Natural calamities have been a cause of great destruction and devastation on Earth. Some are more violent in nature as compared to the others, and sometimes, it’s simply impossible to estimate a death count – a great example is of a volcanic eruption that lead to tsunami and completely wiped out the Mediterranean Island of Stroggli.
Natural calamities are unpredictable in nature and often occur all of a sudden. Due to this nature, avoiding them is almost impossible. However, we can take certain precautions that will help keep the level of devastation down and save precious human lives.
The nature of protection against natural disasters depends on the type of the disaster. For disasters like floods and landslides, plantation of trees is a good long-term solution. On the other hand, there are disasters like lightening or earthquake against which there is not much a man can do. No matter what type of disaster you face, you can always plan something to increase your chances of survival.
As far as earthquakes are concerned, people all over the world are told to calmly leave the building they are in when the quake strikes. In case of damage, people are encouraged and taught to help pull out other people from the debris. On a larger scale, buildings can be constructed in a way that ensures they are less likely to collapse during an earthquake. In Japan for instance, there are shock absorbers installed at the base of the buildings which enables the building to move with the earthquake and prevents collapse.
Floods and landslides are hard to avoid. However, to protect against them, measures can be taken on a government level. These could include passing of laws that prohibit cutting down of trees and building of houses in regions that are flood prone. Disasters like drought can be avoided by proper planning and allocation of resources. Measures can be taken at community level so that no one is misusing or overusing their share of resources like water and food.
Regions where strong winds and tornadoes are a frequent occurrence need different precautionary measures. Tornadoes and storms can be predicted to an extent in today’s world. Once one is predicted, it is important not to wander out without reason. Asking the kids to stay at home is another good measure. These regions usually have strongly built houses to withstand the storms. However, having a basement where you can stay and wait for the storm to pass is not a bad idea. Make sure though that the basement has a door that takes you directly out of the house so that in case the house collapses, you can get out of the basement.
To protect against natural calamities, safety measures need to be taken at all levels. Governments need to play their part by passing laws that can result in safety for people while people themselves can learn the basic ways to respond to natural calamities. Communities need to have small plans in place because in case of a disaster, the nearest people who can help you will be those living in your neighborhood.
