- State College is located in central Pennsylvania. According to the Nathan World Map of Natural Hazards, my town is situated in Zone 2 for Hailstorms. The area is prone to heavy rainfall due to storms during the winter and summer. State College is situated in Zone 0 for Extratropical storms, with wind speed less than or equal to 80 miles per hour. The area does not frequently encounter tornadoes or wildfires and is located in Zone 1 for both. The Nathan map is great for looking at natural hazards at a global scale. It would be easier to view the data and draw conclusions if the maps were produced on a smaller scale. I had to guess the location of my town on the map and which zone the town was in for multiple hazards.
- According to the RSOE EIS map, a 4.3 magnitude earthquake in Taitung City, Taiwan occurred today at 8:08 am (UTC time). The hazard is not likely to occur in State College as my town is not located near any fault lines. The Nathan map puts my town in Zone 0: MM V and below for earthquakes. On the other hand, Taiwan is located in Zone 3 and 4 for earthquakes on the Nathan map. The country is situated near tectonic plates which continually collide together producing earthquakes. The scale and number of people affected was not found in the details, but I would assume the hazard would affect many people and be at a national scale as Taiwan is relatively small. If the earthquake were to occur in State College, the results would be devastating as it would be at a local or smaller scale. The earthquake would be stronger and would lead to some more vulnerable than others depending on their location. Those who live on the outskirts of town would be less vulnerable to the earthquake as it might be weaker if the center occurred in State College. People who live in poorly built buildings or who live downtown might be more vulnerable as more debris could fall and hit them. Citizens who are young and live in open areas would be the least vulnerable as they would be able to protect themselves from danger. My town could reduce their vulnerability to earthquakes by educating citizens on what to do if they occur. Having a response plan to aid those who are hurt or affected by the earthquake would be beneficial as people could be treated quickly. It could fix the damages in the town as fast as possible.
- I have lived in State College for my entire life and have experienced a handful of natural hazards. The area frequently endures severe thunderstorms and snowstorms. Several thunderstorms in the past have been so severe they led to a tornado warning. A few tornadoes have touched down near State College, but they were not very strong. Snowstorms have been present in my area, with totals exceeding 30 inches according to my father. In some cases, snow squalls have appeared during the winter which creates dangerous conditions for drivers. The area is not prone to earthquakes and volcanoes. Occasionally, the area may get hit with rain and winds from a hurricane coming off the Atlantic Ocean. Overall, central Pennsylvania is very safe compared to other regions throughout the country.
- State College normally experiences thunderstorms and snowstorms throughout the year. I think educating people about these types of storms could help to reduce the damage done by them. In particular, improving the technology to communicate ideas related to weather problems would be important as well. For example, there is little communication regarding the presence of snow squalls. Most citizens do not know when or where they will occur. It would be great to educate people about the severity of snow squalls and to give them an idea of when they will occur. As a result, it could save the lives of many people driving on the highways or nearby areas. PennDot and AccuWeather would be the best people to perform these actions as they have the knowledge and skills needed to educate people about these hazards. Accuweather can inform people of the hazards while PennDot can educate and implement these actions. As a citizen of State College, I can create a plan with my neighbors to prepare and respond to natural hazards. I might designate a neighbor to have extra food available, to have extra batteries, and to have blankets in case we lose power due to a hazard. As a result, we could prepare and survive for all natural hazards which may occur in our area.
2 thoughts on “Natural Hazards–Amanda Giedroc”
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Hey Amanda! My name is Caren, feel free to check out my blog:
http://geog030.dutton.psu.edu/2016/03/28/natural-hazards-3/
I found your blog interesting because my hometown also experiences heavy rain throughout the year. However, I am not in a zone 2 for hailstorms. I agree with you that citizens who are educated and more young and physically fit would be less vulnerable during an earthquake. I can’t believe you have experienced snow storms exceeding 30 inches! By educating residents on the different natural hazards occurring, people will be able to prepare and be safe.
Hi! My name is Julie and here is a link to my post: https://wp.me/p3RCAy-cMi.
I was interested in your post because my hometown receives very similar weather to State College and the same amount of risk for these types of natural hazards. I also liked how you thought that education was a large part when talking about the vulnerability of an area when talking about natural hazards. I was interested especially in the specific example that you gave about snow squalls. Very interesting post!