Boxing day

tsunami
Key facts (location, date, strength of event)
- On 26 December 2004 a tsunami occurred in the Indian Ocean. It was the result of the Indio-Australian Plate subducting
below the Eurasian Plate. It was caused by an earthquake measuring more than magnitude 9. The earthquake caused the
seafloor to uplift, displacing the seawater above.
In open ocean the tsunami measured less than 1 metre high.
The tsunami travelled at speeds up to 800km per hour.
When the Tsunami reached the shores, the height of the wave increased to 15 metres in some areas.
Impacts (divided into social, economic, environmental)
- A quarter of a million people died.
- Two million people were made homeless.
- People were swept away in the waters, which arrived rapidly and with little warning.
- Thirteen countries were affected, the worst being Indonesia.
- Indonesia was hit by the tsunami first. Fourty-five minutes later the tsunami reached Thailand.
- Mangrove swamps helped to act as a barrier to reduce the energy of the water in some areas.
- Short-term aid, such as water purification tablets, temporary housing and medical supplies were given from international
countries.
- Islands reliant on tourism and fishing, such as the Maldives, had to rebuild their industries.
- An early warning system between countries surrounding the Indian Ocean has been set up.
Responses/planning/prep
Donations to Oxfam were 187m, 54 per cent of which was raised in the UK while the DEC raised 392m, and the former
used the money to help people in seven countries including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, Burma (Myanmar),
Thailand and Somalia.
Meanwhile TEC says more than 90 per cent of those interviewed in Indonesia said they had been rescued by private
individuals.

Nepal earthquake

Key facts (location, date, strength of event)

- On Saturday, April 25 a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, just northwest of
the capital of Kathmandu. It was the worst quake to strike the region in more than 80 years.
The area was hit with a second 7.3 magnitude quake just 17 days later, on May 12, causing
further damage and suffering for those who had survived the initial disaster.
Impacts (divided into social, economic, environmental)
Homes and historic temples crumbled, roads damaged and communications sporadic,
avalanches on Mt. Everest. Reports from more remote areas were that entire villages were
destroyed without a single home left standing. Water systems in hillside villages are
wrecked. Terraced farms and cattle were wiped out by the quake or subsequent landslides,
destroying people's entire livelihoods.
- the total economic cost of the earthquake close to $10 billion, over half of the countrys
gross domestic product (GDP) in the previous year.
Responses/planning/prep
- There are some 330 humanitarian agencies are implementing some 2,200 humanitarian
activities. The United Nations and humanitarian relief organizations have requested $432
million in emergency funds to mount a robust relief effort. So far, $88.2 million has been
received. The largest donors to the relief effort are the United Kingdom ($31 million);
China ($22 million); Norway ($19 million); and the USA ($15 million, but if you also count
total contributions of the USA to the search and rescue operation and relief efforts,
including the contributions of the Department of Defence, the figure is closer to $34
million $47m)
- An assessment of where the particular place lies on the hazard risk equation (so what
factors in each location increased or reduced vulnerability, capacity to cope and risk)

Hurricane
Katrina

Key facts (location, date, strength of event)

- Katrina peaked at a Category 5 hurricane, with winds up to 175 mph.
- The final death toll was at 1,836, primarily from Louisiana (1,577) and Mississippi (238).
- The storm surge from Katrina was 20-ft (six meters) high.
Physical causes (and human if its relevant)
- Hurricane Katrina began as a very low pressure weather system, which strengthened to become a tropical storm
and eventually a hurricane as it moved west and neared the Florida coast on the evening of 25 August.
Impacts (divided into social, economic, environmental)
- New Orleans was one of the worst affected areas because it is below sea level and protected by levees. These
protect it from the Mississippi River and Lake Ponchartrain. The levee defences were unable to cope with the
strength of Katrina, and water flooded into the city.
- People sought refuge in the Superdome stadium. Conditions were unhygienic and there was a shortage of food
and water. Looting was commonplace throughout the city. Tension was high and many felt vulnerable and unsafe.
- 1 million people were made homeless and about 1,200 people drowned in the floods.
- Oil facilities were damaged and as a result petrol prices rose in the UK and USA.
Hurricane Katrina caused $81 billion in property damages, but it is estimated that the total economic impact in
Louisiana and Mississippi may
exceed $150 billion, earning the title of costliest hurricane ever in US history.
Responses/planning/prep
- There was much criticism of the authorities for their handling of the disaster. Although many people were
evacuated, it was a slow process and the poorest and most vulnerable were left behind.
- $50 billion in aid was given by the government.
- The UK government sent food aid during the early stages of the recovery process.
- The National Guard was mobilised to restore and maintain law and order in what became a hostile and unsafe
living environment.

Sahel
drought
Key facts (location, date, strength of event)
The Sahel is a zone between the Sahara Desert. The area runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Horn of Africa and
includes parts of Sudan, Chad and many others.
It has a population of over 50 million. The drought resulted in an estimated 100,000 drought related deaths.
Physical causes (and human if its relevant)
- Low rainfall.
- Civil wars in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.
- Population growth.
- Settling of the nomadic population, leading to over cultivation.
- The use of wood for fuel.
- Problems:
Impacts (divided into social, economic, environmental)
these periods of poor rainfall struck particularly hard for many Sahelian farmers and pastoralists as there is crop
falliure and leaves many families in poverty. Also hunger as there is no food.
Responses/planning/prep
- Early warning systems have been put in place to prevent the onset of drought-induced food shortages. These
provide the data necessary to predict or assess potential crop loss and animal shortfalls. Locally based efforts to
nurture and protect the resource base. This involves encouraging farmer cooperatives, small scale, nongovernmental organisation projects and other internationally funded schemes.
- Higher yielding/drought resistant crops.
- Improvement or introduction of irrigation.
- Improved ranching and grazing schemes.
- Contour stone lines consisting of lines of stones and rocks placed across the land contour, a cheap erosion control.
They slow overland flow and encourage the deposition of sediments rich in soil nutrients.
- Cash for work schemes projects are identified within a community and Oxfam employs people to work on them in
return for vouchers which they can exchange for food.

Monserrat volcanic
eruption
Key facts (location, date, strength of event)
Montserrat is a small island is situated in the Caribbean and 12 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is known as the 'Emerald
Island' and is mountainous with plenty of woodland
Physical causes (and human if its relevant)
Montserrat lies on a destructive plate boundary. As the two plates merge the oceanic plate is forced down or sub ducted
under the continental plate. As it is forced down pressure increases which triggers earthquakes and at the same time heat
produced by friction melts the descending crust to form molten magma. The hot magma tries to rise to the surface and
when it succeeds will form a volcano such as the one in Montserrat.
Impacts (divided into social, economic, environmental)
-2/3 of the island was covered in ash
-50% of the population were evacuated to the north of the island to live in makeshift shelters
-23 people died in 1997
-Plymouth - the capital became a ghost town
-Floods as valleys were blocked with ash
-The airport and port were closed
-Farmland was destroyed
-Forest fires caused by pyroclastic flows
-Many schools and hospitals were destroyed
Responses/planning/prep
-41 million was given in aid by the British Government.
-Money was given to individuals to help them move to other countries.
-Riots occurred as locals complained that the British were not doing enough to help the islan
-The MVO (Montserrat Volcano Observatory) was set up to study the volcano and provide warnings for the future
-A Risk assessment was done to help islanders understand which areas are at risk and reduce problems for the future.