Disaster - is a serious disruption occurring over a short or long period that causes widespread human,

material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society
to cope using its resources.
Classification of Disasters:

1. Natural disaster - a natural phenomenon that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts,
property damage, loss of livelihood and services, environmental damage, etc.
 Flood - An overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry.
 Tsunami - A large ocean wave that is caused by sudden motion on the ocean floor.
 Drought - A natural disaster of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged
shortages in the water supply, whether atmospheric, surface water or groundwater.
 Landslide - A range of ground movement, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes and shallow
debris flows Volcanic Eruption - The release of hot magma, volcanic ash and/or gasses from a
Volcano.
 Fire (Urban) - Even with strict building fire codes, people still perish needlessly in fires.

2. Human-made disasters - are the consequences of technological or human hazards.

 Hazardous material spill - The escape of solids, liquids, or gasses that can harm people, other
living organisms, property or the environment, from their intended controlled environment such as a
container.
 Nuclear and radiation accidents - An event involving significant release of radioactivity to the
environment and which leads to major undesirable consequences to people, the environment, or the
facility.

The Basic Concepts in DRRM

Hazard - Hazard is a potentially destructive physical phenomenon, event, or human activity. Each hazard
is identified by its location, probability, and frequency of occurrence.
Exposure - When a hazard strikes, not everyone can be equally affected by its dangers. Rather,
communities that reside in hazard-prone areas are more exposed to such hazards and their effects.
Marginalized communities that ignore the impact area of natural forces are more exposed to these hazards
as well.
Vulnerability - refers to the lack of capacity to flee from hazard exposure. This vulnerability may be
caused by poverty, lack of alternative options, or even environmental degradation.
Capacity - These are the basic factors that help a community reduce its vulnerabilities, prevent risks, and
recover from disasters. They are the positive strengths the community holds. To cope with disasters, every
community has some sort of capacity that could be in the form of their resource holdings, their
entitlements, and their social networks.
Risk - When combined, Hazards and Vulnerability result in Risks, threatening people's lives and assets.
Risk = Hazards x Vulnerability

RISK FACTOR UNDERLYING DISASTER

Climate Change
 Climate change can increase disaster risk in a variety of ways - by altering the frequency and
intensity of hazards events, affecting vulnerability to hazards, and changing exposure patterns.
Environmental Degradation
 It is both a driver and consequence of disasters, reducing the capacity of the environment to meet
social and ecological needs.
Globalized Economic Development
 It resulted in increased polarization between the rich and poor on a global scale.
Poverty and Inequality
 Poverty is both a driver and consequence of disasters, and the processes that further disaster risk
related poverty are permeated with inequality.
Poorly-planned and Managed Urban Development
 A new wave of urbanization is unfolding in hazard-exposed countries and with it, new opportunities
Weak Government

THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF DISASTER

o Physical perspective- Calamities are phenomena that cause great physical damage in a
community infrastructure, its people and their properties, e.g. houses and environmental sources of
living. These cited effects of a disaster can be easily measured and the most common.
 Effects of Physical Disasters - Injuries Physical - disabilities or illness Sanitation - Damage in
infrastructure
o Psychological Perspective - Victims of disasters may suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) and other serious mental health conditions, which are not being given much attention to by
the authorities or even by the victims, themselves.
o Socio-cultural Perspective - Filipinos are generally known as "matiisin", resourceful, helpful,
optimistic, and prayerful. These characteristics are manifested in the country's recent fight against
COVID19.
o Socio-Cultural Effect of Disasters - change in individual roles - disruption of social relationships
and personal connections
 o Economic Perspective - Disasters affect the economic condition of a community because they
reduce local and international trade. It can also partially or totally paralyze a country's transportation
system.
 Economic Effects of Disasters - loss of life - unemployment - loss of property - loss of household
articles - loss of crops - loss of public infrastructure
o Political Perspective - Natural disasters are commonly thought to be less politically argumentative
than armed conflicts, yet a closer look shows that both the effects of a natural disaster and the
resulting distribution of humanitarian aid are profoundly linked to politics.
o Biological Perspective - The disturbing effects caused by a prevalent kind of disease or virus in an
epidemic or pandemic level is known as biological disaster
 Effects of Biological Disasters > loss of lives public demobilization negative economic effect >>
unemployment > hunger

