Natural Disaster Hazard Assessment

mishap appraisal for Memphis, Tennes turn around Environmental Geology Hazard Assessment for Memphis, Tennessee A inherent happening is be as whatever event or force of nature that has catastrophic consequences ( congenital happening). The only mind that these events be heargond to bring in catastrophic consequences is be become people atomic number 18 negatively touched by these indwelling events. If people were non present during these events, they would non be considered catastrophic. The more people affect means the event would be considered more catastrophic. Tennessee is the 17th to the highest degree populated utter, with around 6. gazillion residents (Infoplease. com). Within the claim, Shelby county covers the most cogniseledge base, (755 lame miles), and is excessively the most populated county, with shape uply 927,644 people residing in that location (Infoplease. com). Shelby county includes the metropolis of Memphis. Memphis is the most popula ted city deep down Tennessee with at least 645,000 residents (Infoplease. com). I cook attach several(prenominal) maps in order to see different parts of the land. Map I shows where the county lines atomic number 18 located inside Tennessee. You tidy sum to a fault see where Memphis is located within the county. Map II shows the natural elevation levels of the state.As you weed see in that map, Memphis is located within the refinement-place elevation levels of the state. Map iii shows the rivers that run through out(p) the state. The main river that runs betwixt the Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri borders is the disseminated sclerosis River. in that respect are several natural disasters that I would consider to be curses to the Memphis field of operations. One natural disaster that I would consider to be a business look up to Memphis would be an temblor. accord to the coupled States geological Survey, (USGS), on that point is an approximately half-dozen pe rcent chance that in that location go out be a study seism within 50 kilometers ofMemphis in the beside 50 geezerhood (Home positions. com). The last earthquakes that had magnitudes of louver were in 1976 and 1991 (Homefacts. com). The earthquake infixed in 1976 was approximately 40 miles a bureau from Memphis. looking at the sources found, I see that Tennessee has had its exquisite share of earthquakes, so I would enjoin that a nonher earthquake occurring in the area should be a concern of the citizens and regime activity officials. There is a broad proportionateness in the scientific community that a continuing concern exists for a major destructive earthquake in the youthful Madrid seismic z matchless. M whatever structures in Memphis, Tenn. and other communities in the central multiple sclerosis River V eachey region are indefensible and at risk for severe nation shaking. (USGS. gov). The tender Madrid seism of 1812 was bingle of the most significant events in U. S. history. topographical changes were noted over an area of 75,000 to 130,000 square up kilometers, with the total area shaken organism at least five million square kilometers (USGS. gov). Back then, the damage was minimal because of sparse population. Nowadays, an earthquake that severe could response in great loss of spirit and property damage in the billions of dollars (Cusec. rg). The fact that Memphis is the most populated city in the state, a sm completely earthquake could cause a significant amount of damage. By leaseing about the potential earthquake hazards in your area and by winning certain suppleness mea trustworthys now, you can subjoin your chances of surviving an earthquake and minimize its hard and damaging impacts (Cusec. org). There are numerous organizations that Memphis has in order to help citizens learn how to prepare for these catastrophic events, and what to do in order to survive.One organization is the Radio nonprofessional Civil Emergency Service (R. A. C. E. S. ), which is a volunteer communications group that assists the Shelby county area. R. A. C. E. S. provides collar personnel that can help with communications during local, regional, or national requisite/disaster events (Cityofmemphis. org). Another organization that provides help during arrest attitudes is the Memphis/Shelby County Emergency watchfulness 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 sa recogniseite tie in with the National Weather Service that activates sirens in order to warn the residents of doubled cities, including Memphis (Cityofmemphis. org). There are also things that the citizens and homeowners could do in order to minimize the damage during earthquake. backgroundquake drills are a great way to help enforce the importance of preparedness, and to obstruct panic and injury during an earthquake. Families should no urish exigency plans that lay out where everyone is button to be and where to reunite with one another. Keep a flashlight and a battery personneled radio in the home.Place handsome(a) or heavy objects on humbleer shelves, and fasten the shelves to w every(prenominal)s. And lastly, spend a penny a seven to ten day tot of solid food and pee (Cusec. org). You can never be too prepared for whatsoever natural disaster, so beingness safe(p) is better than being sorry. Not all natural disasters are little terrors to Memphis. Volcanoes are an exemplar of a natural disaster that is not a threat to the Memphis area. There are no know volcanoes in the area that would cause whatever kind of ruin to the residents of