IT'S A DISASTER! ...and what are YOU gonna do ... - News Room, DC

Hurricanes, Cyclones & TyphoonsJapan, China, the Philippines and other parts of Southeast and East Asiaaverage about 20 typhoons a year.The 2005 U.S. season broke records with 27 named storms (previousrecord was 21 in 1933) and 15 hurricanes (previous record was 12 in 1969).The National Hurricane Center states this active cycle could last 10-20more years similar to the above-average hurricane activity from the 1940sthrough the 1960s.Nine out of 10 hurricane deaths are due to storm surge (a rise in the sealevel caused by strong winds). Storm surges can get up to 20 feet (6 m)high and 50 miles (80 km) wide!One of the worst cyclone disasters in recorded history struck Bangladeshand India killing between 500,000 and 1 million people back in 1970.Nuclear Power Plants / Nuclear IncidentThe most immediate danger from an accident at a nuclear power plant isexposure to high levels of radiation.The April 1986 explosion at Ukraine’s Chernobyl nuclear power plantburned for 10 days releasing about 5% of the radioactive reactor core intothe atmosphere exposing millions of people to varying doses of radiation.According to the World Nuclear Association, about 20 million packages ofall sizes containing radioactive materials are routinely transported worldwideannually on public roads, railways and ships in secure containers. 4There has never been any accident in which a Type-B container withhighly radioactive material has been breached or has leaked. 5TerrorismAccording to the International Atomic Energy Agency, there have beenover 661 confirmed incidents of illicit trafficking in nuclear and radioactivematerials worldwide since 1993 with several hundred more reportedbut not yet confirmed. Nearly 121 such incidents occurred in 2004 alone,11 involving nuclear material. IAEA also reports 18 of the 661 confirmedincidents involved nuclear weapons grade material. 6The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that as many as 26 nations maypossess chemical agents and/or weapons and an additional 12 may be seekingto develop them. And the Central Intelligence Agency reports that atleast 10 countries are believed to possess or be conducting research on biologicalagents for weaponization. (Per FEMA’s site as of October 23, 2005)6 www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325