Responses to TRSs

Question 1

How can TRSs be predicted?

Answer 1

Scientists use data from things like radar, satellites and aircraft to track the storm. Computer models are then used to calculate a predicted path.

Question 2

What is the National Hurricane Center in the USA?

Answer 2

Tracks and predicts hurricanes using these techniques

Question 3

What is a good effect of predicting when and where TRSs will strike?

Answer 3

Gives people time to evacuate and time to protect their homes and businesses

Question 4

Give an example of when evacuation was a very effective response

Answer 4

Cyclone in Bangladesh in 1997 only killed around 100 people because of a successful evacuation

Question 5

How can evacuation not be effective?

Answer 5

If people don’t receive the evacuation order and if forecasters get it wrong and areas are evacuated unnecessarily, wasting a lot of money

Question 6

Give an examples of a country which trains and prepares emergency services for disasters

Answer 6

In the USA FEMA train emergency personnel to deal with disasters such as floods and hurricanes

Question 7

What can governments plan?

Answer 7

Evacuation routes to get peoples away from storms quickly, e.g. Florida evacuation routes are signposted along the coast

Question 8

What can governments and organisations educate people about?

Answer 8

How to prepare for a tropical storm and how to evacuate

Question 9

How can buildings be designed?

Answer 9

To withstand tropical storms, by using reinforced concrete or by fixing roofs securely so they don’t get blown off

Question 10

Give an example of buildings built on stilts

Answer 10

Homes along the Gulf Coast of the USA are built on stilts, so they’re safe from floodwater

Question 11

Where can flood defences be built?

Answer 11

Along rivers (levees) and coasts (sea walls)

Question 12

What is good and bad about building techniques?

Answer 12

Very effective, but don’t guarantee buildings won’t be damaged, e.g. levees in New Orleans broke during Hurricane Katrina, flooding the city

Question 13

What are the problems with sending out aid?

Answer 13

Can be difficult to send out, due to damaged roads or political problems, e.g. Burma’s government initially refused to let aid workers in after Cyclone Nargis in 2008

Question 14

What is a good things about aid?

Answer 14

It can be very effective