Title: Natural Disasters | The Earth Times | Encyclopaedia
Headings: Natural Disasters
Natural Disasters
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Content: Aircraft lose lift in extreme temperatures and stress is placed on the cooling systems of the engines of raid and rail vehicles that can lead to an increase in mechanical failure. Agricultural crop production can be ruined, milk production is reduced and animals are distressed. Excessive heat causes power lines to sag and short out. As more people use fans or air conditioning, demand for electricity is pushed to the point where supply companies can no longer cope. Extreme heat can kill people, even though most of the deaths are preventable. It is reported that in the 24 years between 1979 and 2003 more people died in the United States of extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes combined. The golden rules are to drink plenty of flu