U.S. Natural Disasters: Connection to the Pacific Ring of Fire

The United States is one states in the American Continent, which is included in the Pacific Ring of Fire. This ring area is a risky zone towards natural disasters. Various risks across many sectors are caused by U.S. natural disasters. The disaster mitigation program is needed to solve the problem.

What are U.S. Natural Disasters?

The geographical conditions of a country certainly determine the type of natural disaster that occurs. The US is one of the disaster-prone countries in the American Continent. The following are natural disasters that have struck the US.

1. Earthquake

An earthquake is one of the high-risk natural disasters that often hit the US. Not only does it have complex impacts, potential for earthquakes is very large and can trigger other natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. The powerful earthquake is proof of the strong movement of plates.

2. Tsunami

A high wave that can reach tens of kilometers is called a tsunami. It is triggered by a massive earthquake. It can occur because movement of strong tectonic plates, which are centered on the ocean floor. At the end, high and strong sea waves were formed, which hit the coast and swept the land for tens of kilometers.

3. Volcanic Eruption

Volcanic eruptions are also a potential natural disaster in the US. It occurs when the plates surrounding a mountain move, triggering magma to rise to the surface. The process is called eruption. Besides emitting lava, the hot materials and gases are released when the volcano erupts.

4. Climate Disasters

Climate disasters also occur in the US. In this modern era, extreme climate change, become a hot topic. Tornadoes, floods, droughts, fires, and extreme heat are some climate disasters in the US. Two factors triggering the potential for climate disasters to increase such as natural climate change and the accumulation of greenhouse gases because of human activities.

Connection to the Pacific Ring of Fire

Does the Pacific Ring of Fire determine the occurrence of natural disasters? The ring area is a sensitive zone where natural disasters often happen. In this ring area, there are active movements of tectonic plates that cause volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

It can be seen that the three natural disasters are caused by plate movements. Finally, it concludes that the US’s location in the ring area determines the number of natural disasters.

Moreover, not all natural disasters relate to the Pacific Ring of Fire. One example is tornadoes. A tornado is a climate disaster that occurs due to the meeting of different air masses and atmospheric instability, so the cause is not the plate movement. Thus, it is not related to the Pacific Ring of Fire.

What about other climate disasters? Although indirectly, other climate disasters are including droughts, fires, floods, and extreme heat, are related to the US's location on the Pacific Ring of Fire. An increase in natural disasters in the Pacific Ring of Fire causes an increase in climate change intensity.

Risks Mitigation Program by the U.S. Government

A risk mitigation program is a key to facing U.S. natural disasters. This program includes all actions pre-disaster, during, and post-disaster, effectively reducing disaster risk and increasing safety.

1. Monitoring

The first program is continuous monitoring for signs of natural changes. This monitoring is carried out using sophisticated technology called sensors.

These monitoring devices can identify any natural changes occurring and analyze whether they could lead to a disaster. If a disaster is predicted, an emergency warning signal is given. Technically, an emergency warning system connects to the monitoring sensors.

2. Socialization and Simulation

Supporting the monitoring system, the US government is applying socialization and simulations. Various important information about natural disasters can be provided by a socialization program. The information consists of the types of disasters, their impacts, their causes, and disaster mitigation. Disaster simulations are also provided to provide practical experience in the evacuation process.

3. Disaster Warning System

The disaster warning system is directly connected to monitoring devices. If a potential disaster is detected by the sensors, a disaster warning signal is issued. The first warning is an early warning. The warning signal consists of a siren or alarm accompanied by an emergency message. The goal is to alert the public and prepare to evacuate.

Next, an evacuation warning signal is issued to signal the start of the evacuation process to a safer location. The evacuation warning is issued immediately after the early warning is issued.

4. Recovery

The next stage is recovery, which occurs after a natural disaster. Recovery plans are formulated in advance by the government and relevant agencies. Collaboration between the government and non-governmental organizations will expedite the recovery process in various aspects.

5. Evaluation

The final stage is evaluation. A series of risk mitigation programs that have been implemented needs to be evaluated to determine their success. Through evaluation, the extent of the success of the mitigation program and whether it has met its targets or not. The evaluation results are then used to improve the program.

This is a series of risk mitigation programs for U.S. natural disasters that form a cycle. The government can support emergency warning systems by optimizing technology. Warning signals are greatly assisted by the delivery of emergency messages because the information can be clearly understood. Therefore, sending an emergency message based on SMS (Short Message Service) is recommended.

The message sending system by SMS is practical because sent directly to mobile phones in real time. This service does not rely on an internet signal. To realize it, the US government can provide a message-sending machine based on SMS that can be accessed at smsbroadcaster.com.