Hurricane Katrina

Natural disasters are the result of a natural hazard that comes in contact with a significant population of humans. Although many natural hazards occur all throughout the world, they are not considered a natural disaster until they effect a place that is inhabited by humans. There have been many natural disasters that have occurred throughout recorded history, and several others in more recent times that have had a large impact on the lives of many people. Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tsunamis are recent natural disasters that have effected millions of people within the last decade.

The 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami:
In 2004, an undersea earthquake, classified as a megathrust earthquake, occurred on December 26. The epicenter of the earthquake was on the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, causing massive tsunamis to hit the surrounding coasts shortly afterward. The tsunamis hit landmasses that bordered the Indian Ocean and resulted in the death of about 230,000 people across fourteen countries. The tsunamis that hit were estimated to be about one hundred feet high causing one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

The earthquake itself had a magnitude between 9.1 and 9.3, the second largest earthquake ever recorded by a seismograph. The duration was between eight and ten minutes, the longest earthquake ever observed. The amount of force that was exerted by the earthquake caused many other parts of the world to be affected as well. It even caused several small earthquakes in areas as far away as Alaska.

The 2008 Sichuan Earthquake:
This earthquake was one of the deadliest recent natural disasters. Occurring in 2008, the earthquake reached a magnitude of 8.0 on May 12, 2008. The death toll reached about 68,000 people. The epicenter was estimated to be in Wenchuan County in the Sichuan province. It left between 4.8 and 11 million people homeless and was one of the deadliest recent natural disasters in recent memory since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. Strong aftershocks continued to hit the area, reaching magnitudes of about 6.0.

Hurricane Katrina:
Hurricane Katrina was a tropical storm that hit the southern coast of the United States in 2005. About 1,836 people lost their lives and another 700 people were missing. One of the deadliest recent natural disasters to occur in the United States, it cost about $81 billion in damage. The largest loss of life and damage occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana, when the levee system designed to prevent floods in the city failed. Four years after the disaster, thousands of residents were still living in trailers.

Haiti Earthquake of 2010:
On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, with an epicenter reaching near Leogane, followed by several aftershocks averaging at about 4.5 magnitude or greater. It is estimated that about 3 million lives were affected by the earthquake. It is one of the worst current natural disasters to happen in recent memory, and has caused more than 150,000 deaths.