Alluvial fans are gently sloping, fan-shaped landforms common at the base of mountain ranges in arid and semiarid regions such as the American West. Floods on alluvial fans, although characterized by relatively shallow depths, strike with little if any warning, can travel at extremely high velocities, and can carry a tremendous amount of sediment and debris. Such flooding presents unique problems ... Full description.

We in the United States have almost come to accept natural disasters as part of our nations social fabric. News of property damage, economic and social disruption, and injuries follow earthquakes, fires, floods and hurricanes. Surprisingly, however, the total losses that follow these natural disasters are not consistently calculated. We have no formal system in either the public or private sector ... Full description.

This set of activities introduces younger students to the concept of earthquake preparedness. They will prepare their own earthquake kits and explain why they have chosen each item, work out a disaster plan, and write a creative short story about someone who survived an earthquake because they were well prepared. Full description.

This site contains photographs, video, and an online diary made by Dr. Jose Borrero of the University of Southern California Tsunami research group, who visited the Aceh province of Northern Sumatra, one of the areas hardest hit by the tsunami and earthquake, just days after the disaster occurred. Full description.

This student handout is required to complete the activity, 'The Day the Earth Shook'. It provides a list of three structural design scenarios to be considered, tests to perform on these designs, and a place to record observations. A downloadable, printable version is included. Full description.

Forecasting Dust Storms Version 2 provides background and operational information about dust storms. The first part of the module describes dust source regions, the life cycle of a dust storm, and the major types of dust storms, particularly those found in the Middle East. The second part presents a process for forecasting dust storms and applies it to a case in the Middle East. Although the process ... Full description.

Tsunami Warning Systems describes the processes involved in anticipating, detecting, and warning for a tsunami by summarizing data collection, modeling, analysis, and alert procedures used at NOAA's Tsunami Warning Centers. A simulated event and past tsunami occurrences are used to highlight warning system processes for determining the tsunami threat based on seismic and sea level data and tsunami ... Full description.

This module is designed to help emergency managers prepare their communities for tsunamis. Lessons include basic tsunami science, hazards produced by tsunamis, the tsunami warning system, the importance of public education activities, and how to craft good emergency messages and develop tsunami response plans. The module also contains links to extensive Reference and Resources sections. Full description.

This module introduces the science of tsunamis: their causes, initiation process, properties, propagation, inundation, and long-term effects. Through new animations, historical images, video, and interactive exercises, learners discover the ways tsunamis interact with and affect the world. The module is intended for Weather Forecast Office staff -- particularly NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologists ... Full description.

Avalanches form through the interaction of snowpack, terrain, and weather, the latter being the focus of this module. The module begins with basic information about avalanches, highlighting weather's role in their development. The rest of the module teaches weather forecasters how to make an avalanche weather forecast, that is, one in which key weather parameters are evaluated for their impact on ... Full description.