Natural Disasters

• Hurricanes are powerful storms that form over the ocean and have winds greater than 75 mph

• Climate conditions make them very common in the Atlantic

• Often sweep across the Caribbean islands during summer and autumn months

• Destroy property and threaten lives• Can be extremely devastating in the poor areas.

Hurricanes

Earthquakes

• Occur when the tetonic plates move• Most of L. America is located above the

areas where the tectonic plates meet• Region is prone to earthquakes• Can be extremely violent

Volcanoes

• Openings in the earth’s surface through which lava, volcanic ashes, and gases escape.

• Exists throughout many of L. American mountain ranges.

• More than 40 are in Central America • Many of the islands in the Caribbean are

peaks of underwater volcanoes

Flooding

• Heavy rains cause flooding• Also happens when winter snowfalls in the

Andes melt and turn to water.• Destroys crops, homes, and entire

villages.

Mudslides

• One of the dangers from flooding is mudslides

• They occur when the ground becomes so wet that part of it gives way…massive amounts of mud come down the mountainside.

• Can bury people and entire towns.