case study - Typhoon Haiyan

Question 1

background information, Haiyan

Answer 1

• November 2013
• category 5
• destruction mainly in tacloban
• winds up to 315km/h
• 380 miles across

Question 2

primary impacts of Haiyan

Answer 2

• heavy rainfall, 300mm
• storm surges - up to 6m
• 6000 deaths
• wind damaged infrastructure
• over 2m homeless

Env
- loss of forest and trees from floods

Question 3

secondary impacts of Haiyan

Answer 3

Social
- flooding and landslides blocked major roads, air relief only
- widespread looting

Economic
- $2.9b damage costs
- 5m lost livelihoods - crops destroyed

Political
- government criticised for lack of preparation and slow response

environmental
-flooding and salinisation of ecosystems

Question 4

short term responses to Haiyan

Answer 4

• airport repaired fast to allow for aid
• WHO worked to isolate diseases
  (mass vaccination)
• UK air force sent 200 tonnes of aid
• tech, infrared cameras and social media used to find people

Question 5

long term responses to Haiyan

Answer 5

• ‘cash for work’ schemes helped to rebuild areas
• technology in place to predict future storm surges
• UN helped to country to have better warning systems and evacuation methods to be better prepared

Question 6

human factors affecting vulnerability

Answer 6

• urbanisation in tacloban
• high population densities
• poorly constructed houses

Question 7

physical factor affecting vulnerability

Answer 7

tacloban in bay
- funnelled water from storm surge

philipines 7000 islands
- coastal

Question 8

how did climate change increase vulnerability?

Answer 8

increasing sea level rise and temperatures

• since 1900 levels risen by 20cm