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Young Americans Prepare: Becoming Disaster Ready

Disasters

Introduction: FEMA has developed lecture materials, suggested classroom exercises and sources of more information in support of disaster reduction. We hope you will find the information useful.

Lecture #1: The cost of disasters (Subjects: Geography, science)

Billion Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters
1980-1997

The U.S. has sustained some very expensive weather-related disasters over the past 18 years. Twenty-five of these disasters occurred during the 1988-1997 period with total damages/costs of approximately $140 billion.* Twenty-one occurred during the August 1992-May 1997 period with over $90 billion in damages/costs* and 911 deaths. All figures below reflect direct and indirect damages, costs, and deaths. Events are listed beginning with the most recent (reverse chronological order).

The damage figures represent actual dollar costs at the time of the event and are NOT adjusted for inflation. Therefore, event costs over time should not be compared.

  1. Northern Plains Flooding April-May 1997. Severe flooding in Dakotas and Minnesota due to heavy spring snowmelt; at least $1.0-$2.0 billion damage/costs; 11 deaths.

  2. MS and OH Valleys Flooding and Tornadoes March 1997. Tornadoes and severe flooding hit the states of AR, MO, MS, TN, IL, IN, KY, OH, and WV; estimated $1.0 billion damage/costs; 67 deaths.

  3. West Coast Flooding December 1996-January 1997. Torrential rains and snowmelt produce severe flooding over portions of California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Montana; estimated damage/costs of $2.0-$3.0 billion; 36 deaths.

  4. Hurricane Fran September 1996. Category 3 hurricane strikes North Carolina and Virginia; over $5.0 billion damage/costs; 37 deaths.

  5. Southern Plains Severe Drought Fall 1995 through Summer 1996. Severe drought in agricultural regions of southern plains--Texas and Oklahoma most severely affected; over $4.0 billion estimated damage/costs; no deaths.

  6. Pacific Northwest Severe Flooding February 1996. Very heavy, persistent rains and melting snow over Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and western Montana; approximately $1.0 billion damage/costs; 9 deaths.

  7. Blizzard of '96 Followed by Flooding January 1996. Very heavy snowstorm over Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast; followed by severe flooding in parts of same area due to rain & snowmelt; approximately $3.0 billion damage/costs; 187 deaths.

  8. Hurricane Opal October 1995. Category 3 hurricane strikes Florida panhandle, Alabama, western Georgia, eastern Tennessee, and the western Carolinas; over $3.0 billion damage/costs; 27 deaths.

  9. Hurricane Marilyn September 1995. Category 2 hurricane devastates U.S. Virgin Islands; estimated $2.1 billion damage/costs; 13 deaths.

  10. Texas/Oklahoma/Louisiana/Mississippi Severe Weather and Flooding May 1995. Torrential rains, hail, and tornadoes across Texas - Oklahoma and southeast Louisiana - southern Mississippi, with Dallas and New Orleans areas hardest hit; $5.0-$6.0 billion damage/costs; 32 deaths.

  11. California Flooding January-March 1995. Frequent winter storms caused periodic flooding across much of California; over $3.0 billion damage/costs; 27 deaths.

  12. Texas Flooding October 1994. Torrential rain and thunderstorms caused flooding across much of southeast Texas; approximately $1.0 billion damage/costs; 19 deaths.

  13. Tropical Storm Alberto July 1994. Remnants of slow-moving Alberto brought torrential 10-25 inch rains, widespread flooding in parts of Georgia, Alabama, and panhandle of Florida; approximately $1.0 billion damage/costs; 32 deaths.

  14. Southeast Ice Storm February 1994. Intense ice storm with extensive damage in portions of TX, OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, TN, GA, SC, NC, and VA; approximately $3.0 billion damage/costs; 9 deaths.

  15. California Wildfires Fall 1993. Southern California; approximately $1.0 billion damage/costs; 4 deaths.

  16. Midwest Flooding Summer 1993. Central U.S.; $15.0-$20.0 billion damage/costs; 48 deaths

  17. Drought/Heat Wave Summer 1993. Southeastern U.S.; about $1.0 billion damage/costs; death toll undetermined.

  18. Storm/Blizzard March 1993. Eastern U.S.; $3.0-$6.0 billion damage/costs; approximately 270 deaths.

  19. Nor'easter of 1992 December 1992. Slow-moving storm batters northeast U.S. coast, New England hardest hit; $1.0-$2.0 billion damage/costs;19 deaths.

