Vocabulary
A hurricane is a type of natural _____ that can cause lots of damage.
disaster
What are three ways people can stay safe during a tornado?
People should stay inside, stay away from windows, go to the basement or ground floor, and get under a table or stairs that can protect them from falling objects.
A drought happens when an area gets very little rain for a long time. This causes the soil to dry out and makes it hard for plants to grow. Without water, crops can die, and people may not have enough water to drink or use in their homes. Droughts can last for months or even years, affecting farms and entire communities.
What are two problems caused by droughts?
Droughts make it hard for crops to grow. Also, people may not have enough water to drink or use in their homes.
Tornadoes can _____ entire neighborhoods in just a few minutes.
destroy
Why is it important to stay indoors during a blizzard?
It is important to stay indoors during a blizzard because the cold temperature can be dangerous.
A hurricane is a huge storm that forms over warm ocean waters. It has strong winds, heavy rain, and can cause flooding when it reaches land. Hurricanes can last for days and can cause a lot of destruction along coastlines. People living in areas where hurricanes happen need to prepare by boarding up windows and sometimes evacuating to safer places.
What happens when a hurricane reaches land?
Hurricanes cause flooding when they reach land.
We can't drink the river water because it might be _________ with harmful bacteria.
contaminated
How do droughts affect crops?
Floods occur when too much water overflows onto dry land. This can happen when rivers rise, after heavy rainfall, or when snow melts too quickly. Floods can destroy homes, wash away cars, and make roads impossible to drive on. People often have to leave their homes during floods and wait until the water goes away before they can return.
What are two ways a flood can happen?
A flood can happen when rivers rise, after heavy rainfall, or when snow melts too quickly.
Scientists try to ______ the weather so people can prepare.
predict
Why did the DROUGHT happen?
...
A blizzard is a winter storm with heavy snow and strong winds. During a blizzard, the wind can make it hard to see, and the cold temperatures can be dangerous for people caught outside. Roads may become icy and difficult to drive on. People are often advised to stay indoors and keep warm until the storm passes.
What makes a blizzard dangerous for people and drivers?
Blizzards cause roads to become icy, which makes it difficult and unsafe for people to drive.
The winter storm caused _______ damage to the roads and power lines.
severe
Why do some areas experience more flooding than other places?
Low-lying places near water are at the highest risk of flooding.
The Dust Bowl was a period in the 1930s when severe dust storms his the central United States. It was caused by a combination of drought and poor farming practices that left the soil dry and loose. When the wind blew, it lifted the dust into the air, creating massive clouds that covered everything. Many farmers lost their crops, and some people had to leave their homes because it was too hard to live in such harsh conditions.
Why did the Dust Bowl happen, and what was its impact on farmers?
The Dust Bowl happened due to drought and poor farming practices. It caused farmers to lose their crops.