Event Type : Virtual Program

Natural disasters cause hundreds of billions of dollars in damage each year. In the business world these events are often called “acts of God” because they are considered beyond reasonable human control. However, beyond human control does not mean random. In fact, when geology and topography are taken into account, the three most common geohazards in Pennsylvania are quite predictable with respect to where they occur.

Dr. Kyle Rybacki, Manager of the Pennsylvania Geological Survey’s Geologic Mapping Division, will discuss flooding, sinkholes, and landslides through the eyes of a geoscientist. Gain a basic understanding of where these hazards are most likely to occur, how to assess your level of risk, and practical steps you can take to reduce the potential for property damage during this Learn at Lunctime program.

Presentations begin at 12:15 PM and are followed by a question-and-answer session. Registration is required to attend the free, virtual program. Click here to register now.

— Dr. Kyle Rybacki is the Manager of the Pennsylvania Geological Survey’s Geologic Mapping Division, where he applies his expertise to support geological and environmental initiatives across the Commonwealth. His division is responsible for performing the geoscience analyses used to inform natural resource and environmental policy decisions.

Pymatuning State Park is one of the largest state park’s in Pennsylvania with a rich and interesting history. Join Jared McGary, Environmental Education Specialist, to learn more about a unique historical event that helped change naval warfare during World War II – torpedo testing at Pymatuning State Park.

Presentations begin at 12:15 PM and are followed by a question-and-answer session. Registration is required to attend the free, virtual program. Click here to register now.

Learn the story of Henry and George Landis, descendants of Germanic Lancaster County Mennonite families that moved to the area in 1717, and later became the founders of Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum. Join Jennifer Royer, Museum Curator at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, to hear about the vision of the Landis brothers to create a study collection of artifacts to preserve knowledge that might have been lost.

As young boys, Henry and George were encouraged by their forward-thinking parents and several teachers to pursue their personal interests and begin collecting. This childhood passion grew into an understanding of the importance of preserving historic cultures, like the Pennsylvania Germans’. To the brothers, learning how people lived in the past allowed them to show the world how to be better off in the future. Henry and George anticipated future needs and passed onto later generations a priceless gift. That gift opened as the Barn Museum in 1925 and is now the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum.

Presentations begin at 12:15 PM and are followed by a question-and-answer session. Registration is required to attend the free, virtual program. Click here to register now.