Storm Hazards in Contrasting Areas of the Word - (Typhoon Haiyan and Hurricane Katrina)

Question 1

When and where did Typhoon Haiyan make landfall?

Answer 1

8th November 2013, Philippines — it struck as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 195 mph (315 km/h).

Question 2

Why is the Philippines vulnerable to typhoons like Haiyan?

Answer 2

It’s a group of islands in the South China Sea, regularly hit by typhoons; warm seas (30°C) and rising sea levels (+20cm since 1900) worsen storm surges.

Question 3

How did geography increase Haiyan’s impact in Tacloban?

Answer 3

Tacloban is at the end of a funnel-shaped bay, which concentrated a 15m storm surge, causing devastating coastal flooding.

Question 4

What were the key characteristics of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 4

Lowest pressure: 895 mb

Rainfall: 400 mm

Wind radius: 53 miles

Peak wind speed: 196 mph

Storm surge: 15 metres

Question 5

What were the primary social impacts of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 5

6,201 deaths

1.1 million homes lost

Over 4 million people displaced

16 million affected overall

Question 6

What were the secondary social impacts of Haiyan?

Answer 6

28,626 casualties due to delayed aid

Refugee influx to less-affected areas

Risk of disease from lack of water/sanitation

21,000 families still in evacuation centres 2 months later

🧠 Analysis: Aid delays worsened suffering and caused preventable deaths. Loss of homes and jobs led to social instability and migration pressures.

Question 7

What was the estimated economic cost of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 7

$13 billion

Question 8

How did Typhoon Haiyan impact agriculture and industry?

Answer 8

50,000–120,000 tons of sugar lost

130,000+ tonnes of rice lost

175,000 acres of farmland destroyed ($85 million)

Tacloban City was decimated

Coconut industry crippled (33 million trees felled)

🧠 Analysis: Economic recovery was hindered due to destroyed export crops and infrastructure. Loss of livelihoods impacted local markets.

Question 9

What was the long-term economic challenge for the Philippines?

Answer 9

Debt cycle — over 20% of government revenue used to repay foreign debt, reducing funds for recovery.

Question 10

What environmental damage did Haiyan cause?

Answer 10

Loss of forests, widespread flooding

Oil and sewage leaks polluted ecosystems

90% of farmers affected in rural areas

Coconut trees lost → 15 million tons of rotting timber attracted pests

🧠 Analysis: Loss of natural resources caused long-term ecological and economic challenges, especially for subsistence farmers and biodiversity.

Question 11

What political issues were caused by Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 11

Government was accused of being unprepared

Widespread protests over slow response

President Aquino requested aid the day after

$3 billion allocated for long-term recovery

New disaster preparedness policies introduced

🧠 Analysis: Public dissatisfaction pressured political reform, triggering greater future investment in preparedness and resilience.

Question 12

What emergency measures were taken immediately after Haiyan?

Answer 12

State of national calamity declared

International aid sent: food, water, shelter

UK sent shelter kits

1,200+ evacuation centres set up

$475 million international aid

US sent 13,000 troops

Red Cross distributed food aid

Field hospitals from France, Belgium, Israel

🧠 Analysis: International support was vital, but delays (5+ days) led to only 20% of victims receiving aid on time — worsening secondary impacts.

Question 13

What were the key long-term responses to the Haiyan disaster?

Answer 13

Rebuilding of airports, ports, roads, bridges

‘Cash for Work’ schemes to help locals earn money clearing debris

Oxfam helped replace fishing boats

Cyclone shelters built further inland to reduce future risk

🧠 Analysis: Long-term responses focused on resilience and economic recovery, especially for farmers and fishermen. Risk reduction was central to planning.

Question 14

How did Typhoon Haiyan influence future risk management?

Answer 14

Increased investment in preparedness and early warning systems

More cyclone shelters built inland = mitigation & adaptation

Policies aimed at reducing poverty to improve resilience

International support helped shape better disaster response frameworks

🧠 Analysis: Haiyan exposed weaknesses in emergency planning but triggered significant adaptation measures to reduce the impact of future hazards.

Question 15

What category and characteristics did Hurricane Katrina have at landfall?

Answer 15

Category 3 hurricane with:

Winds of ~200 km/h

Rainfall of 200–250 mm

Storm surge up to 8.5 m in Mississippi

Question 16

What caused such devastating flooding in New Orleans?

Answer 16

The storm surge and rainfall overwhelmed levees, flooding over 80% of the city.