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HAZARD AND DISASTER

Hazard Disaster
- A dangerous situation needs to be heeded - A dangerous situation that has become out of contro
because it can lead to a disaster. and is a disaster.
- A threat that can be managed by observing - An international danger and threat to humanity tha
warning signs and keeping in harmony with the needs intervention to bring the situation under contro
environment. - Disasters are the outcomes of hazards when warning
- Hazards are known to have specific warnings signs were ignored.
usually man-made to prevent disastrous events. - A disaster is the result of a hazard but at the same
- Hazard can lead to disaster time is also a hazardous event
- Hazards are not used to describe everyday - Disasters, although in literal terms are more severe
mishaps. They are specific occurrences and danger than hazards, are used to describe events that are no
areas with appropriate warning signs. literally of a disastrous nature but rather an idiomatic
use of the word
Vulnerability - describes the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system, or asset that
make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard.
Vulnerability varies significantly within a community and over time. This definition identifies
vulnerability as a characteristic of the element of interest (community, system or asset) which is
independent of its exposure. However, in common use the word is often used more broadly to include
the element’s exposure.

Types of vulnerability
 Physical Vulnerability - May be determined by aspects such as population density levels,
remoteness of a settlement, the site, design and materials used for critical infrastructure and for
housing.
 Wooden homes are less likely to collapse in an earthquake, but are more vulnerable to fire.
 Social Vulnerability - Refers to the inability of people to withstand adverse impacts to hazards due
to characteristics inherent in social interactions, institutions, etc.
- It includes aspects related to levels of literacy and education, the existence of peace and
security, access to basic human rights, systems of good governance etc.
 When flooding occurs some citizens, such as children, elderly and people with disabilities, may
be unable to protect themselves or evacuate if necessary.
 Economic Vulnerability - The poor are usually more vulnerable to disasters because they lack the
resources to build sturdy structures and put other engineering measures in place to protect
themselves from being negatively impacted by disasters.
 Poorer families may live in squatter settlements because they cannot afford to live in safer
(more areas. expensive)
 Environmental Vulnerability - Natural resource depletion and resource degradation are key
aspects of environmental vulnerability.
 Quality of farm land is deteriorating and forested lands are shrinking, development of
mangrove swamps into aquaculture ponds, salt beds, and other agricultural activities

Risk - is the probability of harmful consequences or expected loss of lives, people injured, livelihoods,
disruption of economic activities, and damages to the environment as a result of interactions between
natural or human-induced hazards and vulnerable/capable conditions.
Factors of risk - vulnerability, hazard, exposure
Elements at risk includes - people, building, businesses, infrastructures, agriculture and
environment

REASON WHY CERTAIN SECTORS OF SOCIETY AND SPECIFIC STRUCTURE ARE MORE
VULNERABLE TO DISASTER THAN OTHERS
1. Demographic factors
 Population density
 Age of Population
 Population Distribution
2. Socio-economic factors
 wealth
 education
 nature of society
 understanding of the area
3. Community preparedness
 building codes
 Scientific monitoring and early warning systems
 communication networks
 emergency planning
4. Dealing with the after-effects
 insurance cover
 emergency personnel
 aid request

Risk Triangle
Hazard - An event or occurrence that has the potential for causing injury to life, property and environment;
although, at times, hazard has been ascribed the same meaning as risk, currently it is widely accepted that
it is a component of risk and not risk itself.
 tsunami
 floods
 cyclone
 earthquake
 landslides
 volcanic eruption
 terrorism
 epidemic
Exposure - Refers to the "elements at risk" from a natural or man-made hazard event; it is necessary, but
not sufficient, determinant of risk. It is possible to be exposed but not vulnerable.
 By living in a floodplain but having sufficient means to modify building structure and behaviour to
mitigate potential loss.
Vulnerability - Comprises conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors
or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community, school, or certain area in a locality to the
impact of hazards. To be vulnerable to a hazard, it is necessary to also be exposed.
 poor design and construction of buildings
 inadequate protection of assets
 lack of public information and awareness
 limited official recognition of risks and preparedness measures, and
 disregard for wise environmental management

