Tropical storms - Cyclone Nargis Case Study

Why was Myanmar more vulnerable to Cyclone Nargis?

• Poor housing, lack of flood defenses, and unreliable communication networks.

• No early warning systems, and many were unaware of the cyclone's approach.

• High levels of poverty, making evacuation and preparation difficult - those living in rural/remote areas cannot afford to travel long distances to safer areas

• Low-lying areas like the Irrawaddy Delta were especially prone to storm surges and flooding.

• Myanmar government, under military rule, was criticized for its corruption and mismanagement, which hindered disaster preparedness and delayed response - they were slow to request & accept international aid

Where did Cyclone Nargis hit? How/Where did it form?

• Formed in the Bay of Bengal

• Intensified into a Cat-4 cyclone due to warm sea temps & low wind shear

• Made landfall in Irrawaddy Delta region of Myanmar

When did Cyclone Nargis hit?

May 2, 2008

What category was it at landfall?

Category 4 - brought sustained winds of 135mph & storm surges up to 3.5m.

Why did Cyclone Nargis intensify when it hit the Irrawaddy Delta?

he Irrawaddy Delta provided the cyclone with a continuous supply of warm, moist air and water from its rivers and estuaries. This sustained the cyclone’s energy, preventing it from dissipating quickly and allowing it to stay intense longer than it would have over solid land.

Does/Did Myanmar have good forecasting?

• Myanmar didn’t have a dedicated monitoring system for tropical cyclones

• Myanmar doesn’t have a radar network that can predict height of storm surges & waves caused by cyclones

Evaluate the warning systems & evacuation of Cyclone Nargis:

• Indian weather agencies warned the government of Myanmar that Cyclone Nargis was likely to hit the country 48hrs before it did - the government ignored this & told the public there was little/no risk

• Warnings were issued on TV & radio - this didn’t reach people in poor, rural communities - meant more people were killed as they didn’t know what to do or where to evacuate to

• There were no emergency evacuation plans, no evac plans & country didn’t have early warning systems

What were the immediate responses to Cyclone Nargis?

• Local Response:

  • Limited local resources meant many survivors were left without immediate help.

  • Neighbors and local communities provided the first rescue efforts.

• Government Response:

  • The Myanmar government was slow to request or accept international aid.

  • Initial reluctance to grant visas delayed aid workers’ entry.

• International Aid:

  • International organizations like the UN and Red Cross mobilized food, water, and medical supplies.

  • Aid delivery was severely delayed due to government restrictions.

Evaluate Myanmar’s defences against Cyclone Nargis:

Mangrove forests protect the coast from flooding - but many had been chopped down in the decade before Nargis hit - reducing natural protection.

What were the social impacts of Cyclone Nargis?

• Over 140,000 killed

• 450,000 houses were destroyed, 350,000 damaged

• Around 65% of rice paddies in Irrawaddy delta were damaged - led to loss of livelihoods

• A lot of people suffered from diseases caused by poor sanitary conditions & contaminated water

• 2-3mn homeless

What were the environmental effects of Cyclone Nargis?

• Irrawaddy delta was hardest hit - 14,000km² of land was flooded

• 38000 hectares of mangrove forests destroyed - important for coastal protection

• Flooding caused erosion & salination of the land

• Loss of wildlife habitats & damage to ecosystems

What were the economic effects of Cyclone Nargis?

• Damage to rice fields disrupted the agricultural economy, with food supplies severely affected.

• Total damage estimated at $10 billion, a devastating amount for a developing country.

What were the short-term responses to Cyclone Nargis?

• 2-3 weeks after the strike no foreign aid was allowed into the country
  An appeal was launched by the UN to raise money to help respond

• Rescue missions conducted by local communities with minimal government support.

What were the long-term responses to Cyclone Nargis?

• Rebuilding of homes and schools, often delayed by government bureaucracy.

• Efforts to restore agriculture through seed distribution and irrigation repair.

• the Myanmar government have to rely on foreign aid to help with rebuilding - but so far only around 20,000 houses have been rebuilt, so many still take refuge in shantytowns.