Potentially active volcanoes in the United States exist mainly in Hawaii, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. When pressure builds up within a volcano's molten rock, it has the potential to erupt, sending forth lava flows, poisonous gases and flying rock and ash that can travel hundreds of miles.
Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms. Keep in mind that while tornadoes are more common in the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest, they can occur in any state and at any time of the year, making advance preparation vitally important.
Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Scientists can predict hurricanes, but people who live in coastal communities should plan what they will do if they need to evacuate.
An average of 1.2 million acres of U.S. woodland burn each year and more than four out of every five wildfires are caused by people. If you live where there is an abundance of plants that can easily catch fire, you may be vulnerable to wildfires and you should be prepared.
An earthquake is the sudden, rapid shaking of the earth, caused by the breaking and shifting of subterranean rock. While earthquakes are believed to be a West Coast phenomenon, there are 45 states in the U.S. that are at moderate to high risk for earthquake.
Flooding is the nation's most common natural disaster. Flooding can happen in every state and territory. It's important to be prepared for flooding no matter where you live, but particularly if you are in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam.
| Maintain a Healthy State of Mind |
 |
 |
 |
| Be Informed |
|
Everyone has their own ways of dealing with stressful situations. Resilience - the ability to adapt well to life's ups and downs—can help manage stress and feelings of anxiety. Everyone can develop resilience. It involves thoughts and actions that can be learned and practiced over time. Anyone who experiences a disaster is affected by it, whether directly or indirectly through location, family or friends, or exposure to media coverage of the event. Even if a disaster, such as a terrorist act, produces little physical damage, it can bring fear, confusion, and uncertainty into daily life. Strong and varied emotional reactions to such an event are natural. People are resilient and able to recover from difficult experiences. Given the uncontrollable nature of disasters, some people question whether they can take steps to plan for catastrophic events. Actually, we know that the more people prepare for the unexpected, the better they manage these situations. |