Hazards are potentially destructive physical phenomena, events, or human activities that can cause injury
or death, damage to property, economic and social disruption, or environmental degradation. Hazards may
be active or dormant and can be single or sequential based on their origin and impacts. Each hazard is
identified by its location, probability, and frequency of occurrence.
There are several types of natural hazards including geophysical hazards such as volcanoes, earthquakes,
tsunamis, and dry landslides; hydrological hazards such as wet landslides, floods, and inundations;
meteorological hazards such as storms, hurricanes, cyclones, excessive rain, and typhoons; climatological
hazards such as droughts, extreme temperatures, fires, and heat/cold waves; hazards caused by biological
agents such as insect infestations, epidemics, and animal stampedes.
Additionally, there are hazards induced by human beings such as chemical hazards from industrial
processes or nuclear accidents. Technological hazards also fall under this category.

EFFECTS OF HAZARD
 Primary Effects - occur as a result of the process itself. For example, ground shaking during an
earthquake, thunder during a thunderstorm, and high sea waves during a tsunami.
 Secondary Effects - occur only because a primary effect has caused them. For example, fires
ignited as a result of earthquakes, disruption of electrical power and water service as a result of an
earthquake, flood, or flooding caused by a landslide into a lake or river and tsunami because of the
earthquake.
 Tertiary Effects - are long-term effects that are set off as a result of a primary event. These include
loss of habitat caused by a flood, permanent changes in the position of river channels caused by
flood, crop failure caused by a volcanic eruption etc.

IMPACTS OF VARIOUS HAZARDS ON DIFFERENT EXPOSED ELEMENTS

1.PHYSICAL IMPACT
 Death of people
 Destruction and loss of vital infrastructure
2. ECONOMIIC IMPACT
 Loss of property
 Infrastructure caused by an earthquake
 Loss of job due displacement
3. SOCIAL IMPACT
 Loss of life
 Injuries
 Physical and psychological health issue
4. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
 Damage to ecosystem
 Disturbances of biodiversity
5. BIOLOGICAL IMPACT
 Epidemic to people, flora and fauna
 Mental disorder developed from consumption of contaminated foods

IMPORTANT TERMS:
Mitigation: is permanent reduction of the risk of a disaster. Primary mitigation refers to
reducing the resistance of the hazard and reducing vulnerability. Secondary mitigation refers
to reducing the effects of the hazard (preparedness).
Mitigation includes recognizing that disasters will occur; attempts are made to reduce the
harmful effects of a disaster, and to limit their impact on human suffering and economic
assets.
Prevention is defined as those activities taken to prevent a natural phenomenon or potential
hazard from having harmful effects on either people or economic assets. Delayed actions
drain the economy and the resources for emergency response within a region. For developing
nations, prevention is perhaps the most critical components in managing disasters, however,
it is clearly one of the most difficult to promote. Prevention planning is based on two issues:
hazard identification (identifying the actual threats facing a community) and vulnerability
assessment (evaluating the risk and capacity of a community to handle the consequences of
the disaster). Once these issues put in order of priority, emergency managers can determine
the appropriate prevention strategies.
Preparedness: Are the measures that ensure the organized mobilization of personnel, funds,
equipment’s, and supplies within a safe environment for effective relief. Disaster
preparedness is building up of capacities before a disaster situation prevails in order to
reduce impacts. Its measures include inter alia, availability of food reserve, emergency
reserve fund, seed reserve, health facilities, warning systems, logistical infrastructure, relief
manual, and shelves of projects.
Reconstruction: the full resumption of socio-economic activities plus preventive measures.
Rehabilitation: is the restoration of basic social functions.
Resilience: is adaptability, capacity to recover.
Response: is the set of activities implemented after the impact of a disaster in order to
assess the needs, reduce the suffering, limit the spread and the consequences of the disaster,
open the way to rehabilitation.

