natural hazards case studies

Question 1

Typhoon Haiyan - Primary Effects

Answer 1

• 7.6 storm surge which reached far inland
  
  • 6000 deaths and 11 million people affected
  • Low lying areas were completely flooded, with houses and buildings
  • The infrastructure, including roads and power lines were completely destroyed –> reducing ability to communicate to outside areas.
  • Tacloban aiport termial was badly destroyed, meaning it was difficult for aid to come into the country
  • Over 400mm of rain caused widespread flooding

Question 1

Typhoon Haiyan - Secondary Effects

Answer 1

• Destruction of infrastructure including roads, causing problems in crop production and distribution leading to loss of income and more hunger
• 6 million workers in the Philippines affected by loss of income
• Schools and hospitals damaged beyond repair
• Flooding caused landslides and blocked roads, cutting off aid to remote communities
• Power supply in some areas cut off for a month
• Shortages of water food and shelter
• Looting and violence broke out in Tacloban

Question 2

Typhoon Haiyan - location and date and category

Answer 2

• formed in the western pacific ocean, moving west towards the Philippines
• 5 November 2013
• Category 5

Question 3

Typhoon Haiyan - short term responses

Answer 3

• Country relied on foreign aid which was difficult to transport to the needed location due to destroyed infrastrucutre
• Red cross supplied 1.1 million people will clean water to limit outbreak of diseases
• over 1200 evacuation centres
• UK government sent shelter kits, each able to provide emergency shelter for a family

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Question 4

Typhoon Haiyan - long term responses

Answer 4

• time for recovery was 6 months to several years in specific places
• some infrastructure remains in despair - NEE
• people were paid to help clear debris and rebuilt the city
• rice farming and fishing quickly re-established
• buildings rebuilt stronger and more resistant to future sotms

Question 5

Typhoon Haiyan - how many deaths

Answer 5

• about 6,000 deaths

Question 6

Typhoon Haiyan - how many people left homeless

Answer 6

600,000

Question 7

Typhoon Haiyan - what percent of Tacloban was destroyed

Answer 7

90%

Question 8

Typhoon Haiyan - how many tonnes of crops were destroyed

Answer 8

1.1 million tonnes of crops were destroyed
(600,000 hectares of farmland destroyed)

Question 9

Somerset level floods - location and date

Answer 9

South- West England
2015

Question 10

Somerset level floods - causes

Answer 10

• high tides and storm surges swept water up the rivers from Bristol Channel
• Rivers had not been dredged in 20 years - had become clogged
• high levels of rainfall (wettest January on record)

Question 11

Somerset level floods - social impacts

Answer 11

• 600 homes flooded
• residents evacuated to temporary accomodation
• power supplies cut off

Question 12

Somerset level floods - economic impacts

Answer 12

• cost the somerset county council more than £10 million
• Railway line closed at Bridgewater
• roads cut off
• 1000 lifestock evacuated

Question 13

Somerset level floods - environmental

Answer 13

• flood water contaminated with sewage and other oils/chemicals
• debris had to be cleared