Question 17

What were the primary social impacts of Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 17

1,836 deaths

300,000 homes destroyed

3 million people lost power

One of the main highways, the I-10 bridge, collapsed

18 schools destroyed, 74 damaged

🧠 Analysis: The disaster severely disrupted infrastructure, health, and education, and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Question 18

What were the secondary social impacts of hurricane Katrina?

Answer 18

Widespread homelessness

Contaminated water supplies → 5 deaths from polluted water

Mass displacement created long-term housing shortages and mental health issues

Question 19

What was the total cost of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 19

Estimated at $300 billion, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in US history.

Question 20

How was employment and industry affected by hurricane Katrina?

Answer 20

230,000 jobs lost due to business destruction

30 oil platforms damaged/destroyed

Ports like Gulfport were hit, disrupting shipping and trade

5300 km² of forest lost = $5 billion in lost logging income

🧠 Analysis: Key industries like oil and forestry suffered major setbacks, affecting national and local economies long-term.

Question 21

What environmental damage did Hurricane Katrina cause?

Answer 21

Damaged coastal habitats and turtle nesting beaches

Destroyed conservation areas like Breton National Wildlife Refuge

Oil spills from flooded refineries

Salt marshes flooded, leading to permanent habitat loss

🧠 Analysis: Sensitive ecosystems were irreparably damaged, increasing coastal vulnerability to future storms.

Question 22

What political issues arose from Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 22

Government faced criticism for slow and inadequate response

Highlighted inequality in disaster preparedness and response, especially in low-income and Black communities

Led to long-term reform in FEMA’s role and emergency planning strategies

🧠 Analysis: Katrina exposed systemic weaknesses in emergency governance and disaster management at federal and local levels.

Question 23

How was early warning and preparedness handled before Katrina?

Answer 23

National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued warnings from 26th August

FEMA and US Coast Guard pre-positioned rescue teams and supplies

Around 80% of New Orleans residents evacuated

🧠 Analysis: Despite advanced warning systems, evacuation was uneven, and many vulnerable people were left behind.

Question 24

What were the emergency responses during and after the hurricane?

Answer 24

Emergency shelters like the Superdome housed 26,000 people

50,000+ people rescued by coastguard, army, police, and fire services

Charities raised $4 billion for aid

Search and medical teams deployed quickly after the storm

🧠 Analysis: Large-scale rescue efforts were successful, but many criticised delays in delivering basic needs like food and water.

Question 25

What long-term responses followed Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 25

Levees rebuilt and strengthened around New Orleans Housing and infrastructure reconstruction began, though slow and uneven FEMA reorganised to improve future response and coordination New policies introduced to prioritise vulnerable populations 🧠 Analysis: Long-term resilience improved, but recovery was slower in poorer areas, reinforcing social inequality.

Question 26

How did risk management before Katrina help reduce the impact?

Answer 26

Advanced monitoring and early warning systems allowed timely evacuation FEMA pre-deployed teams, reducing loss of life Coordination across federal and state agencies improved preparedness

Question 27

What lessons in mitigation and adaptation were learned after Katrina?

Answer 27

Improved levee and flood defence systems More robust evacuation plans and shelter networks Focus on equity and inclusion in emergency management Investment in wetland restoration to buffer future storm surges 🧠 Analysis: Katrina became a turning point in US hazard preparedness, with stronger emphasis on long-term adaptation and disaster resilience.

Question 28

How did the death toll from Hurricane Katrina and Typhoon Haiyan compare?

Answer 28

Hurricane Katrina (2005): 1,836 deaths (mainly in Louisiana and Mississippi). Typhoon Haiyan (2013): 6,201 deaths (mainly in the Philippines, especially in Tacloban). 🧠 Analysis: Despite being a wealthier nation, the USA still suffered significant loss of life, but the Philippines, as an LIC, faced a much higher death toll, often due to poorer building infrastructure, lack of emergency services, and slower aid response.

Question 29

How many people were displaced by each storm?

Answer 29

Hurricane Katrina: 1 million displaced (mainly from New Orleans). Typhoon Haiyan: Over 4 million displaced (mainly in Tacloban and surrounding areas). 🧠 Analysis: Haiyan caused a much greater displacement in terms of sheer numbers, as the Philippines had fewer shelters and less infrastructure to absorb the displaced population.

Question 30

How were education systems affected?

Answer 30

Hurricane Katrina: 18 schools destroyed, 74 damaged, disrupting education in New Orleans. Typhoon Haiyan: More than 4,000 schools damaged in the Philippines. 🧠 Analysis: Both storms caused widespread destruction of schools, but the sheer number of educational institutions damaged was far greater in the Philippines due to limited resilience in rural areas.