Earthquake- is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the
Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. It is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. The tectonic plates
are always slowly moving, but they get stuck at their edges due to friction. When the stress on the edge
overcomes the friction, there is an earthquake that releases energy in waves that travel through the
earth's crust and cause the shaking that we feel.
FAULT AND TYPES OF FAULTS
Fault is a fracture or crack where two rock blocks slide past one to another. If this movement may occur
rapidly, it can be causes earthquake or slowly, in the form of creep. Types of faults include strike-slip faults,
normal faults, reverse faults, thrust faults, and oblique-slip faults.

1. Divergent Boundaries
It occurs when two plates slide apart, forming a narrow rift valley. Here, geysers gush out super-heated
water and magma, or molten rock that rises from the mantle and solidifies into basalt, forming a new crust.
2. Convergent Boundaries
It occurs when plates collide with one another. The collision bulges the edge of one or both plates, forming
a mountain range or causing subduction of one of the plates under the other, creating a deep seafloor
trench.
3. Transform Boundaries
It occurs when plates move sideways to each other. The slip-sliding motion of plate boundaries triggers
many earthquakes.

Natural Signs of an Impending Tsunami

A Tsunami (pronounced Soo-NAH-mee) is a Japanese word. Tsunamis are fairly common in Japan, and
many thousands of Japanese have been killed by them in recent centuries. It is a series of waves in a water
body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions above or below water all have the
potential to generate a tsunami.
Warning Signs of an Impending Tsunami
1. An earthquake is a natural tsunami warning. A large undersea earthquake may be felt priorto tsunami by
an on-going shaking of the ground in coastal regions. However, you may notfeel an earthquake if the
source is far away.
2. As a tsunami approaches shorelines, water may recede from the coast, exposing the ocean floor, reefs
and fish.
3. Abnormal Ocean activity, a wall of water, and an approaching tsunami create a loud "roaring" sound
similar to that of a train or jet aircraft.
APPLYING PRECAUTIONARY AND SAFETY
 MEASURES PREPAREDNESS: Prepare Before an Earthquake
1. Practice your earthquake drill: Drop, Cover, and Hold.
2. Make an Emergency Plan: Create a family emergency communications plan that has an out-of-state
contact. Plan where to meet if you get separated. Make a supply kit that includes enough food and water
for several days, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher and a whistle.
3. Identify safe places to take cover close to you at home or school.
4. Protect Your Home. Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, televisions and
objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves.
5. Consider obtaining an earthquake insurance policy.
RESPONSE: Stay Safe During (DROP, COVER, and HOLD)
1. DROP down onto your hands and knees before the earthquake knocks you down. This position protects
you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.
2. COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) under the cover of a sturdy table or desk.
If there is no cover nearby, get down near an interior wall or next to low-lying furniture that won't fall on
you, and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
3. HOLD ON to your cover (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with
your cover if the shaking shifts it around.
a) If you are in a car, pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
b) If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
c) If you are outdoors, stay outdoors away from buildings.
d) If you are inside, stay and do not run outside and avoid doorways.
RECOVERY: Stay Safe After
1. Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if
you feel an aftershock.
2. If you are in a damaged building, go outside and quickly move away from the building. Do not enter
damaged buildings.
3. If you are trapped, protect your mouth, nose and eyes from dust. Send a text, bang on a pipe or wall or
use a whistle instead of shouting to help rescuers locate you.
4. If you are in an area that may experience tsunamis, go inland or to higher ground immediately after the
shaking stops.
5. Check yourself to see if you are hurt and help others if you have training.
Volcanoes are beneficial to humans living on or near them. They produce fertile soil, and provide valuable
minerals, water reservoirs, geothermal resources, and scenic beauty. But volcanoes can be very
dangerous.
Where can a person go to be safe from an erupting volcano? What types of volcanic hazards might they
face?
These questions are difficult to answer because there are many types of volcanic eruptions which produce
different types of volcanic hazards.

What are Volcanic Hazard and Volcanic Risk?

A volcanic hazard refers to any potentially dangerous volcanic process (e.g., lava flows, pyroclastic flows,
ash). A volcanic risk is any potential loss or damage as a result of the volcanic hazard that might be
incurred by persons, property, etc. or which negatively impacts the productive capacity/sustainability of a
population.

