Career & Education shares with you this week the second and final part of Khamal Clayton’s essay on the question: ‘Which of the following natural disasters do you think is most frightening: Earthquake, hurricane, fire, flood? Why?’

The Cornwall College student won first prize in this year’s Institute of Jamaica Earth Day essay competition for his thoughts on the subject.

NOTEWORTHY are the natural disasters that can emanate from an earthquake.

On December 26, 2004, in the Indian Ocean, the second strongest earthquake to be recorded on a seismograph was experienced with a magnitude of 9.1. The earthquake was felt by many in South-East Asia, especially Indonesia but that was only an omen for what was to come. Within minutes, a large wave, a tsunami, crashed into a number of coastlines, some as far back as Somalia in East Africa. It has been estimated to have killed 300,000 people and in one area in Indonesia, it has been estimated to have killed 200,000 in an astonishing 15 minutes. It affected the economies, social life and environment of numerous nations with South-Asia.

Finally, a fire is defined as the “the light, heat, and flames caused by something that is burning”. A fire, in the form of a natural disaster, is known as a wildfire. These wildfires destroy everything in their path reducing obstacles to ash and embers, and creating a black, billowy smoke that blackens skies and exacerbates or causes respiratory illnesses. Unlike other natural disasters which leave behind something on which to build upon, such as structural foundations, or furniture or other salvageable items, fires do not take prisoners. Fires are limited however, to regions close to the equator, such as tropical and temperate regions as well as to certain times of the year, more specifically, the dry, hot times such as summer.

In 2009, wild bush fires scarred the countryside of Australia, between February 6-11, causing the deaths of at least 181 people, destroyed numerous towns including, at least, 80 per cent of the buildings of a town called Maryville. According to a number of eyewitness reports, many persons were affected and if one did not lose everything, including one’s home, one knew at least one person who had suffered that unfortunate fate. Some authorities have even gone as far as to forbid persons from returning to their homes, or the ashes that once composed their homes. This is a result of the authorities describing the aftermath as being “too gruesome” or “too distressing” to be seen especially since charred remains of human bodies littered the remnants of once bustling towns.

Each year, Californians live in constant fear of the potential of a wildfire threatening their homes and lives. At the slightest sign of wind activity and high temperatures, Californians became nervous and looked around their environment for the orange and red walls of heat and black billowing skies that are synonymous with wildfires. The fear and anxiety that these Californians feel each year are felt by many worldwide who live in fire-prone areas.

In 2007 and 2008, California experienced a series of wildfires which destroyed thousands of homes and threatened thousands. The wildfire that began in October of 2007 consumed 400,000 acres of land, destroyed more than 2000 homes and forced the temporary evacuation of nearly one million people. However, the worst wild fire to hit the US and one of the world’s worst wildfires was the one that hit Oakland and Alameda in 1991, destroying 2,900 homes and costing insurers US$2.25 billion.

All aforementioned natural disasters are known to destroy cities and towns, in some cases, wiping out all buildings and inhabitants. Only earthquakes are known to have completely removed entire land surfaces on which cities once laid, as well as killed their inhabitants and destroyed its buildings. This is what happened to one of the fastest growing coastal ports in the Western Hemisphere, Port Royal, near the end of the 17th century.

Of the four natural disasters, only three – hurricanes, fires and floods – can be predicted as they are common or only seen during specific times of the year and under certain environmental conditions. Earthquakes, on the other hand, are as unpredictable as they are deadly and can appear and disappear within seconds or minutes. Only earthquakes can strike within any time of the year without any form of warning or prediction.

Depending on the death toll of a natural disaster, its effects can be felt throughout generations. Some natural disasters decimated entire generations of people, leaving behind fewer people to continue daily economic activities. The 2004 tsunami that crashed into South-East Asia killed about 300,000 persons. In one Sri Lankan state, more than 70 per cent were female while in numerous Indonesian settlements and regions more than 70 per cent, sometimes up to 80 per cent, of casualties were women. This will result in numerous gender imbalances, serious domestic disruptions and leaving a generation of young people without mothers and a generation of men without wives. This will also ultimately affect the affected regions birth rates and marriage rates and affect the well-being of numerous motherless children. Hence, earthquakes have no clear rival and are nature’s deadliest killers.

Hurricanes and earthquakes can create new dangers in the form of natural disasters. Both hurricanes and earthquakes can cause floods as Katrina did in 2004 or what the previously mentioned earthquake did in the same year. Also, earthquakes can cause fires, tsunamis and landslides in addition to floods. Floods can cause landslides and mudflows, and can encourage outbreaks of water-borne diseases or vector-borne diseases. Fires, as a result of heavy air pollution, can encourage the occurrence of smog and temporarily affect regional temperatures. Hence, earthquakes are not only unpredictable but are even deadlier because of the natural disasters they can cause.

The economic effects of natural disasters may vary from minimal to devastating. Though hurricane Ivan and Gilbert smashed mercilessly into Jamaica, within a few months, life returned to normal. On the other hand, Hurricane Katrina destroyed hotels, casinos, businesses and homes thus bringing its once vibrant economy of New Orleans to a stand still. Although New Orleans is slowly recuperating from its once unsightly wounds, today it is only a shadow of its former self. The earthquake that struck Indonesia in 2004 caused an estimated US$4.4 billion alone to Indonesia and the worst wildfire to have struck the United States caused an estimated US$2.25 billion. However, these natural disasters were all outdone by Hurricane Katrina that caused a staggering US$125 billion alone but whether it was caused by flooding or the hurricane itself can be debated.

A unique trait of earthquakes is the effects it can have on the earth’s geology, rotation and tilt. The infamous earthquake that devastated South-East Asia on December 26, 2004 has been calculated to have altered the Earth’s shape, shortened the length of the day by micro-seconds and shifted the Earth’s North Pole by centimetres. Though this may seem trivial or small, these effects can accumulate over time to have major impacts on the Earth’s already delicate biosphere. The power of an earthquake is so great even the Earth quivers in its presence.

Therefore, it can be concluded that the earthquake is the most frightening natural disaster when compared to fires, floods and hurricanes. It is deadlier than all three natural disasters combined as it can kill up to hundreds of thousands of people in a few minutes. It is unpredictable even with modern technology thus we can never know where and when one will strike next. Also, it can cause psychological trauma during and after its occurrence, especially since its devastating effects are only inflicted within a few seconds or minutes. It can cause billions of dollars worth of damage and cripple the economy of an entire nation. It can even affect the Earth’s rotation and tilt as well as the geographical state of its land masses. Its devastating effects are varied across the sociological, psychological, economical, and geographical spectrum. Hence, I believe that the earthquake is the Earth’s most frightening natural disaster.