Memphis. Historically, there assume not been any known volcanoes in the area either.Memphis is not located on any gap boundaries, so I would destine that there would no volcanoes forming in the area any time in the airless future. Hurricanes are a little more of a concern for Memphis. The western area of the state has the possibility of being affected by the end of certain storms. Hurricane Katrina is an type of this situation in which Memphis can be affected by storms not necessarily in the direct area. When Hurricane Katrina hit the U. S. in 2005, multiple counties in Tennessee were evacuated 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 flood. The government should have adequate warning 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. crevicees, I feel, are more of a concern than hurricanes. There are legion(predicate) more passes in the middle of the state then there are on the outskirts.Torn adoes are more likely to jar against open plains rather than in an urban area, like Memphis. The reality is, very fewer tornadoes ever touch down in the city of Memphis.. Nevertheless, tornadoes can and have infatuated within the city (About. com). There have been numerous tornadoes that have affected Shelby county, moreover not nearly as many an(prenominal) as the middle of the state. The last one that affected Shelby County, and had a high remainder count was in 1987, with at least 120 deaths (NWS Memphis hope Area Tornado Database). There have since been tornadoes that have caused deaths, hich is not surprising considering the amount of people that expect 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 comprehensible since there are a component of buildings in the city. There have also been plenty of tornado warnings for the state, but not all of them affecting Shelby County. The last tornado warning that included Shelby County was on whitethorn 9, 2011. In order to be prepared for a tornado, there are several things we could do. First of all, avoid windows and seek cheer in the center-most room on the lowest floor possible.Use your hands and arms to value yourself from falling debris. Also, keep some configuration of identification on you at all times in case you are hurt or disoriented (About. com). memory identification on you is a just idea for every natural disaster. It lead help emergency personnel draw who you are and hopefully get you tolerate 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 hark back that there will be any future tsunamis in Memphis because there is no ocean or large body of water located near Memphis.The multiple sclerosis River is near Memphis, but the river does not create waves that would be large rich to create a seismic wave. evening though tsunamis are not a threat to the city, flooding is a ample 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 potent right now (Fema. gov). Last year, there was flood that occurred in the beginning of whitethorn.The Mississippi River was supposed to rise to a record level of 48 feet, with 48. 7 being the record crest in 1937. more than 1,300 homes were ordered to evacuate and nearly cd people were living in shelters. According to an article on abcnews. com, the most bulky damage occurred in Memphis, where entire neighborhoods have been swallowed by the water and vehicles completely subaqueous (Tanglao, Memphis flooding). Since this obviously happens frequently, the citizens and government have ideas of what t he levees can hold, and what the rivers maximum water 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 must 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 towns emergency plans.You should also have sump pumps with back-up power in order to prevent pollution of the flooded water. Turn off all utilities at the main power sell in order to prevent electrocution. converge bathtubs, sinks, and soda bottles with clean 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 resister 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 lots of people and buildings.The last wildfire reported in Memphis was in 1952, when there was a serious drought (Tnema. org). level 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 winter conditions to occur in Memphis. The last warning for some configuration of winter conditions for Shelby County was in February 1992 (Fema. gov). Even though that was not too 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 really get rasping winters like we do here in Pennsylvania. Memphis Tennessee has its fair share of natural disasters. They have to be come to about earthqu akes, floods, and tornadoes the most, fleck extreme winter conditions, volcanoes, and tsunamis the least concerned about. Every place on the Earth has to be concerned with natural disasters. human make the disasters a lot worse than they actually are, but there is goose egg 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 ailment Control and Prevention. Natural Disasters & Severe Weather. Web. 12 April 2012. Central United States seism 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 Information. 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 Flooding Mis sissippi River Nears Record 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 stay safe. About. com. The New York time Company, 4 April 2011. Web. 12 April 2012. United States Geological Survey. Earthquake Hazard in the New Madrid Seismic Zone cadaver a Concern. 3 August 2009. Web. 12 April 2012. United States Geological Survey. Tennessee Earthquake History. 21 October 2009. Web. 12 April 2012.