Natural disasters are naturally occurring events that immensely damage natural life and assets. Since disasters are unforeseen events, therefore, it ravages human life and property in an unprecedented way. The data put forth by Our World In Data states that – natural disasters ranging from, floods and droughts to earthquakes and storms reportedly kill 40,000-50,000 people annually. That’s not all! In 2023 itself, there were reportedly 95,000 fatalities globally from multiple natural disasters. So, when you are asked to write a paragraph on natural disaster, you need to mention everything in detail.
In this blog, we will discuss the various types of natural disasters, the causes and effects of these natural disasters, and the precautions required to prepare to deal with these disasters.
Essay on natural disaster
A disruption in the natural ecological system, such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, cyclones, and such as these are referred to as a natural disaster. The key reasons behind a natural disaster in most cases are – human-related activities. Climate change is one of the biggest causes of natural disasters that are plaguing the earth.
Having said that, the primary types of natural disasters are – earthquakes, cyclones, landslides, floods, volcanoes, tsunamis, and wildfires to name a few. From deforestation to rapid urbanization to uncontrolled human activities, there are a host of factors that contribute to these disasters.
On that note, timely preparedness, controlled urbanization, disaster management, resilient infrastructure, community preparedness, and proper policies are some of the ways by which the side effects can be reduced significantly. At an international level, assuredly, there is a lot more that must be done. From cooperating with the affected nations at a higher scale to framing policies that cater to the requirements of ‘economically and ecologically vulnerable nations’ to make some structural changes, a lot needs to be done when dealing with natural disasters.
Natural disasters only occur when the ecological balance of the Earth gets disrupted. Apart from some general natural causes, most of the situations created are human-induced. Hence, to protect the Earth and increase its viability one must take serious measures to deal with the aftermaths of it all.
Natural disaster paragraph for class 8
A natural disaster as you already know is an event wherein there is disruption in the natural processes of the earth. It causes immense loss of lives and property and also leaves behind economic damage amounting to millions! As it has been mentioned umpteenth times, the key reasons behind such massive natural disasters are man-made activities like – deforestation and climate change.
In simple terminology, natural disasters occur when – vulnerability levels are similar to the hazardous conditions. This implies, that, if an earthquake or a cyclone occurs in an uninhabited place, then it is not considered as a natural disaster. This is simply because – the adversity levels are not high given that the area concerned is not packed with assumed vulnerability (highly populated area, or has a high proportion of animal population).
The multiple types of natural disasters depending on their features and the level of the affected area concerned are – earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, cyclones/hurricanes, volcanoes, droughts, and wildfires.
The primary causes behind most of the noted natural disasters are – uncontrolled human activities (deforestation, fossil fuel burning, urbanization) – all of which ultimately adversely affect the climate of that area or by extension a wider area.
When the ecological balance is disrupted, then, the climate compared to its natural cycle gets disrupted, resulting in the above-mentioned disasters. When you look carefully, you will see how – deforestation leads to enhanced pollution levels that further lead to untoward climate change.
When the water balance in the atmosphere is uncharacteristically altered, then, the rainfall is excessive (followed by devastating cyclones/hurricanes – East Asian countries like Bangladesh Sunderban area, Indian coasts, Chinese cities, and Sri Lanka) getting affected the most.
This, in more than a single scenario, causes floods, the impact of which is very high – Bangladesh faces massive flooding issues along with India, especially in the Sunderban area which is vulnerable.
Talking about the other forms of natural disasters, this rise in urbanization, infrastructure, and pollution also affects Earth’s tectonic plates and causes earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. The economic loss, environmental degradation, destruction and displacement of the population, and the psychological trauma that people have to undergo are the side effects of natural disasters.
Having said that, as a community or aware individuals looking towards bettering the lives of one and all in this world – to deal with the side effects of such natural disasters, preparedness is the key! So, technical advancement is a must! Governments must develop better and more prominent warning systems, that will provide timely information for a robust response system.
Added to that, following initial rules and regulations is a must since when activities are done according to the protocol (whether creating infrastructure or developing eco-friendly policies, the chances of mishaps are reduced significantly. Preparedness as part of the community, keeping the emergency options open, and facilitating recovery are some of the ideal ways by which you can mitigate the effects of any and every such natural disaster.
Lastly, international cooperation efforts and immediate responses to a call for help are some of the other basic ways that you can salvage in the face of a disaster. Also, such kind of international support and coordination is a must when it comes to dealing with large-scale disasters like the – Mocha Cyclone in Bangladesh (2023), Yash Cyclone in India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (2021), flash floods, landslides, Cox’s Bazaar Settlement Fire (2023) and many more!
Essay on natural disaster rescue
Natural disasters, as we all know are caused when there is disruption in the natural processes of the Earth. Floods, earthquakes, cyclones, droughts, landslides, volcanoes, and wildfires all come under the category of natural disasters.
Whenever there is a disaster, multiple rescue teams work side by side to ensure that the time is minimized while the work speed increases.
- The local NGO’s and assistance groups are supposedly the first responders in case of any natural disaster. Mostly they have their own rescue teams and follow the protocol as they move ahead to help people stuck in such terrible situations. Locals also join these help groups to assist in the rescue process.
- Next in line to rescue people from such natural disaster situations comes the government. The governments have separate natural disaster management teams, which coordinate with the army and navy (as and when required) to assist the people stuck in this unforeseen situation.
- In case the natural disaster is huge and affects more than a single country at a time – quite like the Turkey-Syria Earthquakes in 2023, or the Amphan Cyclone that affected Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar (2020) – even the foreign governments chip in to help. They send their own armies and disaster management forces to assist the affected countries.
These are some of the ways by which a natural disaster rescue mission is carried out. On the whole, as individuals, we must be more cautious about the environment and protect it to the best of our abilities.
