Disaster Facts I 02/06

The disaster types that were randomly selected for this research project resulted in: six cases of flooding, five severe storms, four wildfires, three winter storms and one winter freeze, two tropical storms, two hurricanes, two tornados, one earthquake, an ice storm, heavy rains, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Here are some general facts on these dangerous, costly, and sometimes-deadly disaster types when caused by weather. Refer to Disaster Facts II for information on man-made disaster types.

Weather-Related Disasters

Tsunami

Most deaths during a tsunami are a result of drowning.  Associated risks include flooding, polluted water supplies, and damaged gas lines (From: http://www.fema.gov/hazards/tsunamis/tsunami.shtm).

Although the probability of tsunami is significantly less than other coastal hazards such as hurricanes and storms. However, even though they are rare, as shown by the 2004 South Asia Tsunami, the consequences are large enough that they can pose a significant risk. Tsunami can occur along any coastline, although they occur mostly along the Pacific coastline because of the more frequent seismic hazard. Since they occur so infrequently, the probability is considered too remote to address this hazard in normal building code requirements (From:http://www.fema.gov/hazards/tsunamis/tsunami_questions.shtm#general_04).

• In 2004, the tsunami in South Asia generated by the earthquake killed approximately 275,000 people, making it one of the deadliest disasters in modern history.

• Sumatra Andaman earthquake was an undersea earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC ( 07:58:53 local time) on December 26, 2004

• Estimated magnitude was at 9.15

•  More than 15 countries were affected by the tsunami

• It was one of the most deadliest disasters in modern history

•  Millions of survivors were left in desperate need of food, water, shelter, and medical care

• Indonesia suffered the largest loss of life of the stricken countries, accounting for about two-thirds of the total deaths  

Information Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761573214_12/Indonesia_Republic_of.html#p196

• In 1964, an Alaskan earthquake generated a tsunami with waves between 10 and 20 feet high along parts of the California , Oregon , and Washington coasts.  The tsunami caused more than $84 million in damage in Alaska and total of 124 facilities

• In 1946, a tsunami with waves of 20 to 32 feet crashed into Hilo , Hawaii , flooding the downtown area and killing 159 people

• Since 1945, more people have been killed as a result of tsunamis than a direct result of an earthquake’s ground-shaking

Hurricane Katrina  

“Hurricane Katrina was the eleventh named tropical storm, fourth hurricane, third major hurricane, and first Category 5 hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic season and it was third most powerful storm of the season, behind Hurricane Wilma and Hurricane Rita, and the six-strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.”  

• Duration: August 23 – August 31, 2005

• Highest Winds: 175 mph (280km/h) sustained

• Total damages: Estimