Responses to Tropical Cyclones
Geography: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 1.3.5
Responses to Tropical Storms
Immediate responses happen before or very soon after the tropical storm. The long-term responses happen after the storm to try to restore everything to its state before the storm.
Immediate responses
- If there is enough warning of the storm/hurricane/cyclone, people can be evacuated.
- People isolated by the storm because of flooding or infrastructure damage can be rescued by emergency services.
- The provision of tents, housing, food, water, and other basic needs can happen very quickly after a tropical storm.
- Anybody killed during the storm should be found and buried to stop any disease spreading.
- Governments or non-governmental organisations often send aid very quickly.
- Some things like Google Crisis Response or Facebook's Mark Yourself as Safe can help record damage and let people confirm their whereabouts.
Long-term responses
- Repair people's flooded homes, repair any train/road/air infrastructure that was damaged and repair/improve any failed flood defenses.
- Try to encourage economic recovery in the affected area using tax relief, subsidies, etc.
- Try to improve weather forecasting, early prediction of disaster and try to make buildings and infrastructure more stormproof.
Test yourself on Responses to Tropical Cyclones
Which of the following are immediate responses to tropical storms?
Which of the following is a long-term response to tropical storms?