Natural disasters.

[JB]

In the past 12 months we have had a tsunami in the southwest Pacific and southeast Asia, several hurricanes in Central America and the US Gulf states, earthquakes in Asia, several tornados in central USA, and other natural disasters in other parts of the world. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people have been killed or put at death's door. . . .at least refugeed.<br /><br />It seems to me a worse than usual year for such events.<br /><br />Now my question: We here in USA are used to being threatened by hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, wildfires, landslides, floods and such, depending on where in the USA we live.<br /><br />What sort of natural disasters are normal threats in the UK, Oz, Kiwiland and Mainland Europe?

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Natural disasters.

i bet that due to normal human response, no one really notices anything other than their close area. you know i'm being a little critical here. so, in longterm we haven't really seen many hiccups of the environment, but its very noticable nowadays.<br /><br />maybe we'll hear from those who live near a fault line or swollen river or who still depend on the region's agriculture more than we do over here... i mean, it seems like we are all apt to come under a tragedy nowadays, but we seem to hear more of the overall world, which sure can fill your mind with more than you would have thought possible. <br /><br />sorry, you meant other parts of the world. just an fyi- here in GA, its been all the same, same as usual. lucky so far

 

[QC]

Re: Natural disasters.

Hmmmmmm . . . Extremes of temperature have killed in Mainland Europe. Strugglin' to come up with much more myself. Typhoons in Oz? The Tsunami did hit parts of Oz, but not any damage. Brush Fires in Oz, could be natural . . . Volcanoes in New Zealand, so earthquakes too?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Natural disasters.

Northern Aus gets yearly cyclones. <br /><br />In Australia, probably the worst (and most devastating) is drought, we get them often. Followed closely by bushfires (the two are linked due to poor rainfalls).<br /><br />Every few years we get hit with hailstorms and floods.<br /><br />The boxing day tsunami was virtually nothing by the time it reached oz.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Natural disasters.

Kiwis get Earthquakes. Big strong healthy ones. The building code is pretty good and balances things out.<br />There is a city called Napier. Copped a corker back in the '30s and was flattened, then burnt out. It was rebuilt in the era of Art-Deco period and to see it today it is an amazing sight.<br />Here where we live we can have cyclones, but not had one since I have been present. Houses are built for a specific wind-rating.<br />Drought is our biggest problem. Back about 6 yrs bush fires were also a threat to us (family) but area since built out in 2 acre blocks so it is not such a problem.<br />Went through a flood as a kid (middle of the night too) and every home I have ever owned has been on a hill.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: Natural disasters.

As a young child growing up in the UK, the only natural disasters which i've experienced were heavy Fog and missing the #279 bus

 

[technostingray]

Re: Natural disasters.

Originally posted by Dunaruna:<br /> Northern Aus gets yearly cyclones. <br /><br /> The boxing day tsunami was virtually nothing by the time it reached oz.

Help me out here, Aldo

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Natural disasters.

Help you out with what?

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Natural disasters.

Originally posted by Elmer Fudge:<br /> As a young child growing up in the UK, the only natural disasters which i've experienced were heavy Fog and missing the #279 bus

Lemme guess.....that was the little short bus right?

 

[EZLoader]

Re: Natural disasters.

Top 100 natural disasters...<br /><br /> http://www.disastercenter.com/disaster/TOP100K.html

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Natural disasters.

The 2004 tsunami isn't on that list.

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: Natural disasters.

Originally posted by LadyFish:<br />

Originally posted by Elmer Fudge:<br /> As a young child growing up in the UK, the only natural disasters which i've experienced were heavy Fog and missing the #279 bus

Lemme guess.....that was the little short bus right?

Touche' ....

 

[BF]

Re: Natural disasters.

Blizzards.... need enough stuff on hand to get through a few days of being stuck in your house. A good one shuts the city down every 5 to 10 years.<br /><br />We also had a huge flood in '97. Some US towns south of us that didn't have adequate flood protection were badly hurt.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Natural disasters.

Originally posted by Dunaruna:<br /> Help you out with what?

Sorry Aldo, I didn't explain myself fully. I was not familiar with the term boxer tsunami and was asking for additional information about it. It's OK, don't bother yourself about it. Just curious.<br />Thanks anyway.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Natural disasters.

Boxing day, the day after christmas. You don't call the 26th of december 'boxing day'?<br /><br />Sorry, I thought that the term 'boxing day' was international. My bad.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: Natural disasters.

Why is it called Boxing day?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Natural disasters.

Something about the rich people in england 'boxing up' all the leftover Christmas food and giving it to the poor, the day after Christmas.<br /><br />It's one of those old traditions that isn't practiced any more.<br /><br />Maybe one of the english iboat members can explain it better than me, I'm not 100% sure.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[rolmops]

Re: Natural disasters.

When I was a kid in Holland in 1952 a huge North Western ripped through the dikes and killed about 2000 people in one night.Nowadays their water protection budget rivals their defense and education budgets. For the rest most natural disasters are politicians, just like here.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Natural disasters.

Originally posted by Dunaruna:<br /> Something about the rich people in england 'boxing up' all the leftover Christmas food and giving it to the poor, the day after Christmas.<br /><br />It's one of those old traditions that isn't practiced any more.<br /><br />Maybe one of the english iboat members can explain it better than me, I'm not 100% sure.<br />Aldo

No we call it the day after Christmas, but I am sure if we had been in a tsunami we would have a different name for it. Our church conducts a giveaway like that around Christmas but it is before Christmas and expected to help to make the season bright. Didn't mean to annoy you. I will be a little more specific in the future.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Natural disasters.

You didn't annoy me, I just wasn't sure what you were asking.<br /><br />No harm, no foul.