GCSE

Geography

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  1. Introduction to GCSE Geography (AQA)

    2. 1. Living with the Physical Environment

  2. 1.1 The Challenge of Natural Hazards
  3. 1.2 The Living World
  4. 1.3 Physical Landscapes in the UK
    5. 2. Challenges in the Human Environment
  5. 2.1 Urban Issues and Challenges
  6. 2.2 The Changing Economic World
  7. 2.3 The Challenge of Resource Management
    8. 3. Geographical Applications
  8. 3.1 Issue Evaluation
  9. 3.2 Fieldwork
    10. 4. Geographical Skills
  10. 4.1 Cartographic Skills
  11. 4.2 Graphical Skills
  12. 4.3 Numerical Skills
  13. 4.4 Statistical Skills
  14. 4.5 Use of Qualitative and Quantitative Data
  15. 4.6 Formulate Enquiry and Argument
  16. 4.7 Literacy
Exit
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Study

In this lesson, we will explore the primary and secondary effects of tropical storms, examine the immediate and long-term responses to these events, use a named example to illustrate their effects and responses, and discuss how monitoring, prediction, protection, and planning can help reduce the impacts of tropical storms.

Primary and Secondary Effects of Tropical Storms

Primary effects of tropical storms include:

  • Intense Winds: Tropical storms bring strong winds that can cause extensive damage to buildings, infrastructure, and vegetation.
  • Heavy Rainfall: Tropical storms produce torrential rainfall, leading to flash floods, river flooding, and landslides.
  • Storm Surge: The low pressure and strong winds associated with tropical storms can cause a surge of seawater onto coastal areas, resulting in coastal flooding and erosion.

Figure 33. Flooding from tropical storm Allison in Houston Texas, 2001.

Meanwhile, secondary effects of tropical storms include:

  • Economic Disruption: Tropical storms can disrupt transportation, damage industries, and interrupt power and water supplies, leading to economic losses.
  • Public Health Concerns: Water contamination, the spread of waterborne diseases, and the displacement of populations can result in public health risks.
  • Environmental Impact: Tropical storms can cause habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and damage to ecosystems, including coral reefs and forests.

Figure 34. Damage to the bridge in Taftsville, Vermont from tropical storm Irene, 2012.
Immediate and Long-Term Responses to Tropical Storms

Immediate responses to topical storms include:

  • Evacuation and Sheltering: Authorities issue evacuation orders and provide emergency shelters to protect people from the immediate hazards of tropical storms.
  • Search and Rescue Operations: Emergency services conduct rescue operations to save lives and provide medical assistance to those injured.
  • Emergency Relief: Immediate assistance, including food, water, medical supplies, and temporary shelter, is provided to affected communities.

Meanwhile, long-term responses to tropical storms include:

  • Recovery and Reconstruction: Efforts focus on rebuilding damaged infrastructure, homes, and communities, and restoring essential services.
  • Rehabilitation and Resilience Building: Programs are implemented to restore livelihoods, improve infrastructure resilience, and enhance disaster preparedness.
  • Risk Reduction and Adaptation: Measures such as implementing early warning systems, improving building codes, and land-use planning help reduce future vulnerabilities, for example not building in coastal zones and constructing mangroves that can absorb the energy of storms.
Tropical Storm: Hurricane Katrina

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of the United States, resulting in catastrophic damage. It hit the USA with a Saffir Sampson category 3.

Figure 35. The track of hurricane Katrina, 2005.

Primary Effects

The storm surge breached levees, leading to widespread flooding in New Orleans (approximately 80%). The hurricane caused significant property damage, loss of life (1,836 lives), and economic disruption ($125 billion). Strong winds caused damage to buildings, trees and infrastructure. Hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed or severely damaged, and many businesses were forced to relocate. Bridges collapsed, transportation networks were disrupted and communication systems powered down, this hindered recovery efforts. 

Secondary Effects

The breaching of the levees made New Orleans flooded for weeks, this made it hard for people to get back to their property and repair, causing further damage. Floodwaters contaminated with sewage and other pollutants posed a significant health risk to those stranded in the city. Hundreds of thousands had to leave their homes and become homeless or relocate to other parts of the country. Businesses similarly had to relocate, leading to people losing their jobs and livelihoods. Those who did survive experienced high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues. Coastal habitats were damaged, and oil spills from damaged facilities.

Immediate Responses

Large scale evacuations from a projected landfall, despite this many of the poor and elderly were unable to be evacuated, hence the large death count. The Superdome and Convention Centre in New Orleans were opened as shelters of last resort.

Search and rescue operations were conducted by The Coast Guard, along with first responders, saving tens of thousands of people. They were accompanied by the military, including the 82nd Airborne Division. Emergency supplies distributed food, water, and medical supplies, however after a couple of days there were shortages. 

Overall the initial responses were slow from the federal government, the communication system was overwhelmed, ultimately hindering coordination between different agencies and delivery of aid. There was a lack of resources, personnel, equipment particularly in the initial days of the disaster. 

Long-Term Responses

The levee system was significantly reconstructed, including new floodwalls and floodgates. Other infrastructure projects included improvements to the wastewater and water treatment systems, which was supplemented with coastal protection. There were improvements in the public health coordination systems between hospitals and other healthcare facilities with a great emphasis on community engagement and culturally sensitive communication.

Figure 36. A flooded neighbourhood in Port Sulphur, Louisiana, after the tropical storm Hurricane Katrina, 2005.

Notable effects and responses of hurricane katrina revolved around how the rich and poor neighbourhoods were disproportionately affected, and therefore effort was made to ensure the necessary protection and evacuation plans, emergency supplies and health coordination systems got to those who were most vulnerable.

Mitigating the Effects of Tropical Storms

To reduce the effects of tropical storms, the following measures can be implemented:

  • Monitoring: Advanced monitoring systems, including satellite imagery, weather radars, and ocean buoys, help track the development and movement of tropical storms, providing early warnings.
  • Prediction: Improved forecasting models and computer simulations aid in predicting the track, intensity, and potential impacts of tropical storms, assisting with evacuation and preparedness measures.
  • Protection: Building codes and infrastructure standards can be designed to withstand strong winds and flooding, reducing the vulnerability of communities to tropical storms.
  • Planning: Land-use planning and zoning regulations help steer development away from high-risk areas prone to tropical storms, minimising exposure and potential damage.
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