Natural Disasters Vocabulary List

Flood

• Definition: An overflow of water that submerges land.
• Example: “The flood destroyed many homes after the river burst its banks.”

Earthquake

• Definition: A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movements of the Earth’s crust.
• Example: “The earthquake caused buildings to collapse and roads to crack.”

Hurricane

• Definition: A powerful tropical storm with strong winds and heavy rain.
• Example: “Hurricane Katrina caused massive damage to the city of New Orleans in 2005.”

Drought

• Definition: A long period of little or no rainfall, leading to water shortages.
• Example: “Farmers suffered great losses during the severe drought last year.”

Volcano

• Definition: A mountain that erupts with lava, ash, and gases from the Earth’s surface.
• Example: “The volcano erupted suddenly, covering the nearby town in ash.”

Blizzard

• Definition: A severe snowstorm with strong winds and low visibility.
• Example: “We couldn’t leave the house for two days because of the blizzard.”

Magma

• Definition: Molten rock located beneath the Earth’s surface.
• Example: “The magma flows from deep within the Earth and erupts as lava from a volcano.”

Lava

• Definition: Hot molten rock that erupts from a volcano and flows on the Earth’s surface.
• Example: “After the volcano erupted, lava flowed down the mountainside, destroying everything in its path.”

Evacuate

• Definition: To leave a dangerous area for safety.
• Example: “The residents were told to evacuate the city before the hurricane hit.”

Ash Cloud

• Definition: A large cloud of volcanic ash produced by an eruption.
• Example: “The ash cloud from the volcanic eruption disrupted air travel for days.”

Aftershock

• Definition: A smaller earthquake that follows the main quake.
• Example: “Several aftershocks shook the region hours after the initial earthquake.”

Seismic

• Definition: Related to or caused by an earthquake or other ground vibration.
• Example: “Scientists are monitoring seismic activity in the area for potential earthquakes.”

Tsunami

• Definition: A large ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption.
• Example: “The tsunami hit the coastal town after a strong earthquake occurred offshore.”

Snowdrift

• Definition: A large pile of snow blown by the wind.
• Example: “The strong winds caused massive snowdrifts, making the roads impassable.”

Power Outage

• Definition: A loss of electrical power.
• Example: “The blizzard caused a power outage, leaving the entire town in darkness.”

Aid Kit

• Definition: A set of medical supplies used for basic treatment of injuries.
• Example: “You should always have a first aid kit ready in case of an emergency during a disaster.”

Shelter

• Definition: A safe place where people can stay during dangerous weather.
• Example: “People took shelter in schools and community centers during the hurricane.”

Hypothermia

• Definition: A medical condition caused by dangerously low body temperature.
• Example: “The man was treated for hypothermia after being caught in the blizzard without proper clothing.”

Flash Flood

• Definition: A sudden, severe flood caused by heavy rainfall or a broken dam.
• Example: “The flash flood swept away cars and trapped people in their homes.”

Disaster Preparedness Kit

• Definition: A set of tools and supplies needed for survival during a disaster.
• Example: “It’s important to have a disaster preparedness kit with food, water, and medical supplies.”

Snowstorm

• Definition: A storm with heavy snowfall and sometimes strong winds.
• Example: “The snowstorm made it difficult to drive, and many schools were closed.”

Evacuation Route

• Definition: A designated path people must follow to escape a dangerous area.
• Example: “The city posted signs for the hurricane evacuation route along the highway.”

Seismograph

• Definition: An instrument used to measure the strength and duration of earthquakes.
• Example: “The seismograph recorded a 6.5 magnitude earthquake off the coast.”

Snowplow

• Definition: A vehicle used to remove snow from roads and driveways.
• Example: “The snowplow cleared the main road so people could drive again.”

Tornado

• Definition: A rapidly rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground.
• Example: “The tornado destroyed several buildings in the town but fortunately did not cause any injuries.”

Wildfire

• Definition: An uncontrolled fire that spreads quickly in forests, grasslands, or other areas with dry vegetation.
• Example: “The wildfire spread rapidly due to strong winds and dry conditions.”

Firebreak

• Definition: A gap or strip of land cleared of vegetation to stop the spread of a fire.
• Example: “Firefighters created a firebreak to prevent the wildfire from reaching nearby homes.”

Evacuation

• Definition: The process of leaving a dangerous area for safety.
• Example: “Residents were ordered to evacuate as the wildfire approached their town.”

Fire front

• Definition: The leading edge of a wildfire where flames are most intense.
• Example: “Firefighters focused their efforts on controlling the fire front.”

Containment

• Definition: The process of controlling and stopping the spread of a wildfire.
• Example: “The wildfire is now 60% contained, meaning it is partially under control.”