Principal Hazards in the United States - Article Example

Principal Hazards in the United s Hazards could be ified as meteorological hazards, hydrological hazards, geophysical hazards, and technological hazards. Meteorological hazards include severe storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and wildfires. Hydrological hazards include floods, storm surges, and tsunamis. Geophysical hazards include volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Technological hazards include fires, toxic chemical releases, weaponized toxic chemicals, radiological material releases, and biological hazards (Lindell, 2006). Meteorological Hazards Atmospheric disturbances characterized by strong winds, and often combined with rain, snow, sleet, hail, ice, thunder and lightning are known as severe storms. This includes unusual weather disturbances such as tornadoes or water spouts. Snow storms or blizzards are snow storms accompanied by high wind or poor visibility. Ice storm occurs when rain falls from warm moist upper layer of atmosphere to layers that are drier and below freezing near the ground. On contact with the cold ground and other surfaces, the rain freezes and accumulates on exposed surfaces including trees, roads, houses, power lines, etc. Accumulated weight of ice accompanied by wind cause damage to trees, utility wires, etc. Normally ice storms are of short duration lasting from few minutes to several hours. Hail storms are caused by freezing water in thunderstorm type cloud accumulating in layers around icy cores. Damage could be caused by battering crops, structures, automobiles and transportation systems. Tornadoes are funnel shaped clouds that could rotate at speeds greater than 300+ miles per hour. Tornadoes could affect areas from one quarter to three quarters of a mile in width. Tornadoes seldom travel more than 15 miles. Strong thunderstorms could cause tornadoes. Thunderstorms could also cause hail, heavy rain and strong winds over a large geographic area (Pierce County, 2002). Global warming has brought about temperature changes that are significant enough to cause severe storms. Severe storms cause flooding, damaging winds; hail and cause tornadoes. Meteorologists have predicted that severe storms could double in locations such as Atlanta and New York during typical stormy seasons (Ivanhoe Broadcast News, 2009). Severe storms cause immobility and loss of utilities. Utilities such as telephones, natural gas, water and sewer systems could become inoperable. Accumulation of snow could cause havoc on transportation systems. There is the risk for injury or death caused by accidents on icy streets. Elderly people could be at risk for hypothermia. As people try to heat their houses with non-traditional methods, there is an increased risk for house fire. There is an increased risk for asphyxiation when people start using hibachis or barbeques for heating or cooking when the power is off. Damages or loss of business could cause economic losses. The intensity of the storm could result in various effects. The level of preparation of local jurisdictions and residents, and equipment and staff available could mitigate the effects from such hazards. It is desirable to plan for such events when designing roads, utilities, etc. Storm warnings could help in advance preparation, and educating the public about such events and how to prepare for such events could help mitigate the effects from such events (Pierce County, 2002). Sparks or heat from the sun sets off an inferno. Wildfire spreads quickly fuelled by the thick dried-out vegetation and any other material within its path. Wildfires consume thousands of acres of surrounding land and threaten homes and lives of people in the vicinity. In the US, over 5 million acres burn every year causing millions of dollars in damage. Fires could spread at a rate of 14.29 miles per hour. Wildfires could take on a life of its own finding ways to keep itself alive, spawning smaller fires and spreading embers miles away. During peaking drought conditions a small spark from a train’s car or heat from the sun or lightening strike could ignite a raging wildfire. Human carelessness has been responsible for the majority of wildfires. Common causes of wildfires are arson, campfires, discarding of cigarettes, improper burning of debris, playing with matches or fireworks, or prescribed fires, and when materials are heated to flash point, they create fire (Bonsor, 2009). Hydrological Hazards Severe tropical storms forming in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the eastern Pacific Ocean are hurricanes. Heat and energy is gathered through contact with ocean waters that are warm, and evaporation from seawater increases their power. Hurricanes rotate in counter-clockwise direction around the “eye,” and have winds greater than 74 miles per hour. Storm surges are heavy waves, which could be extremely dangerous. When hurricanes come to land the heavy rain, strong winds, and heavy waves could damage buildings, trees and cars (FEMA, 2009). Tsunami is a series of waves sending surge of water reaching heights over 30.5 metres on the land. As the walls of water crash ashore, they could cause widespread destruction. Tsunamis are caused by large earthquakes under the sea at boundaries of tectonic plates. Ocean floor at a plate boundary rising or falling suddenly could displace the water above it and launches waves that become a tsunami (National Geographic, 2009). A flood is caused when water level rises in areas where there was little or no water before. Floods could be dramatic and quick or slow and creeping. Floods occur naturally is several places around the world, where there is a river nearby or the weather is such that it could dump large amounts of rain. Some river floods bring nutrients to soil, and floods could be important to local ecosystems. Floods could also cause economic and physical damages to people. It is desirable to have a better understanding of floods to better prepare and minimize or prevent damage from floods (Conan-Davies, 2004). Geophysical Hazards Volcanoes are basically ruptures or cracks on the surface of a planet’s crust through which molten rock or gases or other material erupted to the surface. Volcano eruptions could be slow and oozing with lava and could be violent at times depending on the material in and around the volcano. Volcanoes with silica are sticky and explode violently, but volcanoes with little silica are fluid and runny. Volcanoes are classified as composite, shield or scoria cones. Composite or strato volcanoes have violent and explosive eruptions called Plinian, but could also be continuous and smaller. Shield volcanoes have continuous eruptions known as Hawaiian. Scoria cones are strombolian types of eruptions that could be continuous. Super volcanoes are large volcanic