Natural Hazards

What natural disaster is caused by plates shifting that results in the ground shaking?

• flood
• earthquake
• tornado
• hurricane

What natural disaster is created when thunderclouds touch Earth’s surface and spin rapidly?

• flood
• earthquake
• tornado
• hurricane

Which of the following things might help prevent further erosion on a beach?

• planting sea oats
• shock absorbers on buildings
• houses on stilts

Which of the following things could protect a house in floods?

• houses on stilts
• houses with shutters
• houses with more interior walls

Sea walls are often installed to prevent the waves from eroding a beach even more. You can see in the diagram below the house was saved by the seawall, but sea walls also have some problems. Look at the diagrams below and answer the question that follows. What is a downside or a negative effect of having a seawall?

• The land on the ocean side of the sea wall washes away over time.
• The sea wall saves the beach for tourists.
• The sea wall causes the water to be more shallow over time preventing animals from creating habitats.
• The sea wall makes swimming on the beach easier.

Susan wants to build a house that is safe from floods. She is considering either building the house on a raised platform or installing a metal roof. Which of these options will be the most effective in protecting the house against flooding?

• building the house on a raised platform to prevent flood water from entering the house
• building the house on a raised platform so that it drains the flood water faster
• installing a metal roof to prevent flood water from entering the house
• installing a metal roof so that minimum damage is done to the house

Wetlands are shallow areas covered by water. Wetlands are able to absorb a tremendous amount of water. Wetlands could reduce the effects of which of the following weather hazards?

• tornadoes
• floods
• blizzards
• earthquakes

Robin's class researched tsunamis (huge tidal waves). They learned about different ways people and towns protect themselves from tsunamis. Some of these ways are: *building a seawall to protect the town in case a tsunami comes *moving everyone to high ground when a tsunami is coming *moving people into deep water in boats when a tsunami is coming These last two work best in places that teach the people what to do if a tsunami is coming. How can Robbin's class best compare these solutions to learn which one saves the most lives?

• Research how well each solution worked in the past.
• Try each solution in a real tsunami and observe the results.
• Draw a picture of each solution.
• Test whether it is faster to use a car or a truck to get to higher ground.

Some buildings are designed so that their bases are not directly connected to the ground. Instead, shock absorbers at such a building's base allow it to slightly move relative to the ground it rests on. Using shock absorbers is one way that engineers protect a building from _____________________.

• flooding
• tsunamis
• earthquakes
• erosion

Mr. Benedict's class was working on an engineering design problem. Here are three of their solutions: 1. Louise made a very strong model house. It was wider at the bottom than at the top. 2. Edgardo made a flexible tower. It could bend and twist without breaking. 3. Beau made a building with springs between it and the ground. Mr. Benedict's students were most likely trying to design buildings that could stand going through what?

• flood
• tsunami
• volcanic eruption
• earthquake