Технология и помощь при бедствиях

Introduction

Natural disasters such as floods, fire, earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes can have devastating consequences and often lead to the loss of many lives. As weather patterns become more extreme and unpredictable due to global warming and these natural disasters increase in frequency, there is a growing need for people to be aware of possible weather threats and for the appropriate aid to be delivered to those affected by disasters as soon as possible when they happen.

The role of Internet technology in emergencies

During a disaster the Internet and social media become vital tools for those affected to communicate and share information and updates of their situation and co-ordinate the appropriate relief. Social media tools allow aid agencies and volunteers to be even quicker with during a crisis.

Technology and disaster relief

These are some of the technologies that are being used to aid in disaster relief:

Drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) that can provide a ‘bird’s-eye view’ of a disaster zone to produce high-resolution 3D renderings of terrain. Giving this information to emergency teams can help them assess the damage and possible helicopter landing zones. It helps aid agencies to effectively dispatch vital resources, such as tents, blankets, water, food and medical supplies. Drones are also used to help locate survivors and are being tested with thermal cameras to help find people trapped under rubble.

Technologies to avert disasters that save millions of lives

These technologies include:

Fire tracking: The computer models with the latest satellite data and observations allow scientists to issue forecasts and potential wild fire warnings to areas that may be affected.

Flood tracking: Flood prediction technology uses radar, streamflow computer simulations and highly detailed computer models of weather.

 Earthquake prediction: Warning systems for earthquakes use high-grade ground motion sensors to monitor and predict earthquakes.

Conclusion

As the frequency of incidences of disasters rise across the globe, new technologies are being developed that will be used to combat future disasters and the increasing effects of global warming in order to save millions of lives.

Vocabulary

flood – наводнение

earthquake – землетрясение

hurricane – ураган

devastating – разрушительный

weather patterns – погодные условия

threat – угроза

aid – помощь, поддержка

vital – жизненно необходимый

relief – помощь пострадавшим

drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) - дроны (беспилотные летательные аппараты)

terrain – местность

landing zone – посадочная зона

satellite – спутник

to combat – бороться , противостоять

Введение

Стихийные бедствия, такие как наводнения, пожары, землетрясения, цунами, ураганы и циклоны, могут иметь разрушительные последствия и часто приводить к гибели многих людей. Поскольку погодные условия становятся все более экстремальными и непредсказуемыми из-за глобального потепления, а частота этих стихийных бедствий возрастает, возрастает необходимость того, чтобы люди осознавали возможные погодные угрозы и чтобы соответствующая помощь доставлялась тем, кто пострадал от стихийных бедствий, как только возможно, когда они случаются.