hazardous earth - case study: hurricane katrina and typhoon haiyan Flashcards
location and date of hurricane katrina
it hit South East USA on the 29th August 2005
characteristics of hurricane katrina
- category 4 storm
- storm surges reached 6m
- wind speed at land was 145m/h
preparation for hurricane katrina
- shutters and sandbags
- evacuation in low lying areas such as new orleans
- 80% were evacuated before the storm hit
prediction for hurricane katrina
USA is a high income country
- good forecasting and monitoring systems to track the hurricane helped most people to evacuate
- states on the path of the storm were declared states of emergency and stocked supplies the most (Louisiana and Mississippi)
primary impacts and their secondary impacts of hurricane katrina
- many destroyed buildings meant 230,000 jobs lost (SOCIAL N ECONOMIC)
–> loss of hotels = less tourism so less income (on top of less tourism because of hurricane risk)
–> loss of income X inflation would increase lack of affordability - 1800 died (20% that didn’t evacuate: old people)
–> less social impact as not that many dead - 80% of the city flooded
–> no power (3milli without electricity)
–> no drinking water cos sewage and dead bodies got into it
–> agriculture was damaged: affects food supply and income for farmers - people evacuated to the Superdrome (NewO) but there was food and water shortage
- coastal habitats destroyed
–> loss of wildlife
responses to hurricane katrina
- levees protecting NewO failed and trapped the water so were fixed and the city was pumped
- local govn critisised for not being fast enough
- people were left behind in stadiums where conditions were intolerable
- FEMA was unprepared for the scale
- 50Bn was given by govn in aid
- most damage was economical not social
what was impacted the most in hurricane katrina
- social
- economic
- environment
economic:
USA is a wealthier country so can invest in warning systems and preparation for hurricanes - less social impact (death)
Because infrastructure and property is more expensive, financial losses are greater - economic
location and date of typhoon haiyan
it hit the philippines in 2013
characteristics of typhoon haiyan
- category 5 storm
- 170 mph winds
- 15m high storm surges
preparation for typhoon haiyan
- the govn used a televised warning to warn people to prepare and evacuate
- people in risk areas for flooding and landslides were evacuated
- 800, 000 evacuated
prediction for typhoon haiyan
- LIC so cannot afford tracking data
- japan was helping philippines track the typhoon
primary impacts and their secondary impacts for typhoon haiyan
- 90% of tacloban city was destroyed along with major services
–> airport destroyed
–> hospitals destroyed: no first aid so increase in disease
–> schools destroyed: already low literacy rate (LIC) X no power - some for over a month
–> buildings destroyed: workplaces lost meant people lost their jobs and source of income (6 mill lost source of income) - 400mm of rain caused flooding
–> people that evacuated to Tacloban stadium died due to flooding
–> ppl killed mostly due to flooding
–> landslides blocked roads and cut off remote towns - 6300 people killed
- 14 milli affected
- strong winds destroyed crops
–> farmers and fishers lost income ($724milli)
–> rice stock destroyed ($53milli)
responses for typhoon haiyan
- international govn and aid agencies gave food/water/shelters
- 1000s of homes were rebulit away from flood risk areas
- helicopters were sent to help with rescue
- airport destroyed so emergency response was slowed/blocked and not reaching where it needed to go
- some areas were isolated for days
- no clean water because of burst pipes
what was the most impacted
- social
- economic
- environmental
social: philippines is a poorer country so can’t invest in warning systems and preparation for hurricanes - more social impact (death)
Because infrastructure and property is less expensive, financial losses are lesser - economic
