DISASTER! - Homeland Security and Emergency Management ...

DISASTER FACTS & FIGURESBoth natural and man-made disasters are becoming more common allaround the world. El Niño and La Niña events impact billions of peoplesince these climate extremes disrupt jet streams and regions of high and lowpressure. These disruptions can potentially increase or decreaseweather-related disasters such as extreme heat and cold, floods, hurricanesand thunderstorms.According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’sPacific Marine Environmental Laboratory Tropical Atmosphere Oceanproject, El Niño happens when tropical Pacific Ocean trade winds die outand ocean temperatures become unusually warm. La Niña occurs when thetrade winds blow unusually hard and sea temperatures become colder thannormal. These warm and cold phases are referred to as El Niño/SouthernOscillation, or ENSO, which has a period of roughly 3-7 years. AlthoughENSO originates in the tropical Pacific system, it has effects on patterns ofweather all over the world. 1El Niño (warm episodes) occur about every 4-5 years and can last up to 12to 18 months. 2 La Niña (cold episodes) conditions recur every few yearsand typically last 9 to 12 months but can persist for as long as 2 years. 3There are also periods where the system is neither warm nor cold (calledneutral conditions).Even though there is still much to learn about these systems and theirimpacts on the global community, ENSO forecasts can help individuals,businesses, and governments prepare for these events.To learn more about NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental LaboratoryTropical Atmosphere Ocean project visit www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/In addition to the climate extremes mentioned above, some key elements inthe increasing numbers of worldwide disasters include:• Global warming / cooling, volcanic activity, sunspots, etc.• Larger cities are sprawling into high-risk zones• World population is over 6 billion and growing causingglobal water consumption to increase• Humans damaging our natural resources (e.g. pollution,destroying rain forests, coral reefs, wetlands, etc.)As the warming and cooling debate rages on, keep in mind there’s a lot ofscientific data supporting and refuting both sides and many unknowns. Butone thing is for certain ~ disasters happen daily no matter what.www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325