Question 31

How did the economic costs of each disaster compare?

Answer 31

Hurricane Katrina: Estimated at $300 billion in total damages (mainly to infrastructure, homes, and businesses). Typhoon Haiyan: Estimated at $13 billion in damages (mainly to infrastructure and agriculture). 🧠 Analysis: The economic costs of Hurricane Katrina were far higher than Typhoon Haiyan, reflecting the wealthier economy of the USA and the higher levels of infrastructure destruction in an HIC. However, the Philippines still faced severe economic impacts despite having a lower total damage figure.

Question 32

How was the workforce affected?

Answer 32

Hurricane Katrina: 230,000 jobs lost (mainly due to damage to businesses, oil platforms, and shipping). Typhoon Haiyan: Destruction of coconut plantations (important for 50% of agricultural exports) and 90% of rural population reliant on small-scale farming. 🧠 Analysis: Both storms disrupted key industries, but Typhoon Haiyan’s economic impact was especially severe on agriculture, which is critical in an LIC like the Philippines.

Question 33

What environmental damage was caused by the two storms?

Answer 33

Hurricane Katrina: Flooding caused by levee breaches led to oil spills and coastal habitat destruction (including wetlands). Forest loss in Mississippi: 5,300 km² destroyed, worth $5 billion in lost income. Typhoon Haiyan: 33 million coconut trees felled, 15 million tons of timber rotting. Destruction of sea turtle breeding areas and flooding of salt marshes, which worsened future vulnerability. 🧠 Analysis: Both hurricanes caused massive environmental damage, but Haiyan’s destruction of agricultural resources (especially coconut trees) was especially damaging in a country reliant on small-scale farming. In contrast, Katrina’s damage to industrial infrastructure (e.g., oil refineries) was a significant concern for the USA.

Question 34

How did the political responses to Hurricane Katrina and Typhoon Haiyan differ?

Answer 34

Hurricane Katrina: Slow initial response by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). Widespread protests and criticism of the US government’s preparedness and response. Rebuilding efforts were slow and uneven, particularly in poorer areas like New Orleans. Typhoon Haiyan: Government requests for international aid were made quickly, but the UN admitted slow initial response. Protests against the government for unpreparedness and slow aid distribution. Rebuilding aid and international donations played a large role in recovery, with a $475 million aid commitment. 🧠 Analysis: Both countries struggled with response times, but the US was better able to deploy resources quickly despite initial failures. The Philippines required significant international support due to its limited infrastructure and financial resources.

Question 35

How did preparedness and warnings differ between the two storms?

Answer 35

Hurricane Katrina: Advanced warning systems in the USA predicted the storm. 80% of New Orleans evacuated before landfall. Government agencies were prepared, but lacked timely response for vulnerable populations. Typhoon Haiyan: Early warning issued by Philippine authorities, but weaker infrastructure and communication systems led to less effective evacuation and preparedness in poorer areas. Limited capacity for evacuation in rural areas and informal settlements. 🧠 Analysis: While both countries had early warning systems, the USA’s more advanced infrastructure allowed for more effective evacuations. In contrast, the Philippines' less developed infrastructure led to greater loss of life.

Question 36

How did the short-term and long-term responses differ between the two countries?

Answer 36

Hurricane Katrina: Short-term: Evacuations were mostly successful, but aid was delayed. Federal response was initially inadequate. Long-term: $300 billion in damages required significant rebuilding, with slow recovery, particularly for low-income areas. Reforms in FEMA and disaster planning. Typhoon Haiyan: Short-term: Immediate aid from international charities and governments. Temporary shelters set up. Long-term: $475 million in international aid for reconstruction. Focus on building cyclone-resistant homes and improving disaster preparedness. 🧠 Analysis: Both countries experienced slow recovery, but the Philippines required more international assistance, whereas the USA had a larger internal capacity to respond.

Question 37

What are the key disparities between the impacts of Hurricane Katrina in the USA and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines?

Answer 37

Economic Impact: Katrina had a higher total cost ($300 billion) compared to Haiyan ($13 billion) due to stronger industrial infrastructure in the USA. Death toll: The death toll was higher in the Philippines (6,201) compared to the USA (1,836) due to poorer infrastructure, slower evacuation, and weaker disaster preparedness in an LIC. Environmental Recovery: Both countries suffered from environmental destruction, but Haiyan’s destruction of agricultural assets (e.g., coconut trees) had a more direct impact on local livelihoods. Political Response: Both governments faced criticism for slow responses, but the USA had more resources for a quicker recovery, while the Philippines required significant international aid.