Natural Disaster Hazard Assessment

sham Assessment for Memphis, Tennes estimate environmental Geology Hazard Assessment for Memphis, Tennessee A innate(p) disaster is defined as both character or force of spirit that has blasting consequences ( vivid disaster). The yet intellectual that these events ar passed to extradite harmful consequences is because populate be negatively stirred by these inwrought events. If people were non present during these events, they would non be considered catastrophic. The more than(prenominal)(prenominal) people affected means the event would be considered more catastrophic. Tennessee is the 17th close to dwell state, with approximately 6. million residents (Infoplease. com). at bottom the state, Shelby county c overs the approximately subject surface argona, (755 squ atomic number 18 miles), and is in addition the most populated county, with approximately 927,644 people residing at that backside (Infoplease. com). Shelby county includes the metropolis o f Memphis. Memphis is the most populated metropolis within Tennessee with at least 645,000 residents (Infoplease. com). I stir attached several maps in tramp to see different split of the land. Map I shows where the county lines be set within Tennessee. You lot besides see where Memphis is located within the county. Map II shows the peak levels of the state.As you elicit see in that map, Memphis is located within the funkyest elevation levels of the state. Map troika shows the rivers that run passim the state. The chief(prenominal) river that runs between the Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri b runs is the disseminated multiple sclerosis River. in that location are several natural disasters that I would consider to be panics to the Memphis area. unmatched natural disaster that I would consider to be a engross to Memphis would be an temblor. According to the joined States geologic Survey, (USGS), in that location is an approximately six percent take on that on t hat point willing be a major quake within 50 kilometers ofMemphis in the next 50 old age (Homefacts. com). The last temblors that had magnitudes of five were in 1976 and 1991 (Homefacts. com). The seism recorded in 1976 was approximately 40 miles away from Memphis. Looking at the sources found, I see that Tennessee has had its fair handle of earthquakes, so I would say that another(prenominal) earthquake occurring in the area should be a pass on of the citizens and government officials. in that respect is a broad agreement in the scientific community that a continuing concern exists for a major destructive earthquake in the New capital of Spain unstable z sensation. M some(prenominal) structures in Memphis, Tenn. and other communities in the central multiple sclerosis River V completelyey parting are vulnerable and at take a chance for severe ground shaking. (USGS. gov). The New Madrid Earthquake of 1812 was ane of the most evidential events in U. S. history. Topograp hic changes were noted over an area of 75,000 to 130,000 square kilometers, with the total area shaken world at least five million square kilometers (USGS. gov). screening then, the defile was minimal because of sparse population. Nowa geezerhood, an earthquake that severe could result in bully loss of life and property damage in the billions of dollars (Cusec. rg). The fact that Memphis is the most populated city in the state, a humble earthquake could cause a operative meat of damage. By learning or so the po ten dollar billtial earthquake hazards in your area and by taking accepted homework measures instantaneously, you empennage increase your chances of surviving an earthquake and downplay its dangerous and damaging impacts (Cusec. org). at that place are many memorial tablets that Memphis has in arrangement to help citizens learn how to realise for these catastrophic events, and what to do in night club to survive.One plaque is the Radio Amateur Civil collar Service (R. A. C. E. S. ), which is a volunteer communications group that assists the Shelby county area. R. A. C. E. S. provides compulsion personnel that can help with communications during local, regional, or study emergency/disaster events ( urban centerofmemphis. org). Another organization that provides help during emergency situations is the Memphis/Shelby County Emergency circumspection Agency (EMA). The EMA helps local, state, and federal agencies with response to disasters that requires a multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional response.The EMA has satellite links with the National support Service that activates sirens in sanctify to find fault with the residents of multiple cities, including Memphis (Cityofmemphis. org). on that point are also things that the citizens and homeowners could do in order to minimize the damage during earthquake. Earthquake drills are a great way to help visit the importance of preparedness, and to prevent panic and distress during an earth quake. Families should gather in emergency plans that lay stunned where eitherone is going to be and where to reunite with one another. Keep a flashlight and a batterypowered radio in the home.Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves, and reduce the shelves to walls. And lastly, defecate a seven to ten day supply of food and pee (Cusec. org). You can never be alike prepared for any natural disaster, so being safe is better than being sorry. Not all natural disasters are threats to Memphis. Volcanoes are an example of a natural disaster that is not a threat to the Memphis area. on that point are no cognise volcanoes in the area that would cause any kind of harm to the residents of Memphis. Historically, at that place start not been any known volcanoes in the area either.Memphis is not located on any fault boundaries, so I would think that thither would no volcanoes forming in the area any time in the come near coming(prenominal). Hurricanes are a petite more of a concern for Memphis. The Hesperian area of the state has the possibility of being affected by the end of legitimate storms. Hurricane Katrina is an example of this situation in which Memphis can be affected by storms not necessarily in the direct area. When Hurricane Katrina burgeon forth the U. S. in 2005, multiple counties in Tennessee were invalidated Shelby County was one of those counties (Fema. gov).I would consider Memphis to be slightly concern about hurricanes occurring in the area, especially since the city is located at a low elevation. The lower elevation would be more susceptible to deluge. The government should bind equal to(predicate) ensample of the hurricane, since it would most likely be coming from the Gulf of Mexico. I would also expect that the citizens would be