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Other Natural Hazards
Unlike other parts of the country, thunderstorm wind gusts here in the Southwest almost always exceed 40mph. The strongest wind gusts can exceed 100 mph, and can produce damage similar to a tornado!
BEFORE
- Secure outdoor items – furniture, umbrellas, loose gutters, etc.
- Close your doors and windows.
- Close window shutters. No shutters? Close window blinds, shades or curtains.
- Trim tree branches away from your home.
- Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.
DURING
- Bring pets indoors.
- Immediately go inside a sturdy building into an interior room.
- If you are in a mobile home, move to a sturdy building before the wind picks up.
- Sudden wind shifts:
- If it blows toward you from an approaching storm, go indoors!
- If the temperature either becomes much colder or much hotter, go indoors!
- If no shelter is available:
- Avoid trees, power lines, and the side of the road.
- Find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.
- Stay at least 100 feet away from downed power lines. The ground may be electrified.
- In a vehicle:
- Keep a distance from 18 wheelers, buses and vehicles towing trailers. One strong gust of wind can be enough to flip one onto its side.
- Slow down and hold the steering wheel with both hands.
- Drive to a sturdy building.
- Not near a sturdy building:
- Move your car to a location away from trees and power lines.
- Take shelter in your car.
AFTER
- Drive with caution:
- Look for traffic light outages.
- Look for obstacles in the road.
- Report broken utility lines and damaged roadways/railways.
- Be careful when handling trash that may have blown into your yard.
- Stay away from wind-damaged areas.
- Home or property damaged:
- Take photos/videos of damage.
- List all damaged items.
- Contact insurance agent.
Damaging Wind Brochure - Spanish (PDF) Opens a New Window.
More information on Damaging Winds
National Severe Storms Laboratory Opens a New Window.
National Weather Service Opens a New Window.
Drought creates conditions that increase the risk of wildfires, flash floods, landslides and debris flow. While we have been subjected to drought conditions throughout history, water management efforts have mitigated water shortages for the past century.
BEFORE
- Fix household leaks.
- Replace plumbing and fixtures with water-saving items.
- Only operate dish washers when they are full.
- Operate clothes washers when full or set water level for load size.
- Avoid letting water run while brushing your teeth, shaving, etc.
- Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it. For example, use it to water your plants.
- Use drought-tolerant or low water use plants for landscaping.
- Repair outdoor irrigation systems and reset timers seasonally.
- Cover pools and spas to reduce evaporation of water.
DURING
- Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects, and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
- Choose showers instead of baths.
- Hand wash dishes:
- Fill one container with soapy water.
- Fill one with rinse water – add a small amount of bleach.
- Avoid wasting water waiting for it to get hot:
- Capture it for other uses such as plant watering.
- Heat it on the stove or in a microwave.
- Avoid using running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods.
- Reduce outdoor water use (washing cars, refilling pool).
- Divert pool back wash to landscaping rather than into the street/alley.
- Avoid over watering your lawn:
- Water in the morning or evening when needed.
- Water in short sessions.
- Avoid leaving sprinklers or hoses unattended.
Maricopa County is susceptible to earth fissures resulting from the removal or depletion of groundwater and the excessive use of surface water. Both can cause drainage problems, crack canals and alter flood patterns.
In areas burned by fires, rain may start landslides causing large amounts of rock, dirt or debris to move down a slope.
BEFORE
- Visit Arizona Geological Survey website and select “Natural Hazards in Arizona” to see if you live in a fissure-prone area..
- Recognize warning signs that signal that a geologic event is likely to occur:
- The appearance of surface cracks on the ground.
- Bulging, uplifted, or unusually loose topsoil.
- Unusual wet spots that appear days after a rain.
- Soil moving away from foundations.
- Tilting power poles and fence posts.
- Unusual ground settlement.
- Embankments along roadsides are very susceptible to landslides.
- Become familiar with the land around you:
- Get a ground assessment of your property.
