Case studies

• Haiti: 316,000 people were killed


  The large numbers of deaths meant that hospitals and morgues were full so bodies had to then be piled up on the streets. If Haiti had more money they could have invested in more hospitals and medical centre's to deal with the casualties
• Haiti: 250,000 homes were destroyed and 1 million people were made homeless 


  People were squashed into shanty towns and onto the streets because their homes were destroyed leading to poor sanitation and health, and looting became a real problem. Population density was high (2783 km2) which meant more people were affected. This was made worse due to poor building quality (which meant they were easier to destroy)
• Haiti: 30,000 other buildings were either destroyed or badly damaged 


  1 in 5 people lost their jobs due to so many buildings being destroyed. Haiti's largest industry, clothing was one of the worst affected. the economic damage was 1.5 billion dollars. Poor building quality which meant it was easier to collapse.
• Haiti: Transport and communication links were also badly damaged. 


  It was difficult getting aid into the area because of issues at the airport and generally poor management of the situation. Haiti was unable to invest in well trained and well-resourced energy services.
• Haiti: Short-term responses. 


  -100 million dollars in aid given by the USA and 330 million dollars given by the EU.

  -810,000 people were placed in air camps.

  -Healthcare supplies were provided to limit disease.

  -Lack of immediate aid through poor planning, management and access were meant that people had to try and rescue each other.

  -4.3 million people provided with food rations in the weeks following the earthquakes.
• Haiti: Long-term responses 


  -98% of the rubble on the roads hadn't been cleared restricting aid access.

  -1 million people still without houses after 1 year so still must live in aid camps.

  -temporary schools created and new teachers trained

  -water and sanitation eventually supplied for 1.7 million people.

  -Support for people without jobs, which equates to nearly 70% of the population, through cash/food-for-work projects
• As Haiti is an LIC, it relied more on outside help and had fewer resources readily available. They are still struggling to house people and get children back to school. Therefore, not as successful due to a lack of wealth and preparedness.
• The philippines is a series of 1700 islands making it difficult to evacuate the population and the typhoon does not lose energy when making landfall.
• The philippines experiences multiple and frequent hazards. Infrastructure is already weakened making it more vulnerable to collapse.
• Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines: 6201 people died (social) 


  Un feared possibility of the spread of disease, lack of food, water, shelters and medication (social)
• Philippines: 1.1 million homes were lost and more than 4 million displaced (social)


  Two months later 21,000 families were still in 380 evacuation centres, waiting to be rehoused by the government in bunkhouses that needed to be built (social)
• Philippines: between 50,000 and 120,000 tonnes of sugar was lost (economic)


  Tacloban city was decimated (economic)
• Philippines: Government estimated that 175,000 acres of farmland was damaged (worth 85 million dollars) (economic)


  Debt is a major obstacle for the Philippines, the country is locked in a debt cycle, with more than 20% of governmenDebt is a major obstacle for the Philippines, the country is locked in a debt cycle, with more than 20% of government revenue spent on foreign debt repayments (economic)
• Philippines: Loss of trees/forests (environmental)


  International help has been sought to mill the 15 million tons of timber, lying rotting on the ground, attracting pests that threatened healthy trees (environmental)
• Philippines: response- The united nations Habitats department paid and coordinated the replanting of the mangrove ecosystem. 


  The mangroves act as a natural shock absorber reducing the impacts of flooding and erosion. However, young tree samplings are planted which require years of growth to be strong enough to withstand the waves
• Philippines: response- Charities provided aid such as medical supplies and water 


  Aimed to reduce the social impacts after the typhoon, however due to the destruction of ports and airports the aid was difficult to distribute. A lack of communication due to damaged power lines led to many locals looting in panic.
• Philippines: response- People started rebuilding their own homes themselves 


  This was unsuccessful as poor housing quality would increase the vulnerability of collapsing in the future
• Philippines: response- Government made a no build zone in coastal areas


  Prevents the population living in the most vulnerable areas to reduce impacts from storm surges. However 50 m is easily breached by a powerful storm surge.
• Physical causes of the Somerset flood 


  -Prolonged rainfall. January 2014 was the wettest on record.

  -Saturated soils meant water ran off quickly into rivers
• Human causes of the Somerset flood 


  -The rivers had not been dredged for 20 years, reducing channel capacity

  -Urbanisation of the floodplains increased impermeable surfaces
• Somerset: Social impacts 


  -600 homes were flooded

  -Residents were evacuated and living in temporary shelters
• Somerset: Economic Impacts

  -200 million pounds were lost in tourism and industry

  -80% of businesses were affected by the flood

  -The cost of the flood damage was 100 million pounds
• Somerset: Environmental impacts 


  -Soil was damaged

  -Ecosystems were destroyed

  -Floodwater was contaminated with sewage, chemicals and oil
• Somerset: immediate strategies 


  -Residents used sandbags to protect their properties

  -The met office issued flood warnings

  -Boats were used to get help and food to stranded people
• Somerset: long-term strategies 


  -A 20 year old Somerset and Moors Flood action plan was launched, costing 100 million pounds

  -River Tones and Parrett were dredged costing 6 million pounds

  -Another strategy was raising the levels of some roads.
• Banbury flooded in 1998 which caused 12.5 million pounds worth of damage, shutting the railway and affecting 150 homes and business. Banbury flooded again in 2007
• Banbury flood alleviation scheme

  -A flood storage reservoir upstream of Banbury

  -Road raising

  -Local defences downstream of the reservoir

  -a pumping station protecting 400 houses in the Grimsbury area of Banbury

  -As a part of the biodiversity action plan, The borrow pit was converted into a country park with new trees, hedgerows and ponds.
• Banbury- social

  -New recreation pace created in Banbury Country park

  -A361 can remain open during floods

  -People can have more confidence that their houses will not be flooded
• Banbury economic

  -cost of scheme was 18.5 million pounds

  -441 houses and 73 businesses protected

  -Key donors were the environment Agency and Cherwell District Council
• Banbury- environmental

  -Flood control structures are 'passive'. They operate automatically without electricity or stuff

  -Earth embankment was built from material exacted locally in the Borrow area

  -Borrow area converted to a reservoir and Country Park as part of the Biodiversity Action Plan
• Christchurch Impacts 


  185 people were killed and around 7000 people were injured. People were affected mentally by the earthquake and needed support. New zealand has the resources and professionals to help deal with the mental health of those affected.
• Christchurch impacts 


  100,000 buildings damaged worth 15 billion pounds. Schools had to share classrooms because of the damage to other school buildings and buildings and 10,000 became homeless. Building quality was high meant less buildings were destroyed