* Storm Hazards 2

What 5 forms can storm hazards take?

• High winds

• Storm surges

• Heavy rain

• Flooding

• Landslides

How are high winds a storm hazard?

Wind speeds on the ground can reach more than 300km/h.

Wind can destroy buildings, uproot trees, and carry debris (e.g. cars) long distances before smashing into other objects.

What is a storm surge?

A storm surge is a large rise in sea level caused by high winds pushing water towards the coast and by the low pressure of a storm.

How do storms cause heavy rain?

As warm, moist air rises it cools and condenses, causing torrential rain.

e.g. in 1966, over 1000mm of rain fell in 12 hours at La Reunion (island in Indian Ocean) during Tropical Storm Denise.

How is flooding a storm hazard?

Heavy downpours can cause river discharge to increase suddenly, causing rivers to overtop their banks and flood the surrounding area.

What can heavy rain and storm surges cause?

Flooding in coastal areas.

How do storms cause landslides?

Water infiltrates soil and rock, making it less stable and increasing the risk of landslides.

What social impacts can storm hazards have on people?

People may drown, or be injured or killed by debris that’s blown around or carried in flood water.

What social impacts can storm hazards have on houses?

Houses are destroyed, so people are left homeless.

What social impacts can storm hazards have on electricity?

Electricity cables are damaged and supplies are cut off.

What other social impacts can storm hazards have?

• Flooding causes sewage overflows, contaminating water.

• Lack of clean water can help diseases spread.

• Damage to agricultural land can cause food shortages.

What political impacts may storm hazards have on authorities?

People may blame authorities for shortages of food, water and energy, leading to conflict and political unrest.

What other political impacts may storm hazards have?

Expensive repairs to buildings, infrastructure etc, limit the amount of money that can be spent on development.

What economic impacts can storm hazards have?

• Buildings and infrastructure cost a huge amount to rebuild.

• Businesses are damaged or destroyed, so they can’t trade.

• Agricultural land is damaged, affecting commercial farming.

What environmental impacts can storm hazards have on beaches?

Beaches are eroded and coastal habitats (e.g. coral reefs) are damaged.

Sediment deposited in aquatic ecosystems may damage fish breeding grounds.

What other environmental impacts can storm hazards have?

• Environments are polluted, e.g. by salt water, oil and chemicals spilled from damaged factories.

• Landslides can block watercourses, so they change course.

When do the short-term responses to a storm hazard occur?

Immediately before, during or immediately after the hazard.

Include things like evacuating people from areas at risk.

What are long-term responses designed to do?

Mitigate the impacts of future storms by managing the risks.

What 3 types of long-term responses are there?

• Prevention

• Preparedness

• Adaptation

What are prevention responses to storm hazards?

Storms cannot be prevented, but they can be studied to help scientists understand which areas are most likely to be affected.

This means future developments can be planned to avoid hig risk areas.

What are preparedness responses to storm hazards?

People and authorities can make sure they are prepared for a storm.

e.g. emergency services can train and prepare for disasters.

How can governments undergo a preparedness response to a storm hazard?

Governments can plan evacuation routes to get people away from storms quickly and educate people about how to prepare (e.g. stockpiling water and food and boarding up windows).

What are adaptation responses to storm hazards?

Buildings can be designed to withstand tropical storms.

e.g. by using reinforced concrete or by fixing roofs securely so they’re not blown off.

How else can buildings be adapted to storm hazards?

They can be put on stilts so they are safe from floodwater.

Flood defences can be built along rivers (e.g. levees) and coasts (e.g. sea walls).