Impact of tropical cyclones

Question 1

Name a tropical cyclone

Answer 1

Typhoon Haiyan- the Philippines 8th November 2013

Question 2

What were 5 short term effects of typhoon Haiyan

Answer 2

-6340 deaths
-29000 injured
-4.1 million made homeless
-destruction of $53 million worth of rice stocks
-flooding from heavy rainfall and storm surges

Question 3

What were 5 long term effects of typhoon Haiyan

Answer 3

-long term disruption to children’s education as school buildings were destroyed
-malnutrition due to the destruction of the 2013 harvest and contamination of fields
-increase in rice prices by 14% due to destruction of stocks
-forest habitats destroyed by strong winds
-psychological trauma for survivors

Question 4

What are two physical factors which make the philippines more vulnerable to tropical cyclone hazards

Answer 4

-the Philippine islands have mountainous interiors which force people to live in flat coastal plains which experienced the stringiest tropical cyclone hazards
-it is an archipelago creating lots of funnel shaped coastlines in which storm surges are compressed on either side and rise higher

Question 5

What are two economic factors which make the philippines more vulnerable to tropical cyclone hazards

Answer 5

-as an emerging country the philippines has a GDP of $430 billion and 20% of people still live below the poverty line, these people are likely to live in poorly constructed houses which can easily be destroyed by strong wind
-many people in the Philippines work in primary industries which are highly vulnerable to tropical cyclones destroying livelihoods. For example typhoon Haiyan’s storm surge destroyed rice fields

Question 6

What are two social factors which make the Philippines more vulnerable to tropical cyclones

Answer 6

-many Filipinos live in remote communities on small island. After the damage of the cyclone people living here many be isolate and unable to receive emergency aid
-as an emerging country, the Philippines has improving health care but are still a long way short of than in developed countries. This means causalities from cyclones may not receive as good care resulting in more deaths