CASE STUDYSSS Flashcards
(35 cards)
What was Typhoon Haiyan?
A Category 5 tropical cyclone that struck the Philippines on 8 November 2013, one of the most powerful ever recorded.
Where did Typhoon Haiyan strike?
The Philippines, especially the city of Tacloban on the island of Leyte.
What were the wind speeds of Typhoon Haiyan?
Up to 275 km/h (170 mph).
What were the primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?
Around 6,300 people killed (mostly by storm surges).
Over 600,000 people displaced.
40,000 homes destroyed or damaged.
Tacloban airport badly damaged.
Power lines down, widespread flooding.
What were the secondary effects of typoon haiyan?
Landslides and blocked roads, hampering aid.
Shortages of food, water, and shelter.
Looting and violence in Tacloban.
Jobs lost, hospitals damaged, schools destroyed.
Outbreaks of disease due to contaminated water.
What were the immediate responses? typoon
International aid – e.g., the UK sent shelter kits.
Over 1,200 evacuation centres set up.
Philippine Red Cross delivered food and water.
US aircraft carriers helped with search and rescues
What were the long-term responses?
‘Cash for work’ programmes to help clear debris.
New cyclone shelters built.
Homes rebuilt away from flood-prone areas.
Aid agencies helped rebuild infrastructure.
How was the Philippines vulnerable to Typhoon Haiyan?
It is an LIC (Low-Income Country).
Many people live in poorly built coastal homes.
Located in the tropical storm belt (Pacific Ocean).
What does the Typhoon Haiyan case study show about responses to tropical storms?
Immediate aid saves lives, but long-term planning (like better housing and evacuation plans) is crucial.
Vulnerability increases impact, especially in LICs.
Where is Banbury located?
Banbury is a market town in Oxfordshire, England. It lies on the River Cherwell, a tributary of the River Thames.
Why was flood management needed in Banbury?
Banbury experienced serious floods in 1998 and 2007.
In 1998, flooding caused around £12.5 million in damage and affected over 150 homes and businesses.
The area is low-lying and has a history of flooding.
What flood management scheme was implemented in Banbury?
A £18.5 million flood defence scheme completed in 2012.
Built a 2.9 km earth embankment to create a flood storage area.
Can hold 1.5 million cubic metres of water.
What other flood management strategies were used in Banbury?
Raising the A361 road to prevent closure during floods.
New pumping stations and flow control structures.
Planting trees and restoring habitats to absorb water.
What are the social benefits of the Banbury scheme?
Over 400 homes and 70 businesses protected.
Reduced anxiety about future flooding.
Improved quality of life for residents.
What are the economic benefits of the Banbury scheme?
Estimated £100 million saved in damages.
Local economy better protected from disruption.
What are the environmental impacts of the Banbury scheme?
New wetlands and biodiversity habitats created.
Some disruption during construction, but long-term gain for wildlife.
Where are the Somerset Levels?
The Somerset Levels are a low-lying area in the southwest of England, near Glastonbury and Bridgwater, bordered by the Bristol Channel.
When did the Somerset Levels floods happen?
The major floods occurred in January and February 2014.
What caused the Somerset Levels floods?
Exceptional rainfall: the wettest January since records began (1910).
14 storms in quick succession from the Atlantic.
Rivers (Parrett and Tone) were not dredged for over 20 years.
The area is flat and low-lying, prone to flooding.
What were the primary effects of the flooding?
Over 600 homes flooded.
Villages like Muchelney cut off for weeks.
Power supplies disrupted.
14,000 hectares of farmland flooded.
What were the secondary effects?
Roads and rail links closed.
Insurance costs rose.
Floodwater contaminated with sewage.
Economic losses in farming and tourism.
What were the immediate responses to the floods?
Boats used to reach cut-off villages.
Volunteers and emergency services helped residents.
Pumps brought in to remove floodwater.
What were the long-term responses to the floods?
In March 2014, 8 km of the Rivers Tone and Parrett were dredged.
£20 million Flood Action Plan launched.
Raised road levels, flood defences improved, and pumping stations upgraded.
What lessons were learned from the Somerset Levels floods?
Importance of regular river dredging.
Need for better floodplain planning and defences.
Example of how climate change may increase frequency of extreme UK weather.
