8/2/2019 Natural Disasters - Hurricanes (Part 2)

1/4

Factors Affecting the Development of a Hurricane

- Warm ocean water.- Winds flow outward above storm allowing air below to rise.- Winds coming together forces air upwards.- Humid air rising makes clouds of storm.- Light winds outside hurricane steer it let it grow.

Hurricanes may lose their strength when :

- Land fall- Strong winds aloft- Colder sea surfaces

Related Hazards

- Storm surge- Intensified wave activity, waves generated become bigger in height- High winds- Destruction of agricultural crops- Coastal / River flooding : due to storm surge, affects low-lying areas- Landslides : soil becomes saturated and causes it to move downhill

8/2/2019 Natural Disasters - Hurricanes (Part 2)

2/4

Consequences

1) Social / Cultural : a) Hurricane activitiesb) High death toll

c) Emotional traumad) Displacement of settlements

e) Hurricane diseases due to floods: water-borne

diseases

f) Disruption of communication networks

g) Break down of tourism

2) Economic: a) Trade imbalancesb) Destruction of economic base

c) High re-construction cost

d) Closing down of businesses

e) Looting

f) Interruption of Hurricane activity: due to hurricane activity

g) Closing of ports: leads to shortage of goods

3) Environmental / Physical: a) Damage to propertyb) Saline intrusion: contamination of water

stores by salt H20

c) Infrastructural damage: reef damage and

coastal erosion

d) Tourism interruption

e) Loss of food supply

Prediction and Warning

8/2/2019 Natural Disasters - Hurricanes (Part 2)

3/4

Monitor development of hurricanes

1) Tracking2) Use data from Geostationary satellite supplied by Reconaissance aircraft3)

Forecasts based on modelling

4) Warnings should be immediate and accurate

Strategies1) Community awareness

- Education awareness of what to do before and after a hurricane; such as

watching what you drink after a hurricane

2) Community Preparedness- Dissemination of information- Well equipped shelters

- Training locals in administering first-aid

- Evacuation procedures well prepared in advance

3) Land planning - relocation and upgrading4) Land use planning

- Hazard maps restricting zones

- Building codes that are stricter

5) Flood reduction Methods- Strengthen river embankments

- Sea wall / mangroves: dissipates energy of water and restricts how far

inland water goes.

Hurricane Ivan Grenada

- September 7th 2004- Category 5

8/2/2019 Natural Disasters - Hurricanes (Part 2)

4/4

- 39 deaths- Tourism industry collapsed- Loss of tourism destination: no docking- Destruction of crops- Limited food and water supply- Blackouts- Homes destroyed beyond recognition- Port facilities destroyed- Roads blocked- Airport closed- Landslides- Flooding- Destruction of social institutions; churches, schools- Separation- Loss of life

Hurricane Thomas

- Saturday 30th of October, 2010- Sunday: shutdown of radio services- 595 mm rain exceeded this amount- 24 hour down pour of rain- Contamination of water supplies