Meteorites

• “100-year“ Asteroids are space rocks. Most are well-behaved and orbit our sun in a region between Mars and Jupiter -- the Asteroid Belt.
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• Some, however, are misbehaved and spend some of their time in Earth's region of the solar system. These are the ones that worry astronomers because they could collide with our planet. When an asteroid, or a part of it, crashes into Earth, it's called a meteorite.
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• None are known to be on a collision course but there are more than 100,000 near-Earth asteroids that are large enough (100 yards, or 91 meters, in diameter) to cause an explosion greater than the largest hydrogen bomb ever made. The chances of one of these hitting Earth in the next century are about one in 10.
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• Since 72 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered with oceans, there is a 72 percent probability that a comet or asteroid impact will occur in the ocean. A large ocean impact is likely to produce a large tsunami. Tsunamis generally travel very fast across the ocean, typically 380 miles per hour. In deep water the impact tsunami height might be up to several thousand feet high, but the height of a tsunami will increase dramatically as the waves reach the shoreline because the wave slows in shallow water and the energy becomes more concentrated. The impact tsunami may produce several mile high waves that could travel several hundred miles inland. Tsunamis are of concern because they propagate over great distances and much of the world’s populations are centered around the coastal area.
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• A large impact could also trigger a variety of secondary effects including earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes and lava flows. Most of these events will be triggered by the Primary Ground Shock. Although we have experienced during the course of human history many large disasters of this type, we have not experienced the depth and breath of simultaneous disaster events that can be triggered by a large impact. These further disasters would further compound the problems during recovery efforts.
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Before a meteor shower occurs

• Develop a Household Emergency Plan and have emergency survival items so that you can cope on your own for at least three days.
• Discover whether there are volcanic, Tsunami or earthquake hazards that may likely affect you as secondary effects of an asteroid impact.

During a meteor shower

• Move no more than a few steps to a safe place, drop, cover, and hold on.
• If you are near the coast, drop, cover and hold during an impact, and then move immediately to higher ground when the shaking stops.
• Stay indoors with your pets as much as possible.
• Take your Survival Kit with you if you have to leave. Turn electricity and gas off at the mains.
• Don’t go sightseeing.
• Don’t leave home unless advised to by Civil Defence.

After a meteor shower

• Expect the possibility of further secondary disasters (such as earthquakes and tsunamis) and help those around you if you can
• Report injuries or fires to the emergency services (dial 111).
• Listen to the radio for advice and information.