At any time, the US, like any other country, can be greatly affected by any number of natural or man-made disasters. Today, the number of potential threats here is unfortunately growing. As heightened awareness and readiness are more commonly called for, here are five potential disasters facing the US either right now or very soon.
Nuclear War
As of the creation of this piece, the US is embroiled in tensions with North Korea, a new nuclear and ICBM world-power. As a war of words continues, fears grow of the possibility of an actual nuclear war involving the US, North Korea, and even associated countries China and Russia. While no one quite knows what the eventual outcome might be as of yet, the situation certainly has everyone tensely braced at the moment (http://video.foxnews.com/v/5539216806001/?#sp=show-clips).
Changing Landscapes
Changing landscapes are another huge game-changer the US is beginning to look headlong toward. Arid soil and changing ecosystems make farming and agriculture increasingly difficult. Rising coastlines are also beginning to eat away at land that was a previous, sure part of the US mainland. While many blame global warming as the primary culprit, others continue to explore alternative answers. In any case, these are major problems which must be addressed sooner than later.
Solar Flares
As to basic definitions, solar flares are essentially massive outbursts of energy emitted randomly by the Sun. Unfortunately for our modernized lives here on Earth, when powerful solar flares are unleashed in our direction, they can actually take down entire electronics and communications systems all across the globe. These most powerful of emissions are referred to as “coronal mass ejections” and are the epitome of the dreaded solar flare. Subsequently, the US government and private corporations alike have begun working to prepare for such mass-effect events.
Systems, Grid Hacking
As we become more and more electronic and digital in all of our endeavors, so too do our most crucial of domestic infrastructural systems. Water pumping stations, air traffic control centers, meteorological outposts, highway signage systems, and even nuclear power plants are all becoming connected to the digital web. Although this certainly has its benefits, the potentials for harm here do grow. To date, countless attempts have been made to infiltrate these very systems that could cause catastrophic problems for many if successfully hijacked.
Catastrophic Earthquakes
Yet another great risk faced by the US mainland each day is that of the catastrophic tectonic shift. Earthquakes are certainly no new thing to the US, but a catastrophic event along these lines has yet to truly occur. Quite concerning is the fact that many scientists agree that such an event is a matter of “when” as opposed to “if” due to the position of the territory over major and historically contentious fault lines. Planning for such an event is undoubtedly a part of the everyday tasks of Homeland Security, Emergency Management, and other preparatory government agencies alike.
For the best of hopes for the future, perhaps none of these kinds of events will happen anytime soon. If they do, however, the government will certainly be a critical component to recovery. These are five potential disasters faced by the US, either right now, or not too far over the horizon.
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