disaster 5th 1108_5th ed 2011 - Homeland Security and Emergency ...

Terrorism
Between 1993 and 2006 there were 1,080 confirmed incidents of illicit
trafficking in nuclear materials -- with 18 of these cases involving weaponsgrade
materials and another 124 involving material capable of making a
so-called dirty bomb that would use conventional explosives to spread
nuclear material. 4
If a nuclear device is detonated in the air high above North America, it
would create a high-density electrical field called an electromagnetic pulse.
According to FEMA, most electronic devices within 1,000 miles of a highaltitude
nuke could be damaged by an EMP.
Experts at the 2009 World Economic Forum at Davos estimated the global
damage from data loss / cybercrimes now exceeds $1 trillion a year.
Thunderstorms & Lightning
At any given moment, about 2,000 thunderstorms can be in progress over
the face of the earth.
There are 8 million lightning strikes per day!
It is a myth that lightning never strikes the same place twice -- it often
strikes the same site several times in the course of one storm.
Tornadoes
The U.S. has more tornadoes than any other place in the world and averages
1,200 tornado sightings each year.
According to NOAA, 2004 had a record 1,817 tornado reports in the U.S.
Tornadoes can last for several seconds or more than an hour, but most last
less than 10 minutes.
The force of a tornado can strip asphalt chunks off roads, rip clothes off
people and pluck feathers off chickens.
Tsunamis
A tsunami [soo-nah´-mee] is a series of huge, destructive waves usually
caused by an earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide or meteorite.
The 2004 seaquake-generated tsunami that slammed 12 countries in the
Indian Ocean is the deadliest on record with almost 187,000 people killed
and 42,883 still missing. (Per UN OSE’s web site as of October 2006)
www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325
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