1.6 The impact of Tropical cyclones is linked to country’s ability to prepare/respond to them (USA Katrina vs Myanmar Nargis) Flashcards
How can we prepare (before and after) for tropical cyclones and how do these different techniques limit the impact of cyclones?
Before
When and where tropical cyclones will hit land can be predicted
Scientists can use weather forecasting and satellite technology to monitor cyclones. Computer models are then used to calculate a predicted path for the cyclone
The cyclone’s magnitude can be monitored by measuring its windspeeds
Predicting where and when a tropical cyclone is going to happen gives people time to evacuate and protect their homes and businesses, e.g. by boarding up windows
After
Defences (e.g. sea walls) can be built along the coast to prevent damage from storm surges. Buildings can also be designed to withstand a storm surge, e.g. they can be put on stilts so they’re safe from floodwater
This will reduce the number of buildings destroyed, so fewer people will be killed, injured, made homeless and made unemployed
How can we respond (during) a tropical cyclone and how does this limit the impact of tropical cyclones?
During
Warning strategies are used to alert people to a tropical cyclone. An alert will give people enough time to leave their homes and get to a safe place
Governments can plan evacuation routes to get people away from storms quickly. In Florida, evacuation routes are signposted all along the coast
Successful evacuations can reduce the number of deaths and injuries
Emergency services can train and prepare for disasters, e.g. by practising rescuing people from flooded areas with helicopters. This reduces the number of people killed
(USA – Hurricane Katrina: Developed Country) What were the good and bad aspects of the preparation in USA?
Good
The USA had a sophisticated monitoring system to predict if (and where) a hurricane will hit
The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Florida tracks and predicts hurricanes using satellite images and planes that collect weather data on approaching storms
Bad
(USA – Hurricane Katrina: Developed Country) What were the good and bad aspects of the response in the USA?
There was much criticism of the authorities for their handling of the disaster.
Although many people were evacuated, it was a slow process and the poorest and most vulnerable were left behind.
$50 billion in aid was given by the government.
The UK government sent food aid during the early stages of the recovery process.
The National Guard was mobilised to restore and maintain law and order in what became a hostile and unsafe living environment.
(USA – Hurricane Katrina: Developed Country)
What were the impacts of Hurricane Katrina on people/environment?
People
More than 1800 people were killed
300,000 houses were destroyed and hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless
3 million people were left without electricity
Roads were damaged and some bridges collapsed
230,000 jobs were lost from damaged businesses
Environment
Coastal habitats such as sea turtle breeding beaches were damaged
Some coastal conservation areas were destroyed, e.g. around half of Breton National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana was washed away
Flooding damaged oil refineries in Louisiana, causing massive oil spills
(Myanmar – Cyclone Nargis: Developing country) What were the good and bad aspects of the preparation in Myanmar?
Good
Bad
Myanmar doesn’t have a dedicated monitoring centre for tropical cyclones
Myanmar doesn’t have a radar network that can predict the height of storm surges and waves caused by cyclones
(Myanmar – Cyclone Nargis: Developing country) What were the good and bad aspects of the response in Myanmar?
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(Myanmar – Cyclone Nargis: Developing country)
What were the impacts of Cyclone Nargis on people/environment?
People
More than 140,000 people were killed
450,000 homes were destroyed and 350,000 were damaged
Around 65% of rice paddies in the Irrawaddy delta were damaged, which led to a loss of livelihoods
A lot of people suffered from diseases caused by poor sanitary conditions and contaminated water
Environment
The Irrawaddy delta in Myanmar was the hardest hit area – a large proportion of it is only just above sea level and 14,000 km2 of land was flooded
38,000 hectares of mangrove forests were destroyed
The flooding caused erosion and salination (increased salt content) of the land
Assess the reasons why the impacts of a tropical cyclone were worse in a developing country you have studied compared to a developed one (8)
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