Q: What causes earthquakes? A: It takes a very specific geological event to create an earthquake. Here’s how it happens: The ever-present movement of the tectonic plates beneath the Earth’s crust causes occasional collisions that release energy, essentially a grinding… Read More »100 Frequently Asked Questions About Earthquakes and Their Answers
Q: What is a volcano? A: Given that active volcanoes can remain active for centuries and are often unpredictable as to their explosions, it’s important to know what they are, the risks of being near one, and how to respond… Read More »100 Frequently Asked Questions About Volcanoes and Their Answers
Q: What is a tsunami? A: The National Ocean Service defines them as such: “Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. Out in the depths of the ocean, tsunami waves do not dramatically increase… Read More »100 Frequently Asked Questions About Tsunamis and Their Answers
Q: What is a tornado? A: According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory, a wind storm of this kind is precisely defined as, “A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the… Read More »100 Frequently Asked Questions About Tornadoes and Their Answers
Q: Are hurricanes getting stronger? A: The National Ocean Service predicts about 12 hurricanes per year. There has been an uptick in storms, however. In 2020, there were 30 such storms, a record high. And not only are storms more… Read More »100 Frequently Asked Questions About Hurricanes and Their Answers
Q: What is a flash flood? A: What is this event actually? How is it different from a flash event? Flash water surges are the most dangerous type of flood because they combine the destructive power of a huge, moving… Read More »50 Frequently Asked Questions About Floods and Their Answers
Q: What is a pandemic? A: While the term “pandemic” may be thrown around quite a bit and used to refer to a number of different events (like a “pandemic” of mortgage lending leading up to the 2008 housing crisis),… Read More »40 Frequently Asked Questions About Pandemics and Their Answers
Q: What is a nuclear bomb? A: Such warheads fall under a specific category of missiles. The Encyclopedia Brittanica defines these incredibly powerful weapons as such, “A device designed to release energy in an explosive manner as a result of… Read More »40 Frequently Asked Questions About Nuclear Disasters and Their Answers
Q: How do wildfires start? A: Such a blaze can start with anything from a cigarette butt or a spark from a car’s muffler to a lightning strike or a tree falling against a power line. Unfortunately, there are many… Read More »30 Frequently Asked Questions About Wildfires and Their Answers
Q: What causes cold waves? A: When we think of natural disasters, we usually think of serious, breaking-news crisis-level events like hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc. But these are not the only natural disasters that pose a serious risk to… Read More »25 Frequently Asked Questions About Cold Snaps and Their Answers