Typhoon Haiyan Flashcards
Where did Typhoon Haiyan effect? and What date did it hit this area?
- Affected the Philippines
- November 2013
Why was Haiyan one of the strongest storms ever recorded?
- Winds reached up to 315km/hr in Tacloban
How much rain fell in some areas? What time period did it fall in?
- 280mm
- 12 hrs
How did the storm develop?
- It originated from an area of low pressure and tracked Westward, eventually being classed as a category 5 storm.
What is Taclobans population density?
- 1200 per km^2
What is Housing like in Tacloban?
- Many built poorly, constructed home on marginal land near the
flat coast or on steep hillsides.
What are the dangers of building on marginal land?
- Due to the steep gradient of the land, communities are vulnerable to flooding, storm surges or landslides.
Why are evacuation programs in coastal communities met with resistance?
- Perception.
- hard headedness and ignorance to potential impacts of living in a hazardous area.
- hesitance to move due to peoples priorities.
What are other reasons for disaster evacuation programs being met with resistance?
- Previous experiences with evacuation programs cast doubt on their value of saving their lives.
(Evacuation areas can be even more dangerous compared to coastal homes) - move from hazard zones to death zones.
What were the effects of Haiyan in Tacloban City?
- 90% of the city destroyed
- flooding 1km in land
- 5m storm surges
How many estimated fatalities?
- 6300 confirmed across the country
- Philippine Red Cross estimated 22,000 still missing in late 2015
What was the total cost of damage?
- $12 Billion
What effect did Haiyan have on farming?
- 1 million farmers and 600,000 hectacres affected
-1.1 million crops destroyed
What happened with the Philippines coconut oil industry?
- 33 million trees were damaged or destroyed
- Philippines is the world’s largest coconut oil producer, accounting for half of its agricultural exports.
- total loss was $724 million
Outline the environmental impact of uprooted trees in Tacloban.
- Carbon Burp due to release of carbon from trees and soil (associated with reduced rates of photosynthesis)
- Positive Feedback loop (more co2 released, more climate change)
How many trees were estimated to be uprooted?
- over 320 million
- mangrove forests destroyed
(effective carbon sink and barrier for sea level changes)
Outline human secondary effects of Haiyan.
- Rioting and Looting
- Aid trucks ambushed as survivors fought for food and supplies.
(8 people trampled). - Slow recovery efforts forced residents to seek any means necessary to survive (leading to increased looting).
- Government Admins stated looting was a consequence of self-preservation, not a criminal offense.
Outline physical secondary effects of Haiyan.
- Groundwater and Surface Water freshwater stores were contaminated with seawater, sewage and industrial waste.
- 800,000 litre oil leak
- 94% of fishing equipment damaged, water was too contaminated.
Outline effects of Haiyan in other countries
China:
- 30 killed
- due to extensive flooding (river swell)
- cost in damage $750 million
Taiwan:
- 8m storm surges killing 8 people
- Economic cost around $16 Million.
Outline Responses to Haiyan
- 800,000 were evacuated following televised warnings
- Many found refuge in a stadium, but many died when it flooded
- Curfew was introduced to reduce looting
- Within 2 weeks, 1 Million food packs and 250,000 litres of water were distributed
What was the criticism by the UN regarding the Philippine Government response?
- Logjam of aid getting to those most in need.
- 5 days after the storm passed there were still residents without basic necessities.
- Government put blame on local councils for slow response.
- still reserves in the aid fund that remain untapped. (protests 5 years on)
