Tropical cyclone case study?

Question 1

Social impacts of Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 1

1. More than 1800 killed
2. 300,000 houses destroyed - hundreds thousands of people homeless
3. Large flooding - 80% of new orleans
4. 3 million people without electricity
5. Damage to infrastructure

Question 2

Economic impacts of hurrican katrina?

Answer 2

1. Damage cost 150 billion
2. Oil well/pipelines damaged by cyclone - had to close - affected fuel supplies to other industries
3. 230,000 jobs lost from damaged businesses

Question 3

Environmental impacts of hurricane katrina?

Answer 3

1. Coastal habitats e.g. sea turtle breeding beaches damaged
2. Some coastal conversation areas destroyed - half of Breton National Wildlife Refuge washed away in Louisian
3. Oil refineries damaged in Louisiana - oil spills

Question 4

Individual responses to hurrican katrina?

Answer 4

1. 70-80% of New Orleans residents evacuated before hurricane hit
2. People volunteered to help the relief effort in their neighbourhoods - distributing food and helping rebuild homes

Question 5

Organisation responses to hurrican katrina?

Answer 5

1. Charities such as red cross and several religious organisations collected donations - provided aid - millions of hot meals
2. Volunteers from an amateur radio network provided emergency communications systems - places where communication destroyed

Question 6

Government responses to hurrican katrina?

Answer 6

1. Mississipi/Louisiana declared states of emergency - made control centres, emergency shelters, many supplies
2. Coastguard, police etc. rescued over 50,000 people
3. US government provided over 16 billion - rebuilding homes - other infrastructure
4. Repaired/improved flood defences for New Orleans - costing 14.5 billion - completed in 2013

Question 7

Social impacts of Cyclone Nargis?

Answer 7

1. More than 140,000 people were killed
2. 450,000 houses destroyed - 350,000 damaged
3. Diseases - poor sanitary conditions - contaminated water

Question 8

Economic impacts of Cyclone Nargis?

Answer 8

1. 65% rice paddies in Irrawaddy Delta damaged - loss of livelihood
2. Fishing infrastructure - ponds, boats, jetties destroyed - damaged local fishing/shrimp industries
3. Over 4 billion in damages

Question 9

Environmental impacts of Cyclone Nargis?

Answer 9

1. 14,000km2 of Irrawaddy Delta flooded
2. 38000 hectares of mangrove forests destroyed
3. Flooding caused erosion and salination of the land

Question 10

Individual respondses to cyclone nargis?

Answer 10

1. Wrnings were issued on TV and radio - didnt reach people in poor rural communities
2. More people killed - didnt know what to do or where to evacuate to
3. Many people left to cope and rebuild by themselves

Question 11

Organisation respondses to cyclone nargis?

Answer 11

1. UN raised 315 million to provide emergency food, shelter and medical staff by helicopter
2. World food programme distributed 70,000 tons of food - still assisting one year later

Question 12

Government respondses to cyclone nargis?

Answer 12

1. Government had been spending on military rather than evacuation plans/emergency preparation - unable to respond quickly or effectively to cyclone
2. Government initially refused to accept foreign aid - wouldnt allow aid workers in country
3. Aid sent to country siezed by military - delaying delivery to people who needed it
4. Delays in accepting international aid increased number of deaths - help came too late