainage systems, and often leads to more homes being built on floodplains. In cities, under-maintained infrastructure can lead to urban flooding. More and more, flooding factors are also linked to climate change.

Negative effects on the population:

• Loss of life
• Hardship to people
• Damage to property
• Crops and land structures destruction
• Clogged Drainages

Security measures

• Have an emergency plan
• practice survival skills, like first aid and how to disinfect water.
• Assemble an emergency kit.
• Charge cell phone batteries and any reusable batteries for flashlights.
• Heed evacuation warnings. Move immediately to higher ground.
• Move important items to an upper floor.
• Disconnect electrical appliances.
• Avoid low spots, like ditches, basements, or underpasses.
• If you have to walk in water, wherever possible, walk where the water is not moving.

How to prevent it?

Prevent greater damages

• Avoid building in a floodplain.
• If you do live in a floodplain, consider buying flood insurance.
• Construct barriers (levees, beams, floodwalls) to stop floodwater from entering your home.
• Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage.

How to help?

• To report an electrical hazard or power cut, contact your local electricity company.
• A gas leak, contact National Grid.
• An overflowing sewer, contact your water company.

Design an educational web application that identifies the most vulnerable areas to the effects of natural disasters such as fires, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes to alert communities interested in helping.