Nature Unleashed

Our planet is a constant source of dynamic, daily change. Nature and the environment have a profound effect on almost every aspect of our lives. On a personal level, nature’s power can affect our moods or change our travel plans.
On a global scale, nature’s power can alter the course of history. The recent earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand is a sobering reminder of the devastating power our planet can exert over our communities. While the prospect of a disaster can be terrifying, we know that coping with and learning from events of this magnitude is important to understanding the world in which we live and making our lives better in the future.  

Science centre exhibition

As part of this learning process, the Ontario Science Centre unveiled the temporary exhibition, Nature Unleashed, on Feb. 9, 2011. Presented by Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, this exhibit reveals the dynamic relationship we have with the earth by exploring the science behind, and our responses to, natural disasters.

Nature Unleashed focuses on four types of disasters: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and tornadoes. In Canada, we may not be exposed to certain catastrophes, like volcanoes, but we’re certainly no strangers to nature’s wrath. Snowstorms are responsible for 100 deaths every year, and millions of acres of trees are lost to Canada’s 8,000 annual wildfires.

We believe Nature Unleashed is a great opportunity to educate people about how natural disasters happen. We also hope it will get people thinking about how they would handle a catastrophic natural event if it were to hit their community.

Whether a disaster happens locally, such as Hurricane Juan battering the Maritimes in 2003, or internationally, including the recent earthquakes in New Zealand, Chile or Haiti, natural disasters have far-reaching effects. They have a way of reminding us of how interconnected we all are.  

The science behind natural catastrophes

The exhibit at the Ontario Science Centre teaches visitors about several historical events using state-of-the-art animations, large-scale images and cultural displays. It helps us understand how we can better cope with and make sense of the many awesome natural phenomena occurring across our planet. It goes beyond looking at the history and headlines of significant natural disasters: it also examines the science behind these events.  

For example, the exhibit highlights research into links between global warming and weather-related natural disasters. It asks questions about the impact of increasingly warm air and sea temperatures on the severity of storms. A greater understanding of the causes of natural disasters around the world can help us to better prepare for, and in some cases minimize, the impact.   

The exhibit also gives visitors a chance to interact with hands-on displays.

For example, visitors can:

• experience standing inside a roaring tornado;
• trigger an underwater earthquake and simulate a tsunami;
• create a virtual volcanic eruption by controlling levels of gas and silica; and
• examine real rock and lava specimens that tell of past geologic events.

As an insurance company, helping customers better prepare for nature’s worst effects and helping them to recover from a natural disaster is part of our business. Our hope is that with the proper resources, people will know what to do to protect their families and homes in the event of a natural disaster.

Allstate Canada makes a point of working year-round to help prepare Canadians for these unforeseen events. We accomplish this by helping to generate awareness through our support of initiatives like Nature Unleashed and Emergency Preparedness Week, which educates Canadians about steps they can take to help protect their homes and families in the event of a disaster. To this end, we encourage Canadians to take these steps to prepare themselves for an emergency:

• Understand the risks: Learn about the climate and weather patterns in your region and how to best prepare for those kinds of catastrophic events. This can be done online using a trusted source such as the Government of Canada’s Web site.
• Make a plan: Prepare an emergency plan with your family and practice it to make sure it runs smoothly. The plan should include the safe exits from your home and neighbourhood and also where to meet if you are separated from each other.
• Prepare a kit: This kit will include everything you need to make sure you and your family are able to get through the first 72 hours of an emergency. Make sure the kit is easily accessible, easy to carry and stored in a waterproof container.

The Nature Unleashed exhibition runs until May 1, 2011, and is free with admission to the Ontario Science Centre.