Disasters which may affect my community will depend on its geographical location, since certain regions are more susceptible to particular threats. My community, which is located on the California coast, is more susceptible to floods due to weather extremes such as high tides and hurricanes. A serious threat to this region is earthquakes, given the seismic activity.
It is also near an important body of fresh water. This increases the potential risk of pollution from spilled oil or releases of hazardous materials from ships, both of which could negatively affect human and environmental health. Wildfires may also occur when the summer is hot and dry, with strong winds that can quickly spread through forests and cause significant damage.
It is essential that my community understands the types of disasters most likely to occur. By doing so, we can develop awareness campaigns and contingency plans to help us prepare. By having an idea of what disasters may strike our area we can better plan ahead so that if something does happen it won’t be completely unexpected.