Natural disasters can occur anywhere at any time. Whether fire, hurricane, tornado, or other natural disaster, nothing protects your home like concrete.
CONCRETE AND HURRICANES
In 2018, 22 major hurricanes touched land around the Northern Hemisphere and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that hurricanes cause $28 billion in damage a year. And according to a National Geographic report, 2017 marked the most expensive hurricane season in U. S. history. If you’re looking for a way to protect your family and treasured possessions, concrete is the way to go.
Concrete can withstand high winds and crashing rain. During Hurricane Michael earlier this year, a reinforced concrete home in Mexico Beach, Florida, was one of the only homes still standing after the Category 4 storm. Building with concrete is known as hazard mitigation—using stronger, more resilient building techniques to prevent property damage and save money over the building’s lifecycle.
CONCRETE AND FIRES
Since January 1, 2018, a total of 6,273 wildfires have burned 876,131 acres in California alone. Luckily, concrete can withstand heat up to 1,000 degrees. Concrete ingredients like cement and aggregate are virtually non-combustible, plus, concrete’s slow rate of heat transfer means your home and possessions are protected from flames and intense heat.
CONCRETE AND TORNADOES
While it’s difficult to make a truly tornado-proof home, concrete is still your best bet. Insulated concrete form (ICF) is cast in place concrete that results in a much stronger and more efficient structure. ICFs can withstand winds up to 250 mph. The most catastrophic tornadoes sometimes reach upwards of 300 mph, but the average wind funnel only reaches 112 mph or less (Live Science).
While you can’t plan for every possible disaster, concrete will give you the peace of mind that your home may still be standing in the aftermath of most hurricanes, fires, or tornadoes. If you’re shopping for a new home or are having one built, consider the advantages of using concrete versus other materials.
FAQs
Natural Disasters are catastrophic events that result from any of the Earth's natural phenomena. These can range from floods and hurricanes to tsunamis and earthquakes. The Earth, over its 4.54 billion-year history, has seen many natural disasters.
What role does concrete play when natural disasters occur? ›
Concrete has the necessary hardness and mass to resist the high winds and flying debris of tornadoes and hurricanes. Concrete is fire resistant and non-flammable, which means it can contain fires and will not contribute to the spreading of fire.
What are the essential questions for natural disasters? ›
Essential Questions
What hazards do earthquakes create? How can the hazards be reduced? Where and how do volcanoes occur? What hazards do volcanoes create?
What are natural disasters questions for students? ›
THE DISCUSSION ON NATURAL DISASTERS
| (1) | What comes to mind when you hear the term 'natural disasters'? |
|---|
| (3) | Have you ever experienced a natural disaster? |
| (4) | What was the last natural disaster you saw on TV? |
| (5) | Have you ever prepared for a natural disaster? |
| (6) | Are there often natural disasters in your country? |
5 more rowsA disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
What is a natural disaster your answer? ›
NATURAL DISASTERS, also referred to as natural hazards are extreme, sudden events caused by environmental factors such as storms, floods, droughts, fires, and heatwaves. Natural disasters are now occurring with increasing severity, scope and impact.
Does concrete harm the environment? ›
The cement industry is one of the main producers of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Concrete causes damage to the most fertile layer of the earth, the topsoil. Concrete is used to create hard surfaces which contribute to surface runoff that may cause soil erosion, water pollution and flooding.
Can concrete withstand earthquakes? ›
Built according to good practices, concrete homes can be among the safest and most durable types of structures during an earthquake. Homes built with reinforced concrete walls have a record of surviving earthquakes intact, structurally sound and largely unblemished.
Why is concrete important? ›
The unyielding nature of concrete makes it a durable, long-lasting material choice. It resists erosion, fire, rotting, rusting, and weathering with relative ease, requiring minimal maintenance and repair. Ergo, concrete boasts a lifespan that exceeds many other types of building material.
What is the most serious natural disaster? ›
Ten deadliest natural disasters by highest estimated death toll excluding epidemics and famines
| Death toll (Highest estimate) | Event | Date |
|---|
| 4,000,000 | 1931 China floods | July 1931 |
| 2,000,000 | 1887 Yellow River flood | September 1887 |
| 655,000 | 1976 Tangshan earthquake | July 28, 1976 |
| 500,000 | 1970 Bhola cyclone | November 13, 1970 |
6 more rowsThe main causes of natural disasters are tectonic shifts, lunar activities, deforestation, soil erosion, air pressure, ocean currents, pollution, global warming, mining, seismic waves, etc. Agricultural practices, mining, deforestation, etc., can lead to landslides. Plants and animals can also be damaged by wildfires.
What is the easiest natural disaster to predict? ›
Unlike other disasters, hurricanes are much more predictable, giving residents in potentially impacted areas as much as 36 hours to get ready.
What do natural disasters teach us? ›
Valuable information gathered during the hours, days, months, and years following a disaster can lead to policies and practices that reduce the risk of loss of life, property, and natural resources.
What is natural disaster 5 points? ›
Various phenomena like earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, tsunamis, cyclones, wildfires, and pandemics are all natural hazards that kill thousands of people and destroy billions of dollars of habitat and property each year.
What is the definition of a natural disaster? ›
A natural disaster is an event that is caused by the natural forces of the Earth where great damage and, sometimes, loss of life occurs. Natural disasters can take many forms, ranging from earthquakes and tsunamis, to floods and volcanic eruptions, to mudslides and wildfires.
What is a natural disaster in 100 words? ›
A natural disaster is a major event caused by the natural processes of the Earth. Examples are floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and other geologic processes. A natural disaster causes loss of life or property damage, and leaves some economic damage afterwards costing millions.
What is an example of a natural disaster? ›
Various phenomena like earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, tsunamis, cyclones, wildfires, and pandemics are all natural hazards that kill thousands of people and destroy billions of dollars of habitat and property each year.
What is a natural disaster easy? ›
Natural disasters include all types of severe weather, which have the potential to pose a significant threat to human health and safety, property, critical infrastructure, and homeland security.
