Natural Hazards Case Studies Flashcards
Overview of New Zealand earthquake?
It was a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in November 2016
What were the main primary effects in the 2016 New Zealand earthquake?
(5 things)
- 2 people died and over 50 people injured
- tens of thousands (10,000ish) of homes were damaged and some were destroyed
- The total cost of damage was around US $8.5 billion
- 60 people needed emergency housing
- communications, water, sewage and power supplies were cut off
What were the secondary effects in the New Zealand 2016 earthquake?
- The earthquake triggered up 200,000 landslides, which blocked major roads and rail routes
- The earthquake generated a tsunami with waves of around 5m leaving debris up to 250 m inland
Overview of the Nepal earthquake?
It was a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in April 2015
What are some of the main primary effects in the 2015 Nepal earthquake?
- Around 9000 people died and more than 22,000 were injured.
- An estimated 800,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed.
- 4 million people were left homeless.
- The cost of damage was over US $5 billion.
- Water tanks and pipes were destroyed leaving 2 million people without access to clean water and sanitation.
What are the secondary effects in the 2015 Nepal earthquake?
- The earthquake triggered avalanches on Mount Everest, which killed 18 people.
- Many mountain roads were blocked by landslides, preventing emergency aid from reaching remote areas
- A lack of clean water cause outbreaks of typhus, which killed at least 13 people.
What are the immediate responses to the New Zealand 2016 earthquake?
- Tsunami warning was issued quickly and residents of coastal areas were told to move to higher ground
- hundreds of people were house in emergency shelters and community centres
- 200 of the most vulnerable people were evacuated from Kaikoura by helicopter within 24 hours after the earthquake
- Power was restored to most places with a few hours temporary water supplies were set up
What are the long-term responses to the 2016 New Zealand earthquake?
- Most road and rail routes, repaired and reopen within two years by March 2017
- a permanent watermain had been laid in Kaikoura. The new pipe was designed to move with any future earthquakes so it won’t break
What are the immediate responses from the 2015 Nepal earthquake?
- People tried to recover the dead and treat the injured, but damaged roads made it hard for emergency workers and aid to get through
- charities, such as Oxfam provided medicine, food and temporary water supplies.
- The Red Cross set up emergency shelters for 130,000 families who had lost their homes.
- It took rescue team 7 days to reach rural places in Nepal
What are the long-term responses in the 2015 Nepal earthquake?
- Many heritage sites were reopened in June 2015 to encourage tourists back into the area.
- Water supply is being restored, but two years after the event many people still didn’t have access to clean water
Overview of Typhoon Haiyan?
It happened in the Philippines in November 2013
It was category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale (a scale of 1-5)
What are the main primary effects of typhoon Haiyan?
- 90% of the city of tacloban was destroyed
- 50% of the houses were destroyed
- 4.1 million made homeless
- 6,190, people died
- US, $12 billion of damage
- damage to rice cost US $53 million
- 1.1 million tonnes of crops were destroyed
What are the main secondary effects of typhoon Haiyan?
- infection and disease spread due to contaminated water and surface
- power supplies were cut off for a month in some areas.
- Many schools were destroyed affecting peoples education.
- The fishing industry was disrupted as the leaked oil from the barge contaminated fishing waters
- flooding caused landslides and contamination of surface and ground water.
- The airport was badly damaged, and roads wereblocked by trees and debris 
What are the main immediate responses from typhoon Haiyan?
- The government televised, a warning for people to prepare and evacuate
- authorities evacuated 800,000 people,
- emergency aid supplies arrived 3 days later by plane.
- The government imposed a curfew 2 days after to reduce looting.
What are the main long-term responses from typhoon Haiyan?
- A ‘cash for work’ work program paid people to clear debris and rebuild the city
- over US $15 billion was pledged in foreign aid
- The government declared a long-term recovery plan ‘build back better’ so building could be upgraded
- Mangroves replanted,
- a new storm surge warning system was installed
