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Case Study: Typhoon Haiyan 2013, Philippines, LIC Causes

Started as a tropical depression on 2rd November 2013 and gained strength. Became a Category 5 “super typhoon” and made landfall on the Pacific islands of the Philippines. High population density, poorly constructed wooden buildings.

Primary Effects

Heavy rainfall (400mm), 5 meter storm surge = severe flooding

Infrastructure (roads and buildings) damaged Oil spills 6,000 deaths 2 million people homeless

Management of Tropical Storms

Warnings give people advice on reconnaissance flights

Secondary Effects

Loss of agricultural land – crop failure and food shortages Contamination of water Disease spread £10 billion in damage

Primary Responses

800,000 evacuated to temporary shelters £100 million worth of aid sent Distribution of aid slow as roads blocked Curfew introduced to stop looting

Secondary Responses

New legislation introduced to prevent construction in high risk areas New disaster early warning system developed Government introduced a 4 year, £6.2 billion plan to rebuild homes, business and infrastructure,

Protection

Preparing for a tropical storm may involve construction projects that will improve protection. Flood defences e.g. Levees /Houses built on stilts Reinforced concrete

Planning Involves getting people and the emergency services ready to deal with the impacts.

Disaster kits for high risk areas/ Evacuation routes Education: teaching people about what to do in a tropical storm / FEMA / Land use planning

Prediction

Constant monitoring can help to give advanced warning of a tropical storm the necessary action to take e.g. evacuation / National Hurricane Centre USA; Hurricane ‘Pam’ computer model, Satellites, Drop sondes, Ocean buoys, Doppler’s, ‘build back better’.