TYPES OF VOLCANIC HAZARDS

Volcanic Earthquakes produced by stress changes in solid rock due to the injection or withdrawal of
Earthquak magma (molten rock) are called volcano-tectonic earthquakes (Chouet, 1993). These
es earthquakes can occur as rock is moving to fill in spaces where magma is no longer present.
Volcano-tectonic earthquakes don't indicate that the volcano will be erupting but can occur
at any time.
Directed This blast was a result of depressurization triggered by an earthquake-initiated landslide on
Blast the north flank of the volcano. The area affected by the directed blast extended greater than
19 miles from the volcano.
Tephra When a volcano erupts it will sometimes eject material such as rock fragments into the
atmosphere. This material is known as tephra. The largest pieces of tephra (greater than 64
mm) are called blocks and bombs. Blocks and bombs are normally shot ballistically from the
volcano.
Volcanic Some of these gases are transported away from the eruption on ash particles while others
Gases form salts and aerosols. Volcanic gases are also produced when water is heated by magma.
Gases also escape from pyroclastic flows, lahars, and lava flows, and may also be produced
from burning vegetation. Acid rain can be produced when high concentrations of these
gases are leached out of the atmosphere.
Lava Lava flows are the least hazardous of all processes in volcanic eruptions. How far a lava flow
Flows travels depends on the flow's temperature, silica content, extrusion rate, and slope of the
land.
Debris  A debris avalanche is formed when an unstable slope collapses and debris is
Avalanche transported away from the slope.
s,  Landslide is a general term for mass movement. It implies a gradual movement rather
Landslides than the more sudden movement of an avalanche.
and  Tsunamis are large sea waves that have long wave periods. When these waves reach
Tsunamis coastal areas, they can go far inland. If such a wave were produced by the collapse of
 a large portion of
Pyroclastic Pyroclastic surges are low density flows of pyroclastic material. The reason they are low
Surge density is because they lack a high concentration of particles and contain a lot of gases.
These flows are very turbulent and fast. They overtop high topographic features and are not
confined to valleys. However, this type of flow usually does not travel as far as a pyroclastic
flow. Pyroclastic surges can travel up to at least 10 km. from the source.
Pyroclastic Pyroclastic flows are fluidized masses of rock fragments and gases that move rapidly in
Flows response to gravity. They can form when an eruption column collapses, or as the result of
gravitational collapse or explosion on a lava dome or lava
Lahars Lahars are similar to pyroclastic flows but contain more water. Lahar’s form;
 from debris avalanches that contain water from snow and ice which, when released,
mixes with loose debris to form a lahar,
 from pyroclastic flows and surges which release water that mixes with debris,
 from pyroclastic flows which dilute themselves with river water as they travel
downslope,
 from natural dam failure (i.e., a lava flow dam or crater lake), and,
 from rainfall on loose material such as ash.

Sign of impending Volcanic Eruption

 Increase in the frequency of volcanic quakes with rumbling sounds; occurrence of volcanic
tremors.
 Increased steaming activity; change in color of steam emission from white to gray due to
entrained ash.
 Crater glow due to presence of magma at or near the crater
 Ground swells (or inflation), ground tilt and ground fissuring due to magma intrusion.
 Localized landslides, rock falls and landslides from the summit area which not attributable to
heavy rains.
 Noticeable increase in the extent of drying up of vegetation around the volcano’s upper slopes.
 Increase in the temperature of hot springs, wells crater lake near the volcano;
 Noticeable variation in the chemical content of springs, crater lakes within the vicinity of the
volcano;
 Drying up of springs/wells around the volcano;
 Development of new thermal areas and/or reactivation of old ones; appearance of solfataras.