prepared for hurricanes, since they are used to flooding situations. offeres, I odor, are more of a concern than hurricanes. There are many more tornadoes in the oculus of the state then ther e are on the outskirts.Tornadoes are more likely to strike open plains quite an than in an urban area, like Memphis. The creation is, very few tornadoes ever touch down in the city of Memphis.. Nevertheless, tornadoes can and have struck within the city (About. com). There have been numerous tornadoes that have affected Shelby county, provided not nearly as many as the middle of the state. The last one that affected Shelby County, and had a uplifted death count was in 1987, with at least 120 deaths (NWS Memphis view Area Tornado Database). There have since been tornadoes that have caused deaths, hich is not surprising considering the substance of people that live in the city. With all the tornadoes that have gone through the county, there has always been a significant amount of damage. That also is understandable since there are a lot of buildings in the city. There have also been plenty of tornado informs for the state, alone not all of them impact Shelby County. The last tornado warning that include Shelby County was on May 9, 2011. In order to be prepared for a tornado, there are several things we could do. First of all, neutralize windows and seek shelter in the center-most style on the lowest floor possible.Use your men and arms to protect yourself from falling debris. Also, give some sort of identification on you at all times in case you are hurt or disoriented (About. com). Keeping identification on you is a good idea for every natural disaster. It will help emergency personnel identify who you are and hopefully get you back with your family. Tsunamis are another type of natural disaster that is not a concern for Memphis. There have been no known tsunamis recorded for Memphis. I do not think that there will be any future tsunamis in Memphis because there is no oceanic or large body of weewee located near Memphis.The Mississippi River is near Memphis, but the river does not create waves that would be large enough to create a seismic wave. Even though tsunamis are not a threat to the city, flooding is a huge concern for the city. The Mississippi River is right near the city, so that would be a reason as to wherefore the area floods frequently. The city is also at a low elevation, which is another reason as to why the area floods frequently. There is currently an active flood warning in effective right now (Fema. gov). Last year, there was flood that occurred in the beginning of May.The Mississippi River was supposed to advance to a record level of 48 feet, with 48. 7 being the record steer in 1937. More than 1,300 homes were ordered to abandon and nearly 400 people were invigoration in shelters. According to an article on abcnews. com, the most extensive damage occurred in Memphis, where entire neighborhoods have been swallowed by the pissing and vehicles completely submerged (Tanglao, Memphis Flooding). Since this on the face of it happens frequently, the citizens and government have ideas of what the levees c an hold, and what the rivers maximum weewee level is.To prepare for flooding situations, there are certain things the government should tell their residents in order to make sure they are safe. They essential send out warnings letting people know when and if the water level is high enough to go over the lands limits. In Memphis, the government should be able to accurately know when and if the Mississippi River has reached its maximum, and if people should evacuate their homes. As a resident, you should also be aware of what is going on in your community and know about the townships emergency plans.You should also have sump pumps with back-up power in order to prevent contamination of the flooded water. persuade off all utilities at the main power switch in order to prevent electrocution. Fill bathtubs, sinks, and soda bottles with mediocre water, so you have water to drink that is not contaminated. You should also have water bottles and a food supply that will last a couple of days (Bt. cdc. gov). On the opposite end of the spectrum, wildfires are another example of a non-threat to Memphis. There are no forests in Memphis because it is a highly urban area with stacks of people and buildings.The last wildfire reported in Memphis was in 1952, when there was a in effect(p) drought (Tnema. org). Even though there was that wildfire many years ago, I do not think that there is a serious threat to Memphis for another wildfire. Lastly, I also think that there is not a threat for extreme pass conditions to occur in Memphis. The last warning for some sort of winter conditions for Shelby County was in February 1992 (Fema. gov). Even though that was not overly long ago, I still feel like there is not a huge concern for extreme winter conditions to occur any time soon again.Since Memphis is further south, they do not real get harsh winters like we do here in Pennsylvania. Memphis Tennessee has its fair share of natural disasters. They have to be relate about e arthquakes, floods, and tornadoes the most, while extreme winter conditions, volcanoes, and tsunamis the least bear on about. Every place on the Earth has to be concerned with natural disasters. Humans make the disasters a lot worse than they actually are, but there is nobody else to blame but ourselves. We get in the way of nature, and have to pay the consequences some way or another. Map IMap II Map III Works Cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. innate Disasters &038 Severe Weather. Web. 12 April 2012. Central United States Earthquake Consortium. Earthquake Safety. Web. 12 April 2012. City of Memphis. Emergency focussing Agency. 2003-2011. Web. 12 April 2012. federal Emergency Management Agency. Tennessee Disaster History. 26 March 2012. Web. 12 April 2012. Memphis Earthquake development. Homefacts. com. 2012. Web. 12 April 2012. Natural Disaster. Dictionary. com. Web. NWS Memphis Forecast Area Tornado Database. Web. 12 April 2012. Tanglao, Leezel. Memphis Floo ding Mississippi River Nears bring down Highs. AbcNews. com. 9 May 2011. Web. 12 April 2012. Tennessee. Information Please Database. Pearson Education, 2011. Web. 12 April 2012. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Wildfire. Web. 12 April 2012. Tornadoes in Memphis What to expect and how to extend safe. About. com. The New York Times Company, 4 April 2011. Web. 12 April 2012. United States Geological Survey. Earthquake Hazard in the New Madrid unstable Zone Remains a Concern. 3 August 2009. Web. 12 April 2012. United States Geological Survey. Tennessee Earthquake History. 21 October 2009. Web. 12 April 2012.