To what extent are the impacts of Tropical Storms more than just Environmental (30)

James Stone

Tropical Storms represent a very deadly and to some extent, unpredictable hazard. The nature of exceptionally strong winds (reaching over 200km/h) and heavy rainfall leads to catastrophic effects, most noticeably on the environment. However the impacts can also be more directly felt socio – economically and politically, it is often the response to these hazards that determines the magnitude of these impacts. Therefore tropical storms have a devastating effect on all scales of the measurement spectrum.

Hurricanes unequivocally affect the environment as Hurricane Mitch can show; the disaster was exacerbated due to the large existence of subsistence farming. A lack of natural vegetation means water is able to flow quickly overland and the loss of root structure makes the ground liable to mudslides. Furthermore the loss of soil fertility generated from the tropical storms erosion capabilities push farmers out into the marginal areas and clear a new area, increasing the potential damage. In Nicaragua the subsistence farming on the Casita Volcano meant that the side of the volcano collapsed when exposed to heavy rains and buried approximately 2000 people. Improved surface run off lead the heavy rainfall over the Honduras mountains flowed uncontrollably into populated settlements injuring 12,000. This shows how much of an impact hurricanes can play on the environment. More recently, hurricane Katrina had a large environmental impact, 155mph winds and a 30 mile wide high meant a storm surge (7m high) breached the Levees at New Orleans, a “bowl settlement” 3-5m below sea level.

This meant that 75% of New Orleans was flooded and there was a large issue of stagnant water not being able to escape from the outdated levees. Stagnant water is an issue due to its affect on the supply of clean water, and the water borne diseases (cholera) that can develop. Furthermore stagnant water often attracts mosquitoes (aedes), which is a problem in the tropical climate New Orleans is exposed to. The environmental impacts of tropical storms is reaffirmed when we examine the impact of Hurricane Lili in October 2002. Trinity Island, the west most major barrier island of coastal Louisiana, lost 80 metres of land over 4 days of the storm as a result of shoreline erosion. As a result of Hurricanes the shoreline in certain areas is eroding at a pace of 20m per year. Environmental degradation of the extent in any of these examples will undoubtedly have some effect on social, economic and political areas.

If we assess the economic impacts of Hurricane Mitch, its crippling consequences are easily found. Many of the central American countries like those hit by Mitch are already in international Debt, and natural disaster like tropical storms only accentuate this problem. The restructuring of sovereign debt causes greater fiscal consolidation by the countries involved and greater cutbacks in health and public works. Such cutbacks result in an inability of the government to prepare for a disaster in the future. Another economic impact made obvious by Mitch was that of subsistence farming and commercial farming. Due to high population density and a

low supply of flat fertile land, many farmers were pushed out onto the rurban fringe and forced to farm on steep unfertile slopes in order to provide for their families. These areas are prime for mudslides and a source of flooding; hence tropical storms affect the local economy when farmers are unable to produce any crops and also the countries export potential is harmed. However the economic effects are much more apparent in Katrina, where the estimated damage was $81 billion plus.

Hurricane Katrina had the power of 100 A-bombs and left the regional economy grounded. The storm surge knocked out telephone and radio services which was not only detrimental in the short term, as warnings and evacuation messages couldn’t be given out, but also in the long term as communications infrastructure is very expensive to repair. Hurricane Lili’s effect on Louisiana’s barrier islands was economically devastating, as they support a $10 billion fishing industry that is continually deteriorating. Furthermore oil workers manning offshore platforms were flown to safety and oil and gas production curtailed, significant as 25% of all natural gas production in the US comes from the Gulf of Mexico. Lili’s storm created waves that surged across low lying areas up to 16km’s inland, leaving half a million people across Louisiana without power. However the most noticeable economic impact comes from Typhoon Maeme in S.Korea. This is largely due to the damage to South Koreas largest port, and the disruption to exports that entailed.

Maeme’s intensity was so great that shipping containers were tossed in the air, and eight cargo cranes were toppled. Pusan normally handles 80 percent of the countries container shipping and is estimated to take 15months to bring capacity back to normal – a huge effect on the exporting ability of S.Korea. Maeme also meant that the government will now not be able to achieve it 3.5% target economic growth, due to the £1 billion damages caused. In total the typhoon damaged 18,000 hectares of farmland and 465 vessels were either destroyed or marooned.

It is also important to consider the social and political effects of tropical storms; intervention in Central American debt, meant that government agencies were short of staff (cutbacks) and resources, hence they were unable to prepare for the Hurricane or deal with the aftermath. In New Orleans a huge social effect was the wide scale destruction of the storm surge, making 200,000 homeless and killing 13,000 people. The destruction of people’s homes meant that the Superdome had to be used to hold 70,000 people in asylum, which in turn created social problems such as crime and looting. Eventually the Government called in the National Guard to control the looting, however the immediacy of the response by Government is questionable. Furthermore the decision to move FEMA away from the whitehouse is perhaps a reason to a delayed response, but none the less Michael Browne was treated as a scapegoat, for reasons out of his control. An important social factor to consider is the level of insurance, or more importantly the ability for people to acquire insurance in tropical storm areas. Hurricane Floyd caused $2.1 billion worth of insured damage and Andrew in 1989 caused $20 billion. Natural disasters have the potential to wipe out local insurance industry, but more importantly is that most people chose not to have the insurance as they either cant afford it or have an over optimistic attitude. This is crucial in the recovery stages after a tropical storm as,

without insurance, many Central Amercian countries and states surrounding the gulf will be unable to recover quickly – prolonging the impact of tropical storms.

The impact of tropical storms is undoubtedly more than environmental as shown above, however their impact on other aspects of life can be mitigated or substantially reduced if landfall areas are prepared. It is this lack of preparation that is what leads to destruction, as often preparation requires capital – which many areas in the gulf to not have. Hence the aftermath can be catastrophic. However as we saw in New Orleans, even if the resources are there (FEMA), warning and preparation may not occur. Therefore it is up to Federal agencies to ensure aid is sent to Tropical Storm areas to try and prevent the adverse effects that may occur.

Tropical Storms do generate huge amounts of environmental degradation, however, for the reasons outlined above it is important to consider the impacts that they have on the economic, social and political boundaries. If not only to reveal the stark contrasts between recoveries.