As we all know, a volcano is a land form that has crater or vent where the Magma or molten rock, pieces of
hot solid rock, and hot gases are formed inside the Earth when the upper crust or the lower crust melts.
When that magma or molten rocks burst out through its crater, we call it lava and that happens during a
Volcanic Eruption– one of the natural disasters that people are afraid to encounter.
Thus, there are early warning signs when the volcano is about to erupt, this might be the rumbling sounds,
continuous emissions of steam, increasing temperature around the volcano that results to withering of
plants around and unusual behaviors of animals and earthquakes.
People who live near a volcano must be aware that a volcanic eruption will bring so much danger to them.
So, it is important to know what to do before, during and after volcanic eruption.
What to do before volcanic eruptions:
1. Each one should be aware of the dangers that volcanic eruptions pose to lives and be prepared to face
whatever circumstances the eruption may bring.
2. Prepare all the necessary things to bring once evacuation is needed.
3. Store as much food, water, light sources and batteries that are very useful in case of emergency.
4. Prepare masks to cover nose and mouth for the ash falls of the volcano.
5. Safety of the kids first before anything else.
What to do during volcanic eruptions:
1. Avoid low-lying places because lava flows, and mud flows are more likely to pass here.
2. Seek cover in case of ash falls and rock falls and use masks to cover your nose and mouth and to avoid
breathing in the ashes.
3. If inside the house, close all doors and windows to avoid letting in the ashes.
4. Always stay indoors and watch for your kids, they might be tempted to go out.
5. Stay in the evacuation center and wait for further instructions and do not leave until said so.
What to do after volcanic eruptions:
1. Go back to your house but leave your kids with someone who can take care of them while you check
your house.
2. When in your house, clean everything and check if there’s damages incurred. Use masks when cleaning.
3. Wait for further announcements related to volcano activities.
4. Make sure that your house is still safe for all of you.

What are Landslides?

A landslide is a slipping of a slope or cliff that causes large Amounts of rock and soil to collapse. Landslides
are defined as the mass movement of rock, debris or earth down a slope and have come to include broad
range of motions whereby falling, sliding, and flowing under the influence of gravity dislodges earth
material. Landslide occurs when an earthquake floods/prolonged rainfall, or volcanic eruption occurs.
 Two main types of landslides.
Natural Landslide Gravity, Geological factors, Heavy and prolonged rainfall, Earthquakes, Forest fire, Volcanoes /Volcanic
Eruption, Waves, Freezing and Thawing
Anthropogenic Factors Inappropriate drainage system Cutting and deed excavation on slopes for buildings, roads, canals and
mining Change in slope/land use pattern, deforestation, settlements, agricultural practices on steep
slope

What to do during landslide?

1. Quickly move out the path of the landslide or debris flow
2. If inside the building and there’s no possible way to scape, protect your head and take cover under a
desk, table or other sturdy furniture
What to do after a landslide?
1. Check for injured or trapped person without enter the slide and assist rescuers
2. Help vulnerable group persons in neighborhood for emergency assistance
3. Listen to local radio or television stations
4. Be alert for flooding which may occur after a landslide or debris flow
5. Report damaged utility lines to authorities
6. Replant damage ground
7. Seek professional advice for evaluation of landslide hazard and reducing landslide risk
Landslide Warning Signs
 Springs, seeps or saturated ground in areas that are not usually wet.
 New cracks or unusual bulges in the ground, street or sidewalks.
 Soil moving away from foundations, or the tilting or cracking of concrete floors and foundations.
 Sunken or down-dropped road beds.
 Rapid increase in creek water levels, possibly accompanied by increased soil content.
 A sudden decrease in creek water levels even though rain is still falling or just recently stopped.
 Unusual sounds, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together, might indicate moving
debris
What is a Sinkhole?
A sinkhole, also known as a cenote, sink, sink-hole, swallet, swallow hole, or doline, is a depression or hole
in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer. Most are caused by karst processes –
the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffusion processes.

What will be the solutions for sinkholes?

1. Check country offices, local or state geological surveys
2. Redirecting or blocking source of water
3. Avoid construction on wetlands
4. Sea water treatment
5. Recycling gray water run-offs
6. Avoid human activities that can form sinkholes such as old mines, leaky faucets, ground water pumping,
aquifer system, etc.

Sinkholes Warning Signs

 Trees or fence posts that tilt or fall
 Foundations that slant
 New small ponds that appear after rain
 Cracks in the ground
 Sudden drainage of a pond
 Rapid appearance of a hole in the ground
 Dips, depressions, slopes that appear in a yard
 Dead patches of grass or plants
 Sinkholes in the neighborhood, etc.