Possible Disasters
Geologic Disasters:
In Phoenix, because it is mostly desert, there aren't really any geologic disasters that take place. So, the closest geologic disaster is an earthquake because of the San Andreas Fault in California. The San Andreas Fault is the biggest fault in the United States, so many earthquakes occur in California. But even though the fault is in California, it can still affect Phoenix even though the city is miles away from California. Many people leave California because of the amount of earthquakes that take place, and Arizona is one of the bordering states, so the state welcomes many new visitors. Even if these visitors stay for the day, they can visit our famous landmarks like the Grand Canyon! Also, and it's not impossible, but Arizona could experience an earthquake from the San Andreas Fault because it is so large.
Specific Disasters:
In 1906, an earthquake occurred in San Francisco and it was one of the most devastating earthquakes in California's history. The earthquake and the resulting fires resulted in around 3,000 deaths. And the damage in San Francisco alone was worth 20 million dollars!
On October 17, 1989, an earthquake occurred in Santa Cruz. It was the largest earthquake to occur on the fault since the earthquake mentioned above, in 1906. It resulted in 63 deaths and an estimated 6 billion dollars in property damage!
Possible Consequences:
Of course, consequences occur as a result of the disasters. But these consequences can be positive and negative. In the positive side, as stated before, many visitors would visit Phoenix because of the impact of the earthquake in their hometown. But, in the negative side of things, the earthquakes that occur from the San Andreas Fault could reach to Arizona, and it would complete affect Phoenix because homes could be destroyed and businesses could temporarily close. Also, it would affect nature itself, and in Phoenix, we care about how our land looks!
Weather Disasters:
There aren't many possible disasters in Phoenix because most of it is desert. For example, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides do not occur here. But, just because those disasters do not occur, it doesn't mean that nothing happens here. A common disaster in Phoenix is dust storms.
Specific Disasters:
On October 30, 2013, three people were killed in a Phoenix freeway due to a dust storm. Low visibility from blowing dust was likely the main cause for the car crash.
Also, in the picture above, it shows a huge cloud containing dust over Phoenix during a dust storm on July 5, 2011. Winds were as high as 53 MPH during the storm!
In the second picture, there is another dust storm that occurred in the Gila River Indian Reservation in Phoenix. As a result, four people were killed.
Possible Consequences:
Of course, consequences occur from these disasters. The lives of innocent people are lost because, one, it is very tough to see in the dust storms, and two, the storms can move you or your shelter if they are that strong.
Prevention of Possible Disasters
The best way to prevent another dust storm is to make changes to the farming bill. By planting more rooted plants, we can prevent wind erosion which can cause dust storms. There should also be limitations set on tilled farming, as the particles would make an oncoming dust storm stronger. Not having limitations on carbon can also be a very prominent cause for a dust storm. You can also further reduce the use of fossil fuels. If the previously mentioned measures are not met, we may even have another Dust Bowl.
Geologic Disasters:
In Phoenix, because it is mostly desert, there aren't really any geologic disasters that take place. So, the closest geologic disaster is an earthquake because of the San Andreas Fault in California. The San Andreas Fault is the biggest fault in the United States, so many earthquakes occur in California. But even though the fault is in California, it can still affect Phoenix even though the city is miles away from California. Many people leave California because of the amount of earthquakes that take place, and Arizona is one of the bordering states, so the state welcomes many new visitors. Even if these visitors stay for the day, they can visit our famous landmarks like the Grand Canyon! Also, and it's not impossible, but Arizona could experience an earthquake from the San Andreas Fault because it is so large.
Specific Disasters:
In 1906, an earthquake occurred in San Francisco and it was one of the most devastating earthquakes in California's history. The earthquake and the resulting fires resulted in around 3,000 deaths. And the damage in San Francisco alone was worth 20 million dollars!
On October 17, 1989, an earthquake occurred in Santa Cruz. It was the largest earthquake to occur on the fault since the earthquake mentioned above, in 1906. It resulted in 63 deaths and an estimated 6 billion dollars in property damage!
Possible Consequences:
Of course, consequences occur as a result of the disasters. But these consequences can be positive and negative. In the positive side, as stated before, many visitors would visit Phoenix because of the impact of the earthquake in their hometown. But, in the negative side of things, the earthquakes that occur from the San Andreas Fault could reach to Arizona, and it would complete affect Phoenix because homes could be destroyed and businesses could temporarily close. Also, it would affect nature itself, and in Phoenix, we care about how our land looks!
Weather Disasters:
There aren't many possible disasters in Phoenix because most of it is desert. For example, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides do not occur here. But, just because those disasters do not occur, it doesn't mean that nothing happens here. A common disaster in Phoenix is dust storms.
Specific Disasters:
On October 30, 2013, three people were killed in a Phoenix freeway due to a dust storm. Low visibility from blowing dust was likely the main cause for the car crash.
Also, in the picture above, it shows a huge cloud containing dust over Phoenix during a dust storm on July 5, 2011. Winds were as high as 53 MPH during the storm!
In the second picture, there is another dust storm that occurred in the Gila River Indian Reservation in Phoenix. As a result, four people were killed.
Possible Consequences:
Of course, consequences occur from these disasters. The lives of innocent people are lost because, one, it is very tough to see in the dust storms, and two, the storms can move you or your shelter if they are that strong.
Prevention of Possible Disasters
The best way to prevent another dust storm is to make changes to the farming bill. By planting more rooted plants, we can prevent wind erosion which can cause dust storms. There should also be limitations set on tilled farming, as the particles would make an oncoming dust storm stronger. Not having limitations on carbon can also be a very prominent cause for a dust storm. You can also further reduce the use of fossil fuels. If the previously mentioned measures are not met, we may even have another Dust Bowl.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/30/phoenix-duststorm-pileup/3311375/
http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/125058089.html
http://media.komonews.com/images/110705_phoenix_dust_storm.jpg
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/environment-book/aeoliantransport.html
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/environment-book/Images/phoenix-dust-storm.jpg
http://geology.com/articles/images/san-andreas-fault-map.jpg
http://geology.com/earthquake/california.shtml#santa-cruz
http://geology.com/earthquake/california.shtml#san-francisco
http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/125058089.html
http://media.komonews.com/images/110705_phoenix_dust_storm.jpg
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/environment-book/aeoliantransport.html
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/environment-book/Images/phoenix-dust-storm.jpg
http://geology.com/articles/images/san-andreas-fault-map.jpg
http://geology.com/earthquake/california.shtml#santa-cruz
http://geology.com/earthquake/california.shtml#san-francisco