impacts, preparation and responses (to TS)

Question 1

what are hazards?

Answer 1

something that happens that can cause harm

Question 2

what can hazards affect?

Answer 2

social
environmental
economic

Question 3

what are hazards of tropical storms?

Answer 3

landslides - saturates heavy ground causing a slump
intense precipitation - about 1000 mm of rainfall
strong winds
flooding - storm surge (up to 20 ft and 100 miles inland)

Question 4

what are 3 types of vulnerability?

Answer 4

physical
social
economic

Question 5

what are examples of physical vulnerability?

Answer 5

coastal areas - at risk of storm surges (New Orleans, USA)
island nations - more low land areas flood more easily (Philippines)
low relief - flat land -> storm surges
high relief - high land -> landslides, heavy rain

Question 6

what are examples of social vulnerability?

Answer 6

areas of poverty - housing -> poor construction so damaged easily
age - old/young - more likely to suffer (injury wise) - harder to evacuate
social inequalities - many die due to no access to cars to evacuate

Question 7

human impacts of a tropical storm?

Answer 7

high winds
- destroyed workplaces - no source of income
- destroyed homes - homelessness - ill/ vulnerable
- destroyed school - no education for awhile

destroyed hospitals
- no first aid/ untreated illnesses - rise in disease

• car accidents more likely
• loss of life
• loss of property
• injury
• shanty towns could be washed away
• disrupted transport links
• significant economic loss
• power failure
• sewage contaminated water
• loss of food - impacts food supply and income

Question 8

environmental impacts of a tropical storm?

Answer 8

damaged local ecosystems
- loss of wildlife

• surge in ocean waters causes rise in sea level
• coastal flooding caused
• agriculture is damaged - loss of food - impacts food supply and income

Question 9

in a tropical storm, what is the most significant impact on low-income countries and high-income countries?

Answer 9

lower income countries tend to have higher social impact.

higher income countries tend to have higher economic impact, for example:
- as the USA is a wealthier country, it can invest more into warning systems and preparation for hurricanes. they also have more money to mitigate against damage. HOWEVER since infrastructure and property is more expensive, financial losses tend to be greater in wealthier countries