Tropical Storm Grace - LIC Tropical Storm Flashcards
How do tropical storms form
Warm ocean water 27+ and 75m* deep, provides energy for the hurricane and causes more evaporation making humid air and clouds
The “food” of a tropical storm is the warm moist water found near the equator.
The air here is under low pressure which means it can lift easily
Winds coming together force air upward
Winds flow outward above the storm, allowing the air below to rise
Humid air rising makes the clouds of yeh storm
Light winds outside the hurricane steer and let it grow
It spins due to the rotation of the earth
What causes wind
Uneven heating of earth creates high and low pressure points where atmospheric gases are drawn to and pushed away from
Short term impacts
Social: Overcrowded hospitals, relocation of patients, destruction of shelters, loss of shelter and food, disrupted recovery and relief efforts, 4 direct deaths in Haiti, 12 deaths in Mexico, flooding of streets, power outages reported in Jamaica, landslides in Mexico, blocked major national highway in Haiti.
Economic: Damages estimated at $513 million USD in Mexico.
Environmental: Flash floods, landslides, massive soil erosion due to deforestation.
Political: Compounded effects of political crisis, gang violence, and socio-economic challenges exacerbating humanitarian situation in Haiti.
Long term impacts
Social: Continued humanitarian crisis, acute food insecurity affecting 4.4 million people, ongoing gang violence affecting 1.5 million people, hospitals flooded and overcrowded.
Economic: Further economic strain due to damages and continued crisis.
Environmental: Increased vulnerability due to widespread deforestation.
Political: Exacerbation of pre-existing vulnerabilities, continuation of political crisis, socio-economic challenges, and gang violence in Haiti.
Short term response
Local: Relocation of patients, efforts to distribute supplies via air-bridge (though reduced due to earthquake impact), aid and rescue efforts hampered by landslides and blocked highways.
International: International humanitarian response teams involved in relief efforts. And NGOs such as Red Cross
Long term management strategies
Local/International: Mitigation efforts to address deforestation and soil erosion, rebuilding infrastructure to withstand future disasters, addressing underlying political, social, and economic issues in Haiti to improve resilience to future disasters.
Links to the stages of the hazard management cycle
Prevention/Mitigation:
Long-term management strategies involve efforts to mitigate the impacts of tropical storms and other disasters through measures such as addressing deforestation, soil erosion, and underlying socio-economic issues.
Preparedness:
Short-term response strategies involve preparedness efforts such as relocating patients, distributing supplies, and coordinating aid despite challenges like landslides and blocked highways.
Response:
Immediate response efforts include relocating patients, distributing supplies, and providing aid to affected areas, both locally and internationally.
Recovery:
Recovery efforts involve rebuilding infrastructure, addressing environmental damage, and addressing ongoing social and economic challenges in the affected regions, including overcrowded hospitals and food insecurity.
Links to the park model
Predisaster Conditions:
The data highlights pre-existing vulnerabilities in Haiti, such as political crisis, gang violence, socio-economic challenges, and food insecurity, which exacerbate the impact of disasters like Tropical Storm Grace.
Event/Situation:
Tropical Storm Grace caused immediate impacts such as destruction of homes, disruption of relief efforts, flooding, landslides, and loss of life, exacerbating the existing vulnerabilities.
Emergency / disruption
The emergency phase involves immediate response efforts such as relocating patients, distributing supplies, and providing aid to affected areas despite challenges like landslides and blocked highways.
Relief:
Relief efforts focus on providing ongoing aid and support to affected communities, including rebuilding infrastructure, addressing environmental damage, and addressing ongoing social and economic challenges.
Rehabilitation:
Rehabilitation efforts involve long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts, including addressing underlying issues such as deforestation and soil erosion, and rebuilding infrastructure to enhance resilience to future disasters.
Reconstruction:
Reconstruction involves long-term efforts to rebuild and strengthen communities, infrastructure, and systems to reduce vulnerability to future disasters and improve overall resilience
QOL NEVER RETURNED FULLY- less developed country with low gdp (poorest country in the western hemisphere) - qol reduced, especially due to the temporal presence of hazards due to Haitis high risk - along the hurricane corridor and near plate boundaries
Main hazards from the tropical storm
Hit the southern peninsula mostly as it’s closer to the hurricane corridor along the careabean and equator
Earthquake hit 3 days before - people sleeping outside, or in temporary shelter due to fear of building collapse, blown away
Primary hazards
Heavy Rainfall: Grace brought around 250 mm of rainfall, leading to flash floods and exacerbating soil erosion on already vulnerable slopes.
Strong Winds: Strong winds destroyed homes, shelters, and infrastructure, especially those already damaged by the earthquake, leading to further displacement and loss of shelter.
Landslides: The heavy rainfall triggered landslides, blocking major highways, hampering rescue and aid efforts, and complicating relief operations.
Secondary hazards
Floods: Flash floods caused by heavy rainfall submerged streets, homes, and agricultural lands, exacerbating the displacement of people and disrupting transportation and communication networks.
Infrastructure Damage: Destruction of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and buildings, hindered access to affected areas and impeded the delivery of essential services and relief supplies.
Humanitarian Crisis: The storm exacerbated pre-existing humanitarian challenges, including overcrowded hospitals, food insecurity, and lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities, further straining relief efforts and increasing vulnerability among affected populations.
Key figures
16 deaths total - haiti, 12 Mexico (direct)
Estimated 4.4 million faced actute food security - 46% of population
Estimated cost if 513 million usd
