MEDC Tropical MEDC Tropical Storm Case Storm Case

Study RevisionStudy RevisionHurricane Floyd, USA, Hurricane Floyd, USA,

19991999

What do you need to What do you need to revise?revise?

(1) Where? When? What happened?(1) Where? When? What happened?

(2) What were the Human, Economic & (2) What were the Human, Economic & Environmental effects of the Environmental effects of the hurricane?hurricane?

(3) What had been put in place to lessen (3) What had been put in place to lessen the impacts of the hurricane?the impacts of the hurricane?

Satellite image of Hurricane Floyd, source : eobglossary.gsfc.nasa.gov/Study/FloydIntro/

Source: www.newmediastudio.org/.../Synoptic_History.html

Where? When? What Where? When? What happened?happened?

Formed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Formed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa.coast of Africa.

Intensified to a category 4 hurricane as it Intensified to a category 4 hurricane as it moved towards Bahamas.moved towards Bahamas.

Slowly weakening, Floyd tracked Slowly weakening, Floyd tracked northwards and hit the US mainland near northwards and hit the US mainland near Cape Fear, North Carolina on 16Cape Fear, North Carolina on 16thth September.September.

It then moved up the coast weakening to It then moved up the coast weakening to a tropical storm as it entered New a tropical storm as it entered New England.England.

Human EffectsHuman Effects

79 people died79 people died 4 million people left their homes in 4 million people left their homes in

Carolina, Georgia and FloridaCarolina, Georgia and Florida 1 million people lost electricity & 1 million people lost electricity &

water supplieswater supplies 12,000 houses destroyed12,000 houses destroyed 150,000 people registered for 150,000 people registered for

government assistancegovernment assistance

Hurricane Floyd left the downtown area of Franklin, Hurricane Floyd left the downtown area of Franklin, Virginia under 1.8metres of waterVirginia under 1.8metres of water

Source: www.nationalgeographic.com/.../h_img_4_1.html

Economic EffectsEconomic Effects

$460 billion paid out for insurance.$460 billion paid out for insurance. Farmers lost $1 billionFarmers lost $1 billion Many farmers had to find other jobs Many farmers had to find other jobs

as crops totally destroyedas crops totally destroyed 250 roads and many bridges 250 roads and many bridges

damaged damaged In Bahamas; boats, hotels and offices In Bahamas; boats, hotels and offices

destroyed as well as houses.destroyed as well as houses.

Source: docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/K-511/wlboat.html

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects

Beaches & sand dunes destroyedBeaches & sand dunes destroyed Oak Island had 20m of beach blown Oak Island had 20m of beach blown

awayaway 1000’s trees blown down1000’s trees blown down Severe erosion at Barrier Islands which Severe erosion at Barrier Islands which

led to increased flood risk on coastlineled to increased flood risk on coastline 14 states suffered from flooding. North 14 states suffered from flooding. North

Carolina had area size of Belgium Carolina had area size of Belgium flooded.flooded.

Source: www.nws.noaa.gov/.../inland_flooding.html

What had been put in place What had been put in place to lessen the impacts?to lessen the impacts?

Prediction & WarningPrediction & Warning- National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami, National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami,

Florida is a government funded warning Florida is a government funded warning service.service.

- Satellites constantly provide data of tropical Satellites constantly provide data of tropical storm developmentstorm development

- Evacuation procedures in place (reduced Evacuation procedures in place (reduced death toll with Floyd as 2.5Million were death toll with Floyd as 2.5Million were evacuated). By June 2000 new highway evacuated). By June 2000 new highway renovation had taken place to ease traffic renovation had taken place to ease traffic congestion at evacuation times.congestion at evacuation times.

Preparing the PeoplePreparing the People

- The Federal Emergency - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Management Agency (FEMA) provides a free guide with tips on provides a free guide with tips on how to protect yourselves, homes how to protect yourselves, homes and businesses against hurricanes.and businesses against hurricanes.

Building design and regulationsBuilding design and regulations

-Many windows and doors are covered with -Many windows and doors are covered with wood and nailed downwood and nailed down

-Some have storm shutters and shatter--Some have storm shutters and shatter-resistant windowsresistant windows

-All hurricane prone states have building -All hurricane prone states have building codes, not everyone follows this though!codes, not everyone follows this though!

-In some US states the government is limiting -In some US states the government is limiting the building of new developments in high the building of new developments in high risk coastal and river plain locations.risk coastal and river plain locations.

Typical questions:Typical questions:

There are often hurricanes on the east There are often hurricanes on the east coast of the USA, an MEDC. Why do coast of the USA, an MEDC. Why do people continue to live in this area? [3]people continue to live in this area? [3]

Tropical storms have an impact on Tropical storms have an impact on people and the environment. Choose a people and the environment. Choose a case study of a tropical storm. case study of a tropical storm. Describe the impacts (effects) of the Describe the impacts (effects) of the storm and explain how the effects of storm and explain how the effects of the storm are related to the state of the storm are related to the state of development of the country [8].development of the country [8].