Effects and Responses to Tropical Storms:
Effects:
● Impacts of the storm → strong winds, torrential rainfall, storm surges, landslides, tornadoes
○ Storm surge = sea level rises rapidly and particularly high due to storm → upto 5m
● Primary effects:
○ Destroyed buildings/bridges
○ Rivers and coastal areas flooded
○ Destroyed infrastructure , electricity and
power lines
○ Crops wiped out
○ Sewage overflows → contaminated water
supplies
○ People drowned/injured/killed
■ Amount of destruction depends on
storm strength and protection
● Secondary effects:
○ Flooding → caused by heavy rain/storm
surges
■ Flooding is the main cause of
death
○ People left homeless due to lack of shelter
○ Shortage of clean water and lack of
sanitation → easy disease spread
○ Roads are blocked/destroyed → aid
cannot enter
○ Shortages of food due to damaged crops
and livestock
Responses:
● Immediate responses:
○ Evacuation before storm arrives
■ To higher ground where storm
surges will not have a big impact
■ To emergency storm shelters
○ Setting up temporary shelters/tents for
those whose houses have been damaged
○ Provide temporary supplies of
food/water/electricity
○ Recover dead bodies → prevent spread of
disease
○ HICs/international aid is given for financial
support
● Long-term responses:
○ Repair homes and rehousing people due
to damaged buildings
○ Repair and improve flood defense
systems/infrastructure
○ Improve forecasting techniques to give
people more warning in the future
○ Speed to start long-term responses will
depend on:
■ How much destruction was
caused
■ Wealth of the country
■ Help available from other
countries/organisations/charities
Measuring tropical storms:
● Measured using the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale
○ Updated in 2012
○ Now based on wind speed → easier to understand
■ Higher the category , higher the intensity of the tropical storm
● Wind categories:
○ Wind category 1: 119 – 153 km/h
○ Wind category 2: 154 – 177 km/h
○ Wind category 3: 187 – 208 km/h
○ Wind category 4: 209 – 251 km/h
○ Wind category 5: > 251 km/h