S.T.A.N.D – Types of Disasters

Floods

A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. However, in large quantities, this can cause a natural disaster. There are a few things you can do before, during, and after a flood.

For insurance and other information visit floodsmart.gov/floodsmart. To make a guide and see what to do for your family and pets, visit floodsmart.gov/floodsmart, and to read about flood clean-up, visit www.nchh.org.

Hurricanes

A hurricane is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. There are several organizations dedicated to gathering information about hurricanes. It is important to know when and where a hurricane will strike. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/), and the All Hazards Monitor (weather.gov) are two of these sites. You should also make a plan and focus on being prepared (http://www.ready.gov/).

Tornadoes

A tornado is a violent, rotating column of air which is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. To see weather conditions and possible tornado occurrences, visit http://www.spc.noaa.gov/. To make a plan and start preparing, go to Ready America or the National Hurricane center’s website.

Drought

A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. During a drought it is important to know about water conservation and what you can do. Visit Georgia Environmental Division for Georgia Outdoor Water Use information. Visit CoCoRaHS for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, & Snow Network.

Winter Storms

A winter storm is an event in which the dominant varieties of precipitation are forms that only occur at cold temperatures, such as snow or sleet, or a rainstorm where ground temperatures are cold enough to allow ice to form. During a winter storm, it is vital to know how to stay healthy and what you can do to be prepared. Visit the CDC to learn how to stay healthy and how to be prepared.

Last updated: 1/11/2023