eruptions that have the potential to cause major devastation. The Yellow Stone National Park has been considered a dominant super volcano with the possibility to devastate a significant portion of the US, and cause major global climate change (Conan-Davies, 2005). The rim of the Pacific Ocean is called the “Ring of Fire,” and has witnessed 80 percent of the planet’s earthquakes. Earthquakes occur at fault zones where tectonic plates collide or slide against each other. Though the impacts are gradual and unnoticeable immense stress could build between the plates. The release of stress could send massive vibrations called seismic waves hundreds of miles through rocks and surface. Earthquakes measuring 3-5 are considered minor; 5-7 moderate; 7-8 major; and 8 or more as greater (“Earthquakes”). Technological Hazards Fires in facilities could be caused by accidents, smoking or unsafe use of stoves or space heaters or other equipment. Industrial machinery or processes could pose fire hazards especially those that deal with flammable materials. Smoke detectors should be installed in all areas, and maintained in a working condition. Appropriate fire extinguishers should be used, and people should be trained in the use of fire extinguishers. There should be an adequate number of exits. Various industrial processes manufacture or use chemicals, which are toxic, and when accidentally released into the environment could cause damage not only to the environment by also the lives of people in the vicinity. Many chemicals have the potential to cause adverse effects in people, and degrade the environment. Acid rain and degradation of soil qualities caused by pollution of power plants is well known. There have been other incidents such as oil spills in the sea that resulted in destruction of marine life. There lie a large number of chemicals in industrial activities that require regular assessment of risk and adoption of appropriate control measures. The risks from chemicals vary depending on the state they are available. For example, flammable liquids could pose fire or explosion hazard, toxic gases could pose breathing or respiratory hazard. Appropriate risk assessment is required to determine the risks from specific chemicals, and measures adopted to mitigate the risks from such chemicals. Chemical weapons utilize manufactured chemicals to harm, incapacitate, or kill people. Such chemicals rely on the physiological effect of a chemical on human systems. Chemical weapons could not only be used to kill a large number of people, but also injure or terrorize people. The ease of availability and manufacture of such chemicals is a cause of concern. Modern chemical agents include choking agents such as phosgene and chlorine, blister agents such as nitrogen mustard and lewisite, and nerve agents such as tabun, sarin, etc. Chemical agents could be released as tiny droplets, and for it to be effective it must come in contact with the mucous membrane, be inhaled, or be ingested (Helmenstine, 2009). Radiological materials have several uses, and some of their common applications are detection and treatment of diseases; use in research; use in military for powering ships and submarines; use as base metal for production of commercial electrical power; and use in nuclear weapons. Accidents or explosion involving radiological materials could have consequences such as death, heath risks to the public, damage to the environment, and loss or damage to property (Dixon, 1996). Biohazard also known as biological hazard is an organism or by-product of one that is harmful or could be potentially harmful to living beings. Common examples of biohazards include viruses, toxins, or medical waste. Bacteria, viruses, insects, plants, humans, birds, and animals are sources of biological hazards. They could cause health effects such that range from mild skin irritation or allergies to fatal cancer causing. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, US has classified biohazards into four levels. Level 1 poses the least risk while level 4 poses the greatest risk. Disasters from biohazards could be handled in various ways. The CDC has developed procedures for handling and cleaning small and large scale contaminant disasters. Level 1 hazards are mostly bacteria and microorganisms that pose little risk and could be controlled by the use of gloves or mask. They could be disposed in a separate container and could be easily decontaminated. Viruses and bacteria that could have a detrimental effect on humans are level 2 biohazards. Examples include salmonella, hepatititis, measles, Lyme, etc. Proper hand, eye and body protection should be exercised. Biohazards of level 3 could have fatal effects. Examples include anthrax, West Nile Virus, malaria, typhus, and more. People who could come on contact with level 3 biohazards need training and should use specific equipment and clothing. Level 4 biohazards do not have treatment and could have fatal effects. They could spread by contact or through air. Examples include Ebola and dengue. The symbol created by Dow Chemicals in 1966 has been universally accepted to signify the presence of biohazards, and have been used in hospitals, laboratories, chemical companies, and places with the threat of hazardous contamination (Shepley, 2003). References Bonsor, K. (2009). How Wildfires work. Retrieved from http://www.howstuffworks.com/wildfire.htm Conan-Davies, R. (2004). Floods. Retrieved from http://clearlyexplained.com/nature/earth/disasters/floods.html Conan-Davies, R. (2005). Volcanoes. Retrieved from http://clearlyexplained.com/nature/earth/disasters/volcanoes.html Dixon, B. (1996). Radiologica hazards. Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/pdf/plan/6-ch-f.pdf FEMA. (2009). Federal Emergency Management Agency. Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/ Helmenstine, A. (2009). Chemical weapons and warfare agents. Retrieved from http://chemistry.about.com/cs/chemicalweapons/a/aa040303a.htm Ivanhoe Broadcast News. (2009, January 1). Global warming causes severe storms. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2009/0109-global_warming_causes_severe_storms.htm Lindell, M., Prater, C. & Perry, R. (2006). Introduction to emergency management. USA: John Wiley & Sons Inc. National, Geographic. (2009). Earthquakes. Retrieved from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/earthquake-profile.html National Geographic. (2009). Tsunamis. Retrieved from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/tsunami-profile.html Shepley, Phil. (2003). What is a Biological hazard?. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-biological-hazard.htm Pierce County, Washington. (2002, July 09). Severe storms. Retrieved from http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/xml/abtus/ourorg/dem/EMDiv/HIVA/STORMS.pdf Read More