A major disaster in an area might have a major impact, such as damage and loss. About 5 national disaster types can trigger the scale to the national disaster level, which means the emergency is not only in the affected area but also in the whole nation. The central government usually announces this.
The Types of 5 National Disaster
Earthquake
The destruction that an earthquake causes can be severe. Many lives are threatened if the magnitude is above >7.0. Infrastructure is one of the most- affected among others and many people face difficulties after the event. This is the reason why this disaster can be a national disaster.
Rebuilding the economy after this event is not easy. The casualties because of an earthquake are usually high even though the magnitude is low, depending on the shake type. Thus, an earthquake can cause secondary disasters because of the shaking, such as tsunamis and landslides.
The main cause of tsunamis is tectonic movement that occurs on the seafloor. Some zones are moving in different ways, divergent, convergent, and transform. This movement can cause a big wave of earthquakes. Other causes are volcanic activity and the fracture of faults in certain areas.
Floods
Flood is a life-threatening disaster and becomes one of the 5 national disaster types because it is affecting lives. Not only humans but the whole ecosystems in the area will be affected as well. The damage is extensive and needs a long time to recover, especially if the floods have a strong stream.
The victims because of this disaster also have to move to other areas until the flood is gone. However, they may find their places like houses, and other places are swept away because of the flood. This displacement can cause other problems, such as health risks and economic impact.
This is why floods should be a big concern for the government. It is triggered by heavy rainfall or overflow from the rivers. The mitigation should be properly calculated, especially in the area with great monsoons rain every year. Water management also should be fixed to avoid this disaster.
Tsunamis
The power a tsunami can cause is huge and it affects so many lives, especially people who live in the coastal area. The main cause of this disaster is an earthquake that occurs on the seafloor. The bigger the shaking, the more possibility that a tsunami can arrive on the beach near the epicenter.
The characteristic of a tsunami is a huge wave that comes to the beach and coastline, a few minutes after the earthquake. Thus, the waves are high enough to sweep away everything that they pass on. Worse, a tsunami usually brings multiple waves with a high speed.
To reduce the impact, the government should be more aware by preparing an early warning system. The death toll because of tsunamis can be very high. Restoring everything takes a long time as well. It needs assistance from the whole nation.
Wildfires
Properties and ecosystems are two things besides people that can be severely affected because of wildfires. The event itself can be one of 5 national disaster, depending on the large area that gets burned because of it. Communities who live in the area should be evacuated to other places.
There are many causes that can trigger wildfires, such as drought, lightning strikes, and volcanic eruptions. Prevention and fast actions should be the government’s priorities before everything gets worse and harms more people. The smoke of wildfires is the secondary hazard.
Volcanic Eruptions
A volcanic eruption brings many secondary events, such as overflowing molten rocks and pollution to the areas around the mountain. The damage can be long-lasting. Usually, the eruption does not occur once only that may harm people who live around it.
This is why this disaster is one of the national disasters. People who get displacement should live far away from their hometown until the situation is good and safe. The recovery also takes a long time they might have struggled to recover.
It is such a wise choice if the local authorities decide to use an integrated system to issue a warning as soon as the unexpected 5 national disaster types happen. It should include an SMS broadcaster because this device can send a warning message to the community, so they can take action fast.
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