[Atomic-S (OP)]

On Earth, there are frequent calamities such as earthquakes, fires, and severe storms. I was wondering  if Mars also has disasters -- events that could do major damage to facilities or persons that might be installed there.

[CliffordK]

I believe that Mt Olympus is still an active volcano.  There are, of course, warm and cold seasons on Mars with the cold season being downright chilly.

If Mars has a liquid core, the Martian crust is much thicker than Earth's which may create some tectonic stability.  Would it cause infrequent, but bigger mars-quakes?

The thinner atmosphere would mean that meteorites that would ordinary burn up in Earth's atmosphere would be more likely to reach the Martian surface.  How does the thin atmosphere affect the volcanic ash plumes?

While the solar wind reaching the planet would be less than on Earth, the cosmic rays and solar wind would have much less buffering than what occurs with the Earth's atmosphere.

[evan_au]

Mars is subject to periodic massive dust storms which enshroud the entire planet, driven by powerful winds.

[RD]

Mars is subject to periodic massive dust storms which enshroud the entire planet, driven by powerful winds.

And mini-tornadoes which leave scribble-like trails ... http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap091021.html

[syhprum]

At least you would not have to worry about fires outside your habitat !

[evan_au]

These scribble trails may explain Schiaparelli's sighting of "canals" on Mars - only his telescope was not nearly powerful enough.

[evan_au]

In winter, Mars has carbon dioxide "snow". Temperatures this cold occurring anywhere on Earth would be considered a natural disaster.

Oh... and having an atmosphere which is a totally unbreathable near-vacuum would also count as a natural disaster on Earth.

[RD]

These scribble trails may explain Schiaparelli's sighting of "canals" on Mars - only his telescope was not nearly powerful enough.

Looks like the "canals" are blood-vessels on the observers retina  [:I] ... http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/3306251.html?page=1&c=y

[Atomic-S (OP)]

Could the whirlwinds on Mars actually cause significant damage to installations, assuming reasonable construction?

[Atomic-S (OP)]

Also I wonder if Mars' winds, though they can be very fast, are as significant as that figure would suggest, in view of the low density of the atmosphere? Dust will blow under these conditions, but what about larger objects?