GCSE Edexcel B Geography Case Studies on Tropical Cyclones

Hurricane Katrina, Cyclone Nargis

Describe evacuation strategies for TRCs

• Gvts can plan evacuation routes

• Mandatory evacuation is commanded by authorities

• Emergency services can train and prepare for disasters

How can buildings be designed and prepared to withstand a storm surge?

• Put on stilts so safe from floodwater

• Roof strapping window shutters

• reinforcing foundations of building

What defences can be built along the coast to prevent damage from storm surges?

Sea walls or coastal embankments

What are our 2 named examples of TRCs?

Hurricane Katrina 2005 Cyclone Nargis 2008

Characteristics of Hurricane Katrina 2005

Category 3 at landfall Winds up to 280km/h8.5m high storm surge New Orleans was worst affected

Characteristics of Cyclone Nargis 2008

Category 4, Irrawaddy Delta region worst affected

How well did the USA prepare for and forecast the hurricane Katrina in 2005?

• USA has sophisticated monitoring system to predict when and where hurricane will hit

• allowed them to predict Katrina would make a landfall near New Orleans 56 hours before it hit the city

• radio broadcasts kept residents informed about forecast

How well did Myanmar prepare for and forecast Cyclone Nargis in 2008?

• no dedicated monitoring centre of TRCs

• relies on other countries to give it warnings

• Does not have radar network that can predict storm surges and waves caused by cyclones

• hard to estimate danger to people, properties and environment

How did the USA respond to Hurricane Katrina (Warning + evacuation)

• The NHC issued hurricane warnings

• 80% of people evacuated before the hurricane made landfall

• highways leaving New Orleans were jammed

• poor residents without cars or public transport couldn’t leave

• some stayed due to fears of looting.

• The Superdome was designated as a shelter on higher ground for those unable to evacuate, but it lacked sufficient resources.

How did Myanmar respond to Cyclone Nargis in 2008?(Warning and evacuation)

• India warned Myanmar about Cyclone Nargis 48 hours in advance

• alerts were broadcast on TV and radio

• many poor rural communities never received them

• There were no emergency or evacuation plans, no early warning system, and no storm surge defences.

• Although the UN launched a major aid appeal, Myanmar’s government restricted foreign assistance.

How did the USA prepare for Hurricane Katrina in 2005?(Defences)

• New Orleans had levees and pumps to protect against flooding,

• failed due to poor maintenance by local and federal governments

• The embankments were old and broke during the storm,

• pumping stations flooded and stopped working, leading to severe damage across the city.

How did the Myanmar prepare for Cyclone Nargis in 2008?(Defences)

• no hard engineering defences against storm surges, so poorly built houses were destroyed.

• mangrove forests that provided natural flood protection cut down decades earlier, reducing coastal defences and worsening the impacts.

How much of New Orleans was underwater?

80%

Social impacts of Hurricane Katrina on people in 2005

• 1836 deaths(mainly because of failure of storm surge defences)

• 1 million people homeless

• Lack of clean water + sanitation

• 3 million people without electricity

• Looting problems and disorder

Economic impacts of Hurricane Katrina on people in 2005

• $108 billion in damage and cost of rebuilding housing

• Damaged roads and collapsed bridges

• 230 000 jobs lost from damaged businesses

Environmental impacts of Hurricane Katrina in 2005

• Coastal habitats were damaged

• Flooding damaged oil refineries in Louisiana causing massive oil spills

• Floodwaters carried pollution

Social impacts of Cyclone Nargis on people in 2008

• 138 866 deaths

• 3 million people homeless

• 95% homes destroyed

• drinking water polluted and diseases spread as result of poor sanitary conditions

Economic impacts of Cyclone Nargis on people in 2008

$10 billion needed to rebuild homes + clear transport routes

Environmental impacts of Cyclone Nargis in 2008

• 14 000km2 land flooded

• mangrove forests destroyed

• flooding caused erosion + salination of land

Long term response to Hurricane Katrina

• All of city's 400km of levees have been made much higher + stronger

• All city's 78 floodwater pumping stations made floodproof Lake Borgne surge barrier been built to protect New Orleans

Long term response to Cyclone Nargis

• Build stronger schools, hospitals, and homes.

• Install new sanitation systems.

• Construct 20 cyclone shelters (each for 500 people).

• Providing 2 mobile phones per community.

• regrow mangrove forests.