Describeanaturaldisaster.doc

Describe a natural disaster.

Five Steps:
1. Which natural disaster?
2. Where and when did it take place?
3. What were the effects? [What happened?]
4. What was done to improve the situation/help those affected by the disaster?
5. How did it make you feel?

1. Which natural disaster?

l I’d like to describe a(n) …
l The natural disaster that I’d like to describe is …
l The natural disaster that I know about is　…
l The natural disaster that I remember is …
l The natural disaster that I have experienced is …
l A terrible/devastating natural disaster was …
l The most terrible natural disaster that I can remember is …

Types of natural disaster
· Earthquake
· Flood
· Volcanic Eruption
· Landslide
· Tornado
· Storm
· Hurricane/Typhoon/Tropical Storm/Cyclonic Storm/Tropical Depression/Cyclone
· Tsunami
· Blizzard (snow storm)
· Wildfire/Bushfire
· Famine
· Drought
· Heat wave
· Epidemic

2. Where and when did it take place?

l It took place/happened/struck/hit/started …
l The epicentre of the earthquake was …
l … was affected.
l … was worst affected.
l Other areas also felt the impact.
l Some of the effects were even felt as far away as in …

3. What were the effects? [What happened?]

l …people were killed.
l …of homes were destroyed.
l …town/villages were destroyed.
l Many people lost their homes.
l Many families lost loved ones.
l Many parents lost their children.
l Many children lost their parents.
l … people’s lives were ruined.
l It turned people’s lives upside down.
l Many buildings were left in ruin.
l Many people had to flee the country/region/affected area/province.
l Communications, such as telephone services, were interrupted.
l Many roads and other infrastructure was destroyed.
l Disease spread around the affected area.
l The local economy was badly affected.
l There were huge food and water shortages.
l Many people suffered from malnutrition/dehydration.
l Chaos and rioting broke out in the affected area.
l Looting was a major problem.

4. What was done to improve the situation/help those affected by the disaster?

l Thousands of rescue workers came to help the survivors.
l Many international rescue teams came to help in the region.
l Financial aid was offered by many countries.
l International humanitarian workers provided support.
l Many NGOs offered support.
l The government invested millions of dollars/yuan/pounds in the redevelopment of the region.
l A fund was set up to help the survivors.
l New homes were built for the survivors.
l Many people donated money/clothes/food to the people affected.
l Medical support/doctors and nurses were sent to the region.
l The army was sent to restore order.
l Food parcels/packages were sent to the survivors.

5. How did it make you feel?

l I felt … sad/shocked/distressed/scared.
l I was distressed by …
l I was shocked by …
l I was touched by …
l … really moved me.
l I felt great sympathy for …
l I was distressed by the terrible suffering that I saw.