Natural Hazards and Disasters

In deserts, flash floods can be particularly deadly for several reasons. First, storms in arid regions are infrequent but they can deliver an enormous amount of water in a very short time. Second, these rains often fall on poorly absorbent and often clay-like soil, which greatly increases the amount of runoff that rivers and other water channels have to handle. These regions tend not to have the infrastructure that wetter regions have to divert water from structures and roads, such as storm drains, culverts and retention basins.

On November 25, 1839, an enormous cyclone caused a 40-foot storm surge that hit the ancient city of Coringa in present Andhra Pradesh. The cyclone wiped out the harbour city, destroyed 25,000 ships and vessels in its bay and killed 3,00,000 people. Survivors never entirely rebuilt the city. City of Coringa was known for ship building and repairing. This storm caused the third largest loss of life from any tropical cyclone worldwide, tied with Vietnam’s 1881 Haiphong typhoon (also causing 300,000 fatalities). Storms in the Bay of Bengal actually account for seven of the 10 deadliest hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones recorded in history.

All have the potential to generate a tsunami.

Tsunamis can be caused by undersea earthquakes as the one caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake.

Lightning is a flash of light created by electric discharge.  It is caused by an imbalance between positive and negative charges. It is extremely bright for a brief moment in time even at great distances.

Flood leads to the loss of life and property. With the advanced technology communication is not significantly disrrupted as satellite links are not effected by floods.

A thunderstorm creates lightning and sound. Therefore, one should never lie on the ground, never use an umbrella with a metal rod and never hide oneself in a swimming pool or any conducting material. One may take shelter under a tree in an open field.

Cyclones with violent height of 10 – 15 km can cause floods, damage to communication systems and cause harm to life. They never result in enhancing soil fertility.

Correct. Due to heavy rainfall the water levels in ponds, lakes rises to a greater extent and the rise in the water level of these water bodies causes the excess water to spread across, causing floods.

Plugging in a microwave to heat food should be avoided during a thunderstorm.

As Bangalore falls in south India, it does not fall in an earthquake-prone zone.

Washing clothes under running water is to be avoided during a thunderstorm.

 Correct. Strong winds push water towards the shore even if the storm is hundreds of kilometres away. These are the first indications of an approaching cyclone.

 A high wall of water moving towards the shore from the ocean is called a storm surge. This wall of water can rise up from 3 feet to 12 feet.

It is correct. As this statement is incorrect. The funnel sucks everything due to low pressure, not high pressure.