Hazards - Hurricane Sandy (USA and Haiti) 2012 case study

Geographical context (3)

- Category: 3 Hurricane
- Highest wind speeds: 185 km/h
- Started off the coast of West Africa and travelled north-west across the Atlantic Ocean (through countries: Cuba, Haiti and The Bahamas in the Caribbean and then hit the east coast of the USA

Was there any prior management? why/why not (2)? USA

Yes
- After prior hurricanes (Katrina), preparing for, and providing relief efforts
- President Obama signed additional emergency declarations for other states, such as Delaware and West Virginia

Was there any prior management? why/why not (3)? Haiti

* Difficult as country is vulnerable to disasters
* evacuation were ordered for some high risk areas
* Poor infrastructure meant that it was hard for locals to prepare such a large-scale disaster

What were the causes (2)?

- Strengthened by climate change
- Global warming has contributed to abnormally warm water and higher moisture content in the atmosphere, increases intensity

What were the impacts (5)? USA

- $70 bill in damage
- 20,000 flights cancelled, disrupted trade and tourism
- 70 deaths in USA
- Power failure, 7 mill houses
- Crops damaged, disrupted agricultural productivity

What were the impacts (5)? Haiti

* 1600 people died
* immediate food crisis as the storm wipe out their food
* Jeremine city, 80% of buildings were destroyed
* in one day the people in shelters increases from 2500 to 4000
* Cholera outbreak that wasnt prevalent in Haiti before 2010

Have they recovered (3)? USA

To some extent
- 1/3 struggle to meet bills and afford food and fuel
- + 1/3 of affected New Jersey residents are unhappy with the state’s recovery effort
- Still trying to complete a $750m project for coastal defence system

Have they recovered (3)? Haiti

* No, as they are reliant on others for assistance
* government so to respond, leaving angered Hatians
* UN has made an emergency appeal for £100 mill in aid

Assess vulnerability (3)

* lack of investment in sufficient hardening, questioning the preparedness of the Caribbean and the US,80% of Haiti is considered poor by UN
* Other previous earthquakes and hurricanes struck before
* In New Jersey, Destructive waves and storm surge associated with Sandy severely eroded the beach and dune systems