  20. Hurricane Iniki September 1992. Category 4 hurricane hits Hawaiian island of Kauai; about $1.8 billion damage/costs; 7 deaths.

  21. Hurricane Andrew August 1992. Category 4 hurricane hits Florida and Louisiana; approximately $27.0 billion damage/costs; 58 deaths.

  22. Oakland Firestorm October 1991. Oakland, California firestorm due to low humidities and high winds; approximately $1.5 billion damage/costs; 25 deaths.

  23. Hurricane Bob August 1991. Category 2 hurricane--Mainly coastal North Carolina, Long Island, and New England; $1.5 billion damage/costs; 18 deaths.

  24. Hurricane Hugo September 1989. Category 4 hurricane devastates South and North Carolina after hitting Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; over $9.0 billion damage/costs (about $7.1 billion in Carolinas); 86 deaths (57--U.S. mainland, 29--U.S. Islands).

  25. Drought/Heat Wave Summer 1988. Central and Eastern U.S.; estimated $40.0 billion damage/costs; estimated 5,000 to 10,000 deaths (includes heat stress-related).

  26. Hurricane Juan October-November 1985. Category 1 hurricane--Louisiana and Southeast U.S.--flooding is most severe problem; $1.5 billion damage/costs; 63 deaths.

  27. Hurricane Elena August-September 1985. Category 3 hurricane--Florida to Louisiana; $1.3 billion damage/costs; 4 deaths.

  28. Florida Freeze December 1983. Severe freeze central/northern Florida; about $2.0 billion damage to citrus industry; no deaths.

  29. Hurricane Alicia August 1983. Category 3 hurricane--Texas; $3.0 billion damage/costs; 21 deaths.

  30. Drought/Heat Wave June-September 1980. Central and Eastern U.S.; estimated $20.0 billion damage/costs; estimated 10,000 deaths (includes heat stress-related).

These statistics were taken from a wide variety of sources and represent, to the best of our ability, the estimated total costs of these events---that is, the costs in terms of dollars and lives that would not have been incurred had the event not taken place. Insured and uninsured losses are included in damage estimates. Economic costs are included for wide-scale, long-lasting events such as drought. Estimates are periodically updated as more data/information become available. Sources include the National Weather Service and individual state emergency management agencies.

Activity #1: Who helps during a disaster? (research, writing, public speaking)

At the federal level, these organizations have disaster responsibilities: Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Transportation, Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, Corporation for National Service, among others.

These non-profit or voluntary organizations also participate in disaster response and recovery: American Red Cross, Church World Services, Mennonite Disaster Service, Salvation Army, Humane Society of the United States.

All states also have offices of emergency services, and all local jurisdictions have police and fire departments that have disaster responsibilities.

Do research on all or some of these agencies and what their specific roles are in disasters. Write and present a report.

Activity #2. School Writing Assignments

Imagine that an earthquake has struck your community. You and your family must evacuate your home and come to your school for safety until the disaster is over and it is announced that is it safe for everyone to return home.

  1. Plan and write an escape route for your family to take from your house to school. Give clear travel directions.

  2. Plan and write down a list of materials for the disaster supply kit you will bring with you to the school. All the supplies for the kit must fit in an average sized gym bag.

  3. Imagine that you and your entire family must stay at school for three days. There is no electricity or telephone service. There are 300 to 400 other people staying in the school. What do you do to pass the time safely? What do you do about meals and sleeping?

Activity #3:

Have students study disaster preparedness information on the FEMA for Kids Web site. Divide them into teams and hold a Masters of Disasters Quiz Bowl. See the FEMA for Kids Web site for full rules and suggested questions and answers.

Publications

Obtain a list of all FEMA publications by calling 1-800-480-2520 and asking for the FEMA Publications Catalog (FEMA 20)

Internet Resources:

We apologize if any of these links are in error.

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