Jamie_USA.thunderstorms

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U.S.A THUNDERSTORMS __



Jamii & Stephii // media type="youtube" key="qRcKylGzfiw" width="425" height="350" align="left"

Every state in U.S is prone to thunderstorms!

Out of the 100 000 thunderstorms in a year in U.S.A, only 10% of them are severe

They can cause damage and loss of life

Florida is the thunderstorm capital of U.S.A

Lightning kills an average of 800 people in the U.S.A & injures about 80 each year. // 

//June 10th, 2007 at 1AM in kansas// __WHAT'S A THUNDERSTORM?__

Steph The physical features of a thunderstorm is lightning, thunder, cumulonimbus clouds precipitation in the form of rain or hail there is also a cold front and a warm front that crashes and the warm, moist air mass rises and the cold sinks. Because the warm, moist air mass rises it gets cooler and it starts to rain.

The different forms of thunderstorms are not much different, some of the thunderstorms can have trentrial rain or hail and even strong winds but they are only add ons there is always thunder and lightning in thuderstorms.  The Atmosphere conditions is different depanding what stage the storm is up to.

Thunderstorms most commonly happen in Africa. Thunderstorms still happen in America because its near the equator so it has warm moist air to creat thunderstorm.

The causes of the hazard are natural. Humans don't affect the comings and goings of thunderstorms

__EFFECTS OF A STORM?__ Jamie


 * HUMAN EFFECTS**

//19th August 2009 - The thunderstorm on this day flattened cars.

August 2004 - 2 college students were killed after stepping out of their car into a flooded roadway.

July 2004 - lightning set fire to a matress factory

August 2002 - 24 year old woman was injured while on the 4th storey of a building, watching an electrical storm.//

June 2009 - 2 deaths and several bushfires in Southern California

Thunderstotms can cause death, falling of trees, flooding, strong winds, damage of property, damage of crops, flashflooding,hailing and tornadoes.

The estimated cost of damages around U.S.A caused by thunderstorms is around 4 billion dollars each year. Documented injuries are averaged up to about 300 per year but the undocumented injuries are most likely to be alot higher than the documented. On average, lightning strikes kill up to about 100 Americans every year more than a tornado or hurricane would. The table above is the Annual U.S Thunderstorm summary. This shows the injuries and cost of crop and property damage throughout the years 2000 and 2008.

//Sans Fransisco, New Years Day 2008//



The table above is the Annual U.S Thunderstorm summary. This shows the injuries and cost of crop and property damage throughout the years 2000 and 2008.

media type="youtube" key="9rJc_-h_6W0" height="405" width="500" //This video was taken of a collapsing thunderstorm in Sedgwick Country. 22nd of July 2008

Thunderstorms causes stress and panic to whoever is witnnessing it. It can harm people and things they own. People can loose their lives, their family, their home, their most precious belongings and the environment around them.//

media type="youtube" key="E8cMSyzFoLs" width="425" height="350" //Video of a thunderstorm located in Virginia on the 21st August 2007//

Jamie
 * __ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS__**

//19th August 2009, lightning knocked over 100 trees down in Central Park, New York

Lightning caused more than a dozen bushfires in the Cleveland, Los Angeles and San Bernardino.//

During a severe thunderstorm in the U.S.A it is estimated that about 10 big tree's can be uprooted and 6 smaller trees can be uprooted. Tree branches are also commonly snapped off either from the wind or from lightning. Forest fires are also one of the many serious threats that a thunderstorm can bring. Lightning can hit the trees, setting one on fire, then spreading throughout the forest or bush. //Lightning and wind destroys tree//

Flashflooding and flooding is a major threat to those who live in the cities or suburbs around the U.S.A. The flashflooding can cause change just a small creek into a raging torrent in a very short amount of time. This is caused by the amount of rainfall or the size of hailstones which can reach the size of golfballs. Hailstones can be large enough and strong enough to even destroy things such as windows, cars, or even kill wildlife and animals that are caught in the open spaces. //Cows struck by lightning during a thudnerstorm//

It is on average that lightning damages around the whole of U.S.A costs about 4-5 billion dollars a year.

Thunderstorms are known to have a very big impact and effect on the society and the environment because of it's large threats and dangerous after effects. //Lightning travels underneath metal pipe.//

__**Responses to the threat of Thunderstorms**__ Steph To Prevent the threat of lightning setting the house on fire you do: media type="youtube" key="6mVG7fpO1dk" width="425" height="350" the copper rods from the top of the house to the ground prevented the house from catching on fire.

**if your Indoors while the Storm you:** - Stay off the phone - Stay away from windows - Use flashlights if the power goes out - Discontinue use of phones and electrical equipment. You may also want to unplug appliances and computers. - Avoid taking a shower or bath. If lightning strikes your house it may send a current of electricity across metal plumbing throughout the house.

- Reduce your speed - Pull off to the shoulder of the road. Be sure you're away from tall objects, such as trees, which could fall due to wind or lightning and do not clog highway underpasses. - Turn on your emergency flashers - Remain in the car until the storm passes - Do not touch any metal objects in the car - Avoid driving on roads covered by water
 * While driving you:**

- Stay low - If possible, find shelter in a building - Keep away from trees, tall objects, metal objects and water - Boaters and swimmer should get to land as a soon as possible - If you're in a group caught outside, spread out. - If you begin to feel your hair stand on end, this indicates lightning is about to strike. You should drop to your knees and bend forward placing your hands on your knees and crouch down. Do not lie flat on the ground, this will only make you a larger target.
 * While your Outdoors while the storm:**

Some of MY suggestions to stay safe through out Thunderstorms are: - Use minmalount of power - Stay away from eletricity pionts and/or computers - If out side stay as dry as possible - Put RUBBER soled shoes on (electricity dons'nt go thorgh rubber) - If you are in a car try to not touch any metal - If possible stop and what till the storm passes AND JUST STAY SAFE!!

The Emergancy service that halp with thunderstorms/hazards are: - 911 - Federal Emergency Managment Agency - American Red Cross - Catholic Charities USA

The reason land is restricted is: The government restrics land use in some hazards areas because the governmet has a responsiblity to protect the people and property so they put controls in place to stop people from building.

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