natural disaster
Earthquake or tsunami
A natural disaster is a catastrophic event caused by natural processes rather than human action—earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions.
The term distinguishes these from human-made disasters like industrial accidents or war.
The town never fully recovered from the natural disaster.
Insurance policies often treat natural disasters differently from other losses.
Seismic ground movement
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
wildfire · volcano · cyclone · typhoon · avalanche · landslide · mudslide · blizzard
Act of completely ruining
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- damageHarm or impairment
debris · rubble · survivors · victims · homelessness · infrastructure · contamination · power outage
Removal from danger
- reliefEasing of distress
- rescueSave from harm
- shelterProtected place or structure
- emergencySerious sudden danger
FEMA · Red Cross · humanitarian · recovery · reconstruction · aid · volunteer · supplies
Wind-driven coastal flooding
- wind speedMotion rate of air
- rainfallWater falling from clouds
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- atmosphericOf the air above
barometric · eye wall · flooding · downpour · lightning · thunder · gust · deluge
Point above seismic origin
- magnitudeSize or scale
- RichterSeismological scale eponym
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- fault lineTectonic boundary crack
tremor · liquefaction · seismology · tectonic · rupture · shockwave · seismograph · foreshock
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
flood · wildfire · volcano · cyclone · typhoon · avalanche · landslide · mudslide · blizzard · drought
destruction
Act of completely ruining
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- displacementRemoval from usual location
damage · debris · rubble · survivors · victims · homelessness · infrastructure · contamination · power outage · trauma
evacuation
Removal from danger
emergency · FEMA · Red Cross · humanitarian · recovery · reconstruction · aid · volunteer · supplies · donation
storm surge
Wind-driven coastal flooding
- wind speedMotion rate of air
- rainfallWater falling from clouds
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
atmospheric · barometric · eye wall · flooding · downpour · lightning · thunder · gust · deluge · supercell
epicenter
Point above seismic origin
- magnitudeSize or scale
- RichterSeismological scale eponym
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
fault line · tremor · liquefaction · seismology · tectonic · rupture · shockwave · seismograph · foreshock · subduction
- death causescause of death, manner of death, accidental death, homicide, murder
- disastersearthquake, earthquakes, catastrophe, floods, calamity
- crisescrisis, emergency, catastrophe, calamity, meltdown
- dangersdanger, peril, hazard, risk, menace
- natural disastersearthquake, tornado, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic eruption
- business risksmarket risk, competition, data breach, cyberattack, recession
natural disasterindustrial accident
Harmful event at factories
act of war · terrorist attack · nuclear accident · war · nuclear meltdown
natural, nature, disaster, unnatural, supernatural, disastrous, natures, preternatural, naturals