DISASTER! - Homeland Security and Emergency Management ...

FACTS & FIGURES BY TYPE OF DISASTERAvalanches, Landslides & MudflowsStatistics show there are about 1 million snow avalanches worldwide eachyear.Flooding in Venezuela triggered landslides and mudflows that washed awayentire villages and mountain slopes claiming over 30,000 lives in 1999.EarthquakesThe U.S. Geological Survey estimates there are 500,000 detectable earthquakeseach year - only 100,000 are felt and 100 cause damage.The world’s deadliest earthquake on record hit central China in 1557 killingan estimated 830,000 people.Scientists believe the Cascadia Subduction zone along the Northwest coastlinecould produce mega-quakes similar to the 9.0 that rocked Indonesia.Some of the strongest earthquakes in U.S. history occurred on the NewMadrid fault (area between St. Louis and Memphis) in 1811-1812. Thisarea still experiences about 200 earthquakes a year.Aftershocks may be felt for several days, weeks, months or even yearsdepending on the force of a major earthquake.Extreme HeatAccording to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, 80% of the contiguousUnited States was in moderate-to-extreme drought back in July 1934.Today less than half a billion people live in water-stressed countries butprojections indicate by 2025 that number could increase to 3 billion.FireFire kills more Americans every year than all natural disasters combined.At least 80% of all fire deaths occur in residences -- and careless smokingis the leading cause of fire deaths. And cooking fires (leaving foodunattended or human error) is the leading cause of home fires.FloodsAccording to FEMA, everyone lives in a flood zone - it's just a question ofwhether you live in a low, moderate or high risk area.www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-43253