Topic 1-Hurricane Katrina And Nargis Flashcards
Prepare-predict-forecast tracking
Data from satellites and radar tracks movement of storm,computer models then predict path storm will make:
-allows time for evacuation which will reduce death and injuries number. Also means people can protect homes and businesses from strong winds and flooding
Prepare–prepare-warning evacuation
Teach people how to prepare properly, what to put in a survival kit (first aid kit,bottled water) and how to evacuate safely:
-people who know how to react are more likely to survive, as they will evacuate safely. Survival kits can help those who are trapped to survive whilst waiting for help.
Prepare-protect-building design
Design buildings with secure roofs which use reinforced concrete and raise buildings on stilts and build levees lr sea walls along coast:
-Buildings are less likely to be destroyed, so less people die from collapsing buildings and falling debris. Buildings will not be flooded which reduces risk of flooding from overflowing rivers or storm surges
Response- rescue
Teams search for people trapped and provide, food and water and medical care. Will make people feel safe and less injuries from malnutrition and diseases
Response-plan for future-rebuild
Build new homes and businesses away from areas st risk, such as coast:
-areas of poverty leads to poor construction lf housing which is more easily damaged:regardless of level of development
Katrina-impacts on people
-More than 1800 people died and most people lost jobs
- 300k houses destroyed and hundred thousands homeless
-roads dmsged and bridges collapsed
-230,000 josbs lost
-80% flooded
-Damage was estimated up to 145 billion
-the levees built to protect new Orleans were beached in number of places-flooding led to 80% of city being underwater
Katrina-imapcts on environment
-coastal habitats damaged
- coastal conservation areas damaged and washed away
- flooding dmaged oil refineries
Nargis-impacts on people
-140k people died
- 450k houses destroyed and 350k damaged
-people suffered from diseases caused by sanitary conditions and contaminated water
-farms flooded
Nargis-impact on environment
-14km sqaured of irawadda delta flooded
-38k hectares if mangrove forest destroyed
-flooding caused by erosion snd salination
Preperation nargis
Myanmar has no dedicated forecasting system so could not predict the height of the storm
surges and waves caused by the cyclone. India’s weather agencies warned of the cyclone 48 hours before
it hit. These warnings were issued on TV and radio but didn’t reach people in poor rural communities
which meant more people were killed as they didn’t know what was happening. No emergency
preparation and evacuation plan in place.
Preperation katrina
Very good forecasting and tracking services
monitored Katrina and predicted where it would make landfall.
The Mayor of New Orleans ordered an evacuation of the city.
Many were unable to leave as they didn’t have access to a car.
The local football stadium (Superdome) was a designated
shelter and could hold 1000s of people. Approximately 80% of
the city was evacuated. Levees and barriers were built to
prevent flooding, however they were overwhelmed by the
storm surge and had not been maintained properly so areas
such as the 9th ward were flooded.
Responses of hurricane Katrina
Immidate:
-evacuation of people from at risk zones
-search and rescue for people who are missing from storm
-provision of shelter, medical assistance,food and clean water
Longer tem:
-rebuilding and repair buildings
-repairing roads,rail and water infrastructure
-Evaluate success kf evacuation,forecasts and warning systems to improve them for future hurricanes
-improve buildings to increase hurricane resistance
Responses of cyclone nargis
Short term:
-some evacuation allowed people to move from most dangerous places
-Local governments in some areas failed to recognise risks and di not order evacuations in vulnerable areas
-emergency coordination was well funded and established quickly-provided for 500k people
-Distribution of emergency supplies meant that within 4 weeks:
3 mill people had received food and assistance
More than 35k people received shelter assistance
80% people had access to clean water in Tacloban City
Long term:
-The “Build Back Better” scheme ensured that houses were rebuilt to be more resistant to future storms
-4 months later 900k people were displaced with 17k living in evacuation centres
-Remote communities did not receive help they needed due to poor distribution of aid