- Seek advice from a geotechnical expert to evaluate hazards or reduce risk.
- Practice a low water-use lifestyle.
DURING
- During a severe storm:
- Bring pets indoors.
- Move to a second story if possible.
- Stay alert and awake. Many deaths from landslides occur while people are sleeping.
- Listen for unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris.
- Be aware of your surroundings, avoid river valleys and low-lying areas.
- If near a stream, be alert for sudden water flow or clarity changes.
- Move quickly away from the path of a landslide area or earth fissure.
- If escape isn’t possible during a landslide, curl into a tight ball and protect your head.
- Watch for:
- Washed out bridges and over-topped culverts.
- Collapsed pavement, mud and fallen rocks.
- Land subsidence or earth fissures.
AFTER
- Drive with caution:
- Look for traffic light outages.
- Look for obstacles in the road.
- Report broken utility lines and damaged roadways/railways.
- Near the site, check for injured or trapped persons (don’t enter the direct area).
- Check building foundation, chimney and surrounding land for damage.
- Fence off earth fissures. DO NOT dump anything into them.
- Watch for flooding.
- Replant landside damaged ground as soon as possible.
- Home or property damaged:
- Take photos/videos of damage.
- List all damaged items.
- Contact insurance agent.
Earth Fissure and Landslide Brochure (PDF) Opens a New Window.
Earth Fissure and Landslide Brochure - Spanish (PDF) Opens a New Window.
More Information on Subsidence and Earth Fissures
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Arizona Geological Survey Earth Fissure Center
More Information on Landslides
Maricopa County rarely has earthquakes, but they do happen. Often quakes in other counties are felt here. Since 1850, Arizona has had more than 20 earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.0 or higher.
BEFORE
- Visit Arizona Geological Survey website and select “Natural Hazards in Arizona” to access an interactive map of faults in Arizona.
- Fasten shelves and heavy items to walls away from where people sit or sleep.
- Add latches to cabinets and store items that are heavy, breakable, or flammable on bottom shelves.
DURING
- DO NOT GO OUTSIDEif you are inside.
- Stay away from windows.
- DROP to the floor.
- GET under a sturdy desk/table.
- COVER your head and neck with your arms.
- HOLD ON. Stay there until the shaking stops.
- Using a walker or wheelchair:
- LOCK it.
- COVER your head with your arms.
- HOLD ON. Stay there until the shaking stops.
- In bed:
- COVER your head and neck with a pillow.
- Stay there until the shaking stops.
- Outside:
- DO NOT try to go inside.
- Stay away from buildings, trees, utility wires, and gas lines.
- DROP to the ground.
- COVER your head with your arms and stay there until the shaking stops.
- In a vehicle:
- PULL OVER as quickly as possible.
- AVOID buildings, trees, overpasses and utility wires.
- DO NOT get out of your vehicle.
- Stay there until the shaking stops.
AFTER
- Expect aftershocks.
- When the shaking stops, determine if it’s safe to move.
- Stay away from damaged areas.
- Help injured or trapped persons.
- If you’re trapped, DO NOTlight a match:
- Avoid creating or breathing dust.
- Cover your nose and mouth.
- Avoid unnecessary movement.
- Tap on a pipe or wall.
- Shout only as a last resort.
- Drive with caution:
- Look for traffic light outages.
- Look for obstacles in the road.
- Report broken utility lines and damaged roadways/railways.
- Use extreme caution when entering buildings.
- Check your home for evidence of damage to utilities.
- If you suspect damage or leaks, turn them off.
- If there is a gas leak, leave the area.
- Use your telephone for emergency calls only.
- Look for and extinguish small fires.
- Open cabinets cautiously.
- Clean up any spills.
- Home or property damaged:
- Take photos/videos of damage.
- List all damaged items.
- Contact insurance agent.
Earthquake Brochure - Spanish (PDF) Opens a New Window.
More Information on Earthquakes