typhoon haiyan case study Flashcards
what year was it
2013
What is the Philippine meteorological service called
PAGASA.
How often were warnings issued during Typhoon Haiyan?
Every 6 hours, then every 3 hours as landfall approached.
: What issue affected communication of warnings?
Multiple regional languages made it difficult to reach everyone.
How many people were evacuated before Haiyan?
Around 750,000 people.
What physical planning measures were used?
Hazard mapping, no-build zones, and evacuation routes.
What long-term coastal protection was implemented?
Mangrove replanting.
Why is the Philippines especially vulnerable to cyclones?
It is an archipelago with many low-lying islands, rising sea levels, and land subsidence from groundwater overuse.
What were some short-term responses to Haiyan?
500,000+ received shelter; 3 million got food; 80% in Tacloban had clean water.
What challenges were faced in the response?
Some areas didn’t evacuate, warning access was limited, and remote regions lacked aid.
What were the long-term response issues?
900,000 still displaced after 4 months; shelter aid was delayed and underfunded
What rebuilding initiative was introduced?
“Build Back Better” – to ensure future storm resilience.
how strong the winds
Up to 313 km/h
how high was the storm surge
Over 5 metres high
how many deaths were there
7000
how many people were displaced
Over 4.1 million
how much money was spent rebuilding
5.8 billion dollars
how many homes were destroyed
1.1 million
what caused the typhoon
Formed over warm Pacific Ocean waters (>27°C).
The Philippines is located within the tropical cyclone belt and near the equator, making it highly vulnerable.
Low air pressure intensified the storm.
Rising sea levels (20cm globally since 1900) increased the impact of the storm surge.
Over-abstraction of groundwater led to land sinking, worsening flood risk.
primary effects
Winds destroyed homes, uprooted trees, and blew off roofs.
Storm surge reached over 5m, causing widespread coastal flooding.
Tacloban City was 80% underwater.
Power lines were cut, and roads blocked by debris.
Airport damaged, disrupting emergency efforts.
Fishermen lost their boats, vital for their livelihoods.
secondary effects
Diseases spread due to contaminated water and lack of sanitation (e.g. diarrhoea in northwest Leyte).
Flooding damaged crops and disrupted food supply chains.
Looting and violence occurred in Tacloban due to desperation.
Many people lost their jobs and businesses were destroyed.
Migration from the region increased due to homelessness and lack of services.
short term responses
750,000+ people evacuated before the storm.
Emergency shelters housed over 500,000 people.
Food aid reached 3 million people within 4 weeks.
Water was restored to 80% of Tacloban City shortly after.
International aid from UN, UK, USA, and NGOs provided supplies and rescue teams.
A storm surge warning system was developed afterward.
long term responses
“Build Back Better” scheme introduced:
Houses rebuilt to be stronger and storm-resistant.
No-build zones created along the coast.
Mangrove replanting began to restore natural coastal defences.
900,000 people still displaced after 4 months.
Aid was poorly distributed in some remote areas.
Shelter response was underfunded and delayed.
challenges in response
Language barriers meant some warnings were not received.
Local governments in some regions did not order timely evacuations.
Remote areas did not receive aid quickly due to damaged infrastructure.
Underestimated storm surge in some areas led to insufficient planning.
