This lesson introduces students to a variety of natural hazards, emphasizing that when people understand these threats they are better able to avoid or reduce their potential impacts. First, the class discusses what they know about natural hazards and natural disasters. Then, working in pairs, they research particular hazards; the threats they pose and where and when those threats are most pronounced. ... Full description.

This portal provides access to maps, data, and other information on the distribution and frequency of natural hazards in the United States. The material is arranged into seven categories: earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanoes, and wildfires. There are also links to disaster emergency and relief organizations and to real-time resources such as RSS feeds, advisories, and the ... Full description.

This lesson plan will help students gain a better understanding of natural events and consider the dangers that natural hazards and natural disasters pose to humans. Through writing and by gathering and comparing data, students will examine factors that make natural phenomena hazardous to people. They will use scientific vocabulary to summarize research about natural hazards, and compare and discuss ... Full description.

This lesson plan is designed to help students understand the effects of natural disasters on human systems around the world, the ways in which humans prepare for the forces of nature, and how the negative consequences of natural hazards can be reduced if we understand our vulnerability and learn to prepare for them. Full description.

Natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes affect both coastal and inland areas. Long-term data from these events, including photographs, can be used to establish the past record of natural hazard event occurrences. These data are also important for planning, response, and mitigation of future events. The National Geophysical Data Center plays a major role in post-event data collection. ... Full description.

This portal provides information on the hazards presented to the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States by hurricanes. A fact sheet summarizes some of the destructive effects and describes some of the more recent damaging storms. Other links direct site visitors to highlighted resources describing the extent and causes of coastal impacts of hurricanes, impacts on wetlands, coastal changes, ... Full description.

This portal provides selected examples of maps and educational reference materials that deal with California geography, geology, and natural resources and hazards. Users can choose from a list of fast links to subject categories that include geography, physiographic provinces, geology, energy, minerals, natural hazards, climate, and many others. Within each category are a selection of links to materials ... Full description.

This lesson plan asks students to examine specific locations of high risk for various natural hazards, to assess why these hazards exist where they do, and to investigate what towns and cities are doing to prepare for a natural disaster. In the process, students will practice their research and map-analysis skills. Full description.

This portal provides access to information on the threats and impacts of wildfires in the United States. There is a link to a fact sheet that describes the impacts of wildfires and the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) science priorities in researching them, and a link to a map that shows locations of wildfires larger than 250 acres occurring from 1980 to 2003. There are also links to news ... Full description.

Thunderstorms affect small areas when compared with hurricanes and winter storms. Despite their small size however, all thunderstorms are dangerous. Designed for children, users can view pictures and read about the formation of thunderstorms and lightning, how to be safe during storms, and what to do if someone is struck by lightning. Other material presented here includes a quiz, a section on NOAA ... Full description.