Vocabulary and Expressions Related to Natural Disasters [Updated]

When disasters happen, they can be big news around the world, no matter where they occur. Different locations experience things such as fires, wind and rain storms, but what are the proper words for them all?

To help you discuss these events in English, this article will introduce common vocabulary and expressions related to natural disasters. We'll also introduce some extra terms that you are likely to see or hear in the news about these events.

Names for natural disasters

Hurricane/Typhoon

Both of these terms are types of storms categorized as "tropical cyclones." They are storms that begin over large areas of water and bring lots of rain and very strong winds. 

If a storm begins in the North Atlantic Ocean or the Northeast Pacific Ocean, it is called a "hurricane." "Typhoons," on the other hand, are storms beginning in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. If the starting point is the South Pacific or Indian Oceans, they are called "cyclones." 

• Residents of the town were told to leave to escape the approaching hurricane.

• It is common for this country to experience cyclones this time of year.

Related Daily News lesson: How Typhoons and Hurricanes Are Named

Tornado

Tornadoes — sometimes called "twisters" — are also storms with strong winds. However, while tropical storms occur near large bodies of water, tornados can appear in areas with no water nearby. They are known for their unique shape, which is wide at the top and narrow near the ground.

• Strong tornado winds can cause lots of damage by lifting and throwing heavy objects during a storm.

• Local residents were on high alert because of the tornado warning.

Related Daily News lesson: Storm Chasers: People Who Chase Tornadoes

Earthquake

Earthquakes are events in which large pieces of land deep underground move, causing the ground above to shake violently. Earthquakes are most common in areas that are above "fault lines," which are big cracks under the ground.

The strength of earthquakes is measured with a system called the Richter scale.

• An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale struck early in the morning.

The word "magnitude" is also used when talking about an earthquake's size or power.

• The earthquake had a magnitude of 4.5.

Earthquakes are sometimes called "tremors." 

• This area experiences tremors frequently, though they are usually not very strong.

The starting point of an earthquake is called the "epicenter."

• The epicenter was about four miles from the city's downtown area.

Shaking that occurs after a major earthquake is called an "aftershock."

• After the big earthquake, the area experienced aftershocks for several days.

Related Daily News lesson: Taiwan Rocked by Strongest Earthquake in 25 Years

Wildfire

Of course, fires can either be small or large. However, very large fires that spread quickly and cover a wide area are called "wildfires." Wildfires usually occur in natural areas with lots of trees, such as forests.

• The wildfire caused millions of dollars in damage.

Big fires are also sometimes called "blazes."

• The blaze destroyed much of the surrounding area.

The expression "spread like wildfire" refers to news or other information that quickly reaches many people, such as viral photos or even rumors.

• The celebrity's private photos spread like wildfire across the internet.

Related Daily News lesson: Australia's Fires Could Burn for Months

Flood

Floods occur when large amounts of water cover land that is normally dry.

• The news announced a flood warning for the entire region. 

"Flood" can also be used as a verb.

• The storm flooded our basement.

Aside from natural disasters, "flood" can describe a large amount of people moving into a specific space.

• The day of the big sale, the store was flooded with shoppers looking for deals. 

Related Daily News lesson: Bangkok Restaurant Makes Most of Flooding

Drought

While floods are the result of too much water, a "drought" is the opposite.

When there is not much rain for a long period of time, the land becomes dry. This dryness affects how much food can be grown and makes wildfires more likely to occur.

Note that the pronunciation rhymes with "out."

• Because of the drought, the prices of many vegetables have gone up. 

Related Daily News lesson: California Orders Large Cuts in Water Use

Heat wave

Heat waves happen when very high temperatures continue for long periods of time. Although heat waves don't cause the destruction other natural disasters can, they are just as dangerous to people. Unfortunately, they are becoming more common as the earth continues to get hotter.

• Authorities have advised people to stay indoors during the heat wave.

Related Daily News lesson: Earth Shattered Global Heat Record in 2023

Blizzard

"Blizzard" is another name for a large snow storm.

• The airport was full of passengers whose flights had been canceled because of the blizzard.

Related Daily News lesson: Major Snowstorm Bears Down on Eastern US

Related terms and expressions

Catastrophe

This is a general term for an event that causes a large amount of destruction. The adjective form is "catastrophic."

• Many people shared pictures of the catastrophe on social media.

• The damage caused by the tornado was catastrophic.

Intensify

"Intensify" is a verb meaning "to make stronger," and it can be heard on the news when discussing storms that grow larger or more dangerous.

• Forecasts are warning that the storm may intensify by tomorrow night.

The eye of the storm

For tropical cyclones and tornadoes, the very center of the storm is called the "eye." Weather forecasters sometimes refer to this to explain a storm's movement.

• The eye of the storm was moving slowly over the small town.

In conversations not related to storms, this expression refers to the most difficult or intense part of a situation.

• With pressure from competitors and the public, the company found itself in the eye of the storm.

Aftermath

"Aftermath" is a noun that refers to the period of time after an unpleasant event, such as war or a disaster. 

• Residents worked together to rebuild the town in the aftermath of the storm.

Toll

When talking about disasters or accidents, "toll" refers to the number of deaths or injuries that have occurred as a result.

• The death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers continue searching through the damaged area.

Responder

When disasters occur, trained professionals go into the affected area to try and rescue survivors and help people in need. These professionals are called "responders," or sometimes, "first responders."

• The local government sent in a team of responders to search for survivors.

Casualty

A "casualty" is a person who has been killed as a result of things like war or disasters.

• We are happy to report that the earthquake caused no casualties.

Evacuation

To "evacuate" is to leave an area in order to avoid danger. "Evacuation" is the noun version, but both words are important to know when dealing with disasters or learning about them through the news. 

• The government's social media channels had important information regarding evacuation for people in the region.

• Residents were ordered to evacuate the area as soon as possible.

People who have escaped dangerous areas are called "evacuees."

• The sports arena became a temporary shelter for many evacuees.

Clean-up

"Clean up" is a phrasal verb that means "to make something clean and organized." However, the  noun form (either "clean-up" or "cleanup") refers to the act and process of cleaning after a disaster.

• The clean-up will take several years and millions of dollars.

Wrap-up

As climate change continues to affect our planet, scientists warn that we may see more extreme weather events in the future. When learning about these events, you will most likely see terms covered here.

If you're interested in any of the Daily News lessons we've linked to in this article, consider studying them with an Engoo tutor — it's a fun way to improve your English vocabulary and speaking skills. Give it a try!

• Vocabulary