“Federal weather forecasters are predicting a‘near normal’number of storms this hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November l. Between nine and 15 named storms are predicted to form in the Atlantic this year, ”said Neil Jacobs, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“Of those, between four and eight are predicted to become full-blown hurricanes, with winds capable of removing shingles（木瓦）and taking down power lines, ” Jacobs said Thursday at a news conference to announce the forecast. “And between two and four storms are expected to strengthen into so-called major hurricanes, with winds strong enough to break trees and tear off roofs.”

Gerry Bell, the lead hurricane forecaster at NOAA, said people shouldn't be fooled into satisfactions by the word “normal”.“Nine to fifteen named storms are a lot, ”he said. “Two to four major hurricanes are a lot. So the key message is：We're expecting a near-normal season, but you need to start getting prepared for the hurricane season now.”

This year's outlook is shaped by two competing meteorological （气象学的）phenomena. On one hand, the climate pattern known as El Nino （厄尔尼诺）is happening this year, which generally prevents hurricane activity in the Atlantic. At the same time, the water at the surface of the tropical Atlantic and the Caribbean is warmer than usual. That warm water acts like an engine for hurricanes, fueling their creation and making them bigger and wetter.

While ocean temperatures change under normal climate conditions, global warming is also causing ocean waters to get hotter. The overall global surface temperature has already risen more than 1 degree Fahrenheit compared with pre-industrial times. That suggests increasing hurricane risk, as big and wet storms become more likely.

Check out the facts about the tsunami (海啸)and learn some interesting information related to these great walls of water that can cause so much destruction. Find out what causes tsunamis and read about some recent examples of tsunamis that have occurred around the globe.

Tsunamis are huge waves of water that are usually caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions (喷发).As a tsunami approaches the shore, water may move back from the coast. If it is shallow enough, water may be pulled back hundreds of metres. If you are on the shore and observe this phenomenon, you'll know that a tsunami is on the way.

Regions in tsunami danger zones often have warning systems in place to give people as much time to evacuate (撤出)as possible. When tsunamis hit shallow water (often near the coast), they slow down but increase in height.

An earthquake in the Indian Ocean off Indonesia in December 2004 caused a tsunami that killed over 200,000 people in 14 countries. In March 2011, the Tohoku earthquake off the eastern coast of Japan caused a tsunami that was a major factor in the death of over 15,000 people. The tsunami waves created by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake reached heights of over 40 metres in northern Japan, destroying coastal towns and causing a number of nuclear accidents.

The Japanese word "tsunami'' literally means "harbour wave''. Tsunamis are sometimes referred to as tidal waves but this term has fallen out of favour because tsunamis are not related to tides.

Looking to make the biggest impact during a crisis? This guide will help you get the necessary resources to the right people quickly and easily, as well as help you prepare for a potential emergency. 【小题1】.

Put simply, more people equals more money, and creating your own fundraiser is a great way to encourage people who want to help. If you’re dealing with a local natural disaster, start by raising money through your community 【小题2】, on the organization’s site or through an app; thus, you won’t have to deal with transferring donations through your personal account.

【小题3】. Start by checking an organization’s website; they often have lists of what is needed and where to send it. Or call community offices in the affected area to see what specific needs they have.

You can contact your local emergency services, to see if they are seeking a helping hand. If you don’t have a particular skill, offer your time to help with clean up afterward. However, always call or check online first. 【小题4】. In reality, you will be adding one more person to the already strained situation.

【小题5】.

One of the most helpful things you can do in a natural disaster is to prepare yourself ahead of time. Not only will these preventive measures protect you, but they will also limit damage in case disaster strikes. The first step is to find out which disasters are most likely to affect you. The second step is stocking up on essential emergency items.