Enforcing Safety

Building codes are created to ensure the safety of citizens; they set out specific regulations that detail the minimum requirements for the design, building, and maintenances of structures.  California, containing the largest seismically-threatened US population, has the strictest of these codes.  Sounds like a recipe for success, right?  Why, then, has the establishment of strict building codes NOT ensured the complete safety of citizens in California?

Helping Disaster Victims

Sean brought up a great question when Mr. Navarro came to class to talk about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder last week - what do you do if someone you know is suffering but won't do anything about it?  There is often a stigma in society against seeking treatment for mental health issues.  How can we eliminate the stigma that might prevent disaster survivors from seeking help?  What might someone say to you, or do, that would convince you to get help if you needed it?

American Volcanoes

According to the Smithsonian Institute, about 160 volcanoes erupt each decade.  The United States isn't usually considered a volcanic country, but we have our share.  The following posts will provide some information about the volcanic landscape of America, highlighting some of our active, dormant, and extinct volcanoes.  You may be surprised to see where some of them are!
Students:  Please provide the name and location of your volcano, as well as its status and eruption history, in a few well-written and proofread sentences.  Feel free to add a picture as well.

Insuring Disasters

People have always chosen to live in potentially dangerous places.  Surprisingly, the Jersey shore is one of them; hurricanes, tropical storms, and nor'easters do hit and cause major damage from flooding and high winds.  If you owned an insurance company, would you be willing to sell policies to homeowners on the Jersey shore?  If not, why not?  If so, what would you do to protect your company from a huge loss in case the perfect storm hits the shore?