Typhoon Haiyan

Question 1

When?

Answer 1

8 November 2013

Question 2

Where?

Answer 2

Philippines

Question 3

What was it?

Answer 3

Category 5 storm. One of the most powerful storms to hit the Philippines.

Question 4

Facts about the storm

Answer 4

Wind speeds up to 314km/h
400mm of rainfall
5m storm surge
Flooded 1km inland

Question 5

Social primary effects

Answer 5

6,190 people killed
50% house destroyed (1.1 million)
4.1 million made homeless
90% of Tacloban city destroyed

Question 6

Economic primary effects

Answer 6

$12 billion of damage
Rice and seed stocks lost in storm surge resulting in $53 million damage to rice.
3/4 (75%) of farmers and fishermen lost their income

Question 7

Environmental primary effects

Answer 7

1.1 million tonnes of crops destroyed
Oil barge at Estancia ran aground causing an 800,000 lire oil leak
400mm of rainfall caused flooding

Question 8

Social secondary effects

Answer 8

Flooding caused surface and groundwater to be contaminated with chemicals and sewage causing infection and disease to spread
8 deaths in stampede for rice supplies
Power supplies cut off for 1 month in some areas
Schools destroyed, affecting education

Question 9

Economic secondary effects

Answer 9

Tacloban airport badly damaged and roads blocked by trees and debris
Fishing industry badly disrupted as leaked oil from barge contaminated fishing waters
Looting was rife due to lack of food and supplies
By 2014 rice had increased in price by 12%
10 hectares of mangroves contaminated by oil barge leak
Flooding caused landslides

Question 10

Immediate responses

Answer 10

Government televised a warning for people to evacuate
Authorities evacuated 800,000 people. Many went to Tacloban stadium but it flooded.
Over 1,200 evacuation centres set up to help the homeless
Philippine government ensured essential equipment and medical supplies were sent out but in 1 region they were washed away
3 days later airport reopened and emergency supplies arrived by plane. Within 2 weeks over 1 million food packs and 250,000 litres of water had been distributed
2 days after, the government imposed curfew to reduce looting
Beckhams, X-factor and brands such as Fifa, Apple and Coca Cola used their status to raise awareness and encourage public donations

Question 11

Long-term responses

Answer 11

July 2014 Philippines government announced ‘Build Back Better’ long-term recovery plan. They would rebuild buildings and upgrade them to protect against future disasters
Oxfam replaced fishing boats
‘No-build zone’ in Eastern Visayas, Home rebuilt away from flood-risk areas
‘Cash for Work’ programme paid people to clean debris and rebuild the city
More cyclone shelters built
33 countries and international organisations pledged help. $1.5 billion in foreign aid
New storm surge warning system installed