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What Are Some Global Calamities Affecting Humanity?

Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and hurricanes, are nothing new to humanity. Although they often cause widespread destruction and affect the lives of countless people whenever they occur, the human race has been dealing with them since the beginning of time. Even so, the greatly increased human population of modern times means more people tend to be in the path of such disasters today.

  1. Earthquakes

    • An earthquake is one of the most destructive forces in nature. Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates shift in such a way that releases stored energy in Earth's crust in the form of seismic waves. This causes shaking and displacement of the ground, sometimes on such a large scale that it can cause millions of dollars' worth of damage and cost thousands of lives. This isn't the only danger of earthquakes, however; most earthquake-related deaths occur when buildings and other structures collapse. Other dangers associated with earthquakes include landslides, tsunamis and liquefaction, in which water-saturated granular material literally turns from a solid to a liquid.

    Floods

    • Floods, whether they are caused by torrential rains or a tsunami, are the most common natural disasters. Every year, flooding kills more people than any other storm-related hazard. This could be because people tend to underestimate the destructive power of water. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock a person off his feet, and 24 inches of water is enough to carry away smaller automobiles. The 30-year national average for flood-related deaths is 127, and it is estimated that floods have killed more than 10,000 people in the U.S. since 1900. In addition to the loss of life that can occur, flooding causes over $2 billion in property damage every year.

    Hurricanes

    • Hurricanes are some of the most destructive storms that can occur. The damage that can be caused by a hurricane depends on the intensity of the storm, but the worst-case scenario is a hurricane that ranks a five on the Saffir-Simpson scale. These hurricanes can cause extensive damage to homes and industrial buildings and can even blow away smaller buildings. Typically, any building lower than 15 feet below sea level will be damaged by massive flooding. Flooding generally causes the most damage in a hurricane, but dangerous winds with speeds up to 155 miles per hour are also definitely cause for concern.

    Tornadoes

    • Tornadoes are generally thought to be not as dangerous as hurricanes, but they can still be incredibly dangerous. Approximately 800 tornadoes are reported in the United States each year. These result in about 80 deaths and 1,500 injuries every year -- although in 2011 the numbers already have been far higher. The most destructive tornadoes are capable of wind speeds up to 250 miles per hour and can leave a path of destruction 50 miles long. Most tornadoes only last a few minutes, but the most violent tornadoes can last over an hour.

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