Hazards and Disasters - Risk Assessment and Response Flashcards
When did Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans?p
29th August 2005
How many people drowned as a result of the storm surge caused by Hurricane Katrina?
1200
How many people died as a result of Hurricane Katrina?
1836
How high did the storm surges caused by Hurricane Katrina reach?
6 metres
What category hurricane was Katrina?
Category 4
In how many places did Hurricane Katrina breach the levees?
53
How much of New Orleans did Hurricane Katrina submerge by more than 6 metres of water?
80%
Where did many take shelter during Hurricane Katrina?
The Louisiana Superdome
Where in New Orleans were the impacts Hurricane Katrina most prominent?
The Lower 9th Ward
What was Hurricane Katrina’s highest wind speed?
280 km/h
How many were made homeless by Hurricane Katrina?
1 million
What were some of the impacts of Hurricane Katrina?
- 1.3 million acres of forest land were destroyed
- The total loss for the economy was approximately $5 billion
- 30 oil platforms were destroyed
What were some of the responses to Hurricane Katrina?
- $50 billion was given in aid
- The National Guard was mobilised to restore and maintain order, and aid rescue attempts
- The UK government sent food and aid
When did Cyclone Nargis occur?
May 2008
What was the size of the storm surge caused by Cyclone Nargis?
6.3 metres
How many died as result of Cyclone Nargis?
80,000 (estimated up to 200,000)
What speed did the winds of Cyclone Nargis reach?
200 km/h
What category storm was Cyclone Nargis?
Category 4
What was the cost of the damage caused by Cyclone Nargis?
$13 billion
Why was the international response to Cyclone Nargis hampered?
The military junta of Myanmar refused access to aid workers and prevented the distribution of aid
What were some of the impacts of Cyclone Nargis?
- 75% of buildings collapsed; on the delta 95% collapsed
- Rice fields were flooded on the Irrawaddy Delta
- There was a lack of food, water for survivors
What were some of the responses to Cyclone Nargis?
- Italian flights were allowed to enter on 7th May to bring food supplies
- Bangladesh – emergency aid and aid workers used to dealing with cyclones
- The United Kingdom gave £17 million of aid
When did the 2010 Haiti earthquake occur?
12th January 2010
Where was the epicentre of the 2010 Haiti earthquake
25km west of Port-au-Prince
At what time did the 2010 Haiti earthquake occur?
16:53
What did the 2010 Haiti earthquake measure on the Richter scale?
7.0
How many people died as a result of the 2010 Haiti earthquake?
316,000 (more reliable estimates state 160,000)
What kind of plate boundary is Haiti on?
Conservative
What depth did the 2010 Haiti earthquake occur at?
13km (shallow)
What were some of the primary impacts of the 2010 Haiti earthquake?
- 106,000 homes were destroyed
- 4,000 inmates escaped from prison
- 50+ hospitals were destroyed or damaged
What were some of the secondary impacts of the 2010 Haiti earthquake?
- 1.5 million were displaced
- Haiti’s GNI shrank by 5.1%
- Cholera became a serious problem
What were some of the responses to the 2010 Haiti earthquake?
- Over 1 million tents/shelters were provided
- 4.3 million people were provided with food rations
- Water and sanitation was eventually supplied for 1.7 million people
- 98% of the rubble on roads was not cleared until many weeks after the event
What kind of plate boundary does New Zealand sit on?
Conservative
What did the 2011 Christchurch earthquake measure on the Richter scale?
6.3
What date did the 2011 Christchurch earthquake occur on?
22nd February 2011
How long did the 2011 Christchurch earthquake last?
10 seconds
How many people died as a result of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake?
185
At what time did the 2011 Christchurch earthquake occur?
12:51
What is the name of the area that New Zealand sits on where volcanoes and earthquakes are common?
The Pacific Ring of Fire
What were some of the primary impacts of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake?
- More than 50% of buildings in the city were severely damaged
- 80% if the city lost electricity
- Roads were damaged due to liquefaction
What were some of the secondary impacts of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake?
- Damaged roads led to lack of emergency services due to restricted access
- Damaged infrastructure prevented the Rugby World Cup from being held in Christchurch
What were some of the responses to the 2011 Christchurch earthquake?
- 300 Australian police officers were flown in to aid existing efforts
- Chemical toilets were provided for 30,000 residents
- $7 million was provided in international aid
- $898 million was paid in building claims
On what date did the Bhopal disaster occur?
2nd December 1984
What was the name of the company that owned the plant involved in the Bhopal disaster?
Union Carbide
How much methyl isocyanate was leaked during the Bhopal disaster?
36 tons
How many people died immediately as a result of the Bhopal disaster?
At least 3,700
How many people lived in Bhopal at the time of Bhopal disaster?
900,000
What were some of the issues that methyl isocyanate caused during the Bhopal disaster?
- Swollen eyes
- Breathing problems
- Frothing at the mouth
How many people have died as a result of the Bhopal disaster?
40,000
What happened to Union Carbide after the Bhopal disaster?
They denied responsibility
How many cattle died as a result of the Bhopal disaster?
2,000
How much higher than the standard level was the concentration of mercury in the soil after the Bhopal disaster?
20,000 to 600,000 times higher
How much compensation was paid out after the Bhopal disaster?
$470 million ($500 per dead person)
Which company took over Union Carbide in 2001?
DOW Chemicals
Why has legal action not been taken against Union Carbide as a consequence of the Bhopal disaster?
DOW Chemicals refuses Union Carbide’s liabilities in Bhopal
Which counties were affected by the 2011 East Africa drought?
Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda
How many people died as a result of the 2011 East Africa drought?
50,000–260,000
How many people did the 2011 East Africa drought affect?
9.5 million
What period did the 2011 East Africa drought span?
July 2011–August 2012
How much was given in aid during the 2011 East Africa drought?
$1.3 billion
How much precipitation fell in the rainy season (April-June) of 2011?
Less the 30% of the average
What was the extent of crop failure and livestock loss as a result of the 2011 East Africa drought?
Up to 40%-60%
What key resource did the 2011 East Africa drought prevent from being produced?
Milk
What factors influenced the 2011 East Africa drought?
- Strong La Niña year
- Global warming
- Lack of governmental planning and relief
- Terrorist groups, such as Al-Shabaab
How many refugees fled Somalia during the 2011 East Africa drought?
920,000
What was the name of the UNHCR refugee camp in Kenya which hosted at least 440,000 people during the 2011 East Africa drought?
Dadaab
Which disease broke out in the Dadaab camp in July 2011?
Measles
How much did the UK pledge in aid during the 2011 East Africa drought?
£90 million
