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Primary (Prep - Grade 6): Natural Disasters

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N A T U R A L   D I S A S T E R S

What are natural disasters?

Natural disaster: any calamitous occurrence generated by the effects of natural, rather than human-driven, phenomena that produces great loss of human life or destruction of the natural environment, private property, or public infrastructure. 
Britannica online

Websites about global disasters

Websites about Australian disasters

Australian Disaster Resilience - Knowledge Hub - Live link to current and past disasters in Australia

Clickview

Behind the News - Disasters Playlist

ABC TV 3 part series - Big Weather

Big Weather (and how to survive it) delivers a message about how our weather is changing and what we can do to survive it.

Specific types of disaster

A machine called a seismograph or seismometer, which measures and records earthquake tremors.

Earthquakes are the vibrations caused by rocks breaking under stress. The underground surface along which the rock breaks and moves is called a fault plane.
SPECIFIC EARTHQUAKES

Queensland flooding: Australia braces for more destruction as deadly floods devastate northeast | CNN

CNN (3 February 2025)

A flood is an overflow of water beyond the normal limits of a watercourse. Flooding occurs when water extends over what is usually dry land. This can happen when it escapes from a natural watercourse, such as a lake, river or creek.
Specific floods

Explainer: what is drought? - Social Media Blog - Bureau of Meteorology

Drought is a prolonged dry period in the natural climate cycle that can occur anywhere in the world. It is a slow-onset disaster characterized by the lack of precipitation, resulting in a water shortage. 

Cyclone Debbie taken from NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre.

Image: CSIRO

Tropical cyclones are violent, spiralling wind and rain systems that threaten lives and property at sea and on land.
Specific cyclones 

How do people exhibit resilience in the face of extreme weather events?

All 

Hopeful, not hopeless: Teens share what they’ve learnt from years of natural disasters

Fires 

CFA: Prepare your property for the fire season

The community council creates and tests plans for what to do if there is a fire

Using art to help people process their experiences and recover

The world raises money to help Australia recover after massive fires

The Government provides immediate relief for people (food and a place to stay) and supports communities by rebuilding services like a library and town hall.

Floods 

Building flood resistant houses (page 3)

Using regenerative farming practices to build farm resilience, so farms cope better when floods come

The government provides immediate relief for people (food and a place to stay) and supports communities by rebuilding services like a library and town hall

Lismore NSW – Australian government, organisations and neighbours helped clean up after flooding

Kids from a school in Echuca helped to clean up their community after a flood

Droughts 

Using regenerative farming practices to build farm resilience, so farms cope better when droughts come

The government provides support for farmers experiencing drought

Using technology to drought proof farms

Fiver for a Farmer -  How one boy raised money to help farmers who were struggling during a long drought 
Cyclones 

How to cyclone proof your house

Emergency services help people clean up

How to garden in a way that helps your garden survive a cyclone

People who live in cyclone prone areas can create a plan in case one arrives

Cyclone Resilient Building Guide (pdf)

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