Natural disasters
- 2. What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘flood’?
- 3. How dangerous are floods? What would you do to prepare for a flood?
- 4. The Australian state of Queensland is facing an uphill struggle to recover from its recent flood. It could take years before things are back to normal. Large areas of the state are still under water. Thousands of homes have been flooded and many people are now without a roof over their heads. Many more homes are without power and people are relying on food and water handouts.
- 5. State Premier Anna Bligh told reporters the flood is the worst natural disaster in Queensland’s history and that reconstruction would be of "post-war proportions". She said: "Queensland is reeling this morning from the worst natural disaster in our history and possibly in the history of our nation….We've seen three-quarters of our state having experienced the devastation of raging flood waters.”
- 6. One good piece of news to emerge from the flood is that the flood waters weren’t as high as feared. The water peaked at 4.46m, below the 5.4m of the 1974 floods. Nevertheless, around 30 Brisbane suburbs now look like giant lagoons.
- 7. There is a huge amount of debris in the water, ranging from the entire walkway that lined Brisbane’s business district waterfront, to a floating restaurant smashed to pieces after crashing into a bridge. So far, the reported death toll is 15, but dozens more people are missing. Brisbane’s mayor Campbell Newman warned residents it would take a long time to return to normal.
- 8. He said: “The clean-up effort, ultimately, will take many, many months…The reconstruction effort on people's homes is going to take much longer.”
- 9. What would frighten you most? Floods Earthquake Hurricane Volcano Landslide Drought
- 10. DEFENCES What defences can we have against these forces?
- 11. What’s the worst natural disaster in China’s history? What disasters you been in?
- 12. What would you take if you had to leave your house in a disaster?
- 13. What are the dangers after the floodwaters have gone?
- 14. What would be the most important things to take? water passport pet mp3 player mobile phone wallet computer sleeping bag Clothes food
- 15. What would you do after the water is gone and your belongings are all destroyed?