This document contains instructions for an assignment on natural disasters. It includes 9 questions split across 3 sections on the 1993 Mississippi River flood, the 2007 Witch Creek wildfire in California, and the 2014 Oso mudslide in Washington. The questions require discussing key facts and critical issues for each event, and evaluating decisions around controlling floods, designing fire-resistant communities, and convincing people to relocate from landslide prone areas.

1. APA format in Word
No minimum word count.
9 questions, some are 2 parts.
Reference:
Abbott, P. (2013)
Natural Disasters
9th edition. McGraw-Hill.
Equilibrium Stream, Flash vs. Regional Floods, & Urbanization
Effects
The 1993 Mississippi River flood
Assign. 1. In a narrative format, discuss the key facts and
critical issues presented.
2. 1. What were the weather conditions that produced the flood?
How long did the flood water take to pass through the entire
river system?
2. What measures were taken to protect cities from flooding?
3. Control of flood waters requires that many decisions be
made. Should more miles of levees be built? Should existing
levees be built higher? Should the river bottom be dredged
deeper?

2. Should more flood waters be diverted out of the river channel
into farmland and rural communities? Should the river course be
shortened by cutting through meander bends?
Evaluate each of your decisions against the knowledge that the
river is an equilibrium system that will work against some
human constructions.
Wildfire & Fire Fighting; Mass Movements & Gravity
The 2007 Witch Creek fire in Southern California
4.
In a narrative format, discuss the key facts and critical issues
presented.
5. 1. What are the damage statistics of the Witch Creek fire?
Was it fuel or wind driven? Why is the chaparral vegetation of
the area so prone to burn?
2. What were the lessons learned from "The Trails" housing
development?
6. How could The Trails subdivision been designed and built in
ways to avoid having so many houses catch fire? How can you
protect a house from flying embers?

3. Subsidence & Falls; Flows of Rock & Snow; Slides &
Mitigation
The 2014 "Oso mudslide" in Washington
7.
In a narrative format, discuss the key facts and critical issues
presented.
8. 1. The "Oso mudslide" was actually two separate events that
occurred a few minutes apart. Describe what the earth/rock/mud
did during each part of each event [Hint: neither was a
mudslide.
2. What role did the river play in setting up the slope failure?
Why were the rocks in the hill so weak? What were they? How
old were they?
9. What could / would you say to convince strong-minded
people living in a beautiful rural setting in an unincorporated
area that their landslide threat was so dangerous that they
should give up their houses and land and move somewhere else?