Catastrophic Event - The Dust Bowl

Some people argue that the Dust Bowl, a period of drought and dust storms which began in 1935, was a man-made disaster.  The fact is that agricultural practices of the day made matters worse, but drought is a common occurrence and so are dust storms, especially in arid countries or areas of sparse ground cover.  Dust storms pose a significant health hazard, especially to the young, the old, and to people with certain preexisting conditions.  Large particles in the dust cloud can be ingested aggravating digestion.  Smaller particles can be inhaled causing breathing problems, especially for people with compromised respiratory health.  Blowing dust also poses a hazard to the eyes.  Of course, livestock and wildlife are vulnerable to these same hazards.  Water and food is easily contaminated by airborne dust particles as well, making it difficult to remain hydrated, nourished, and healthy.  In addition, consider the psychological toll of endless storms that block the sun and a house you just can't keep clean.

Health Care Issues

 Visit http://www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/downloads/dust_storms_and_health.pdf for more on this subject.  This website is published by the Provincial Government of Victoria, Australia.  The farms and ranches of Victoria are subject to frequent dust storms.  The site addresses health issues and precationary measures to take in the event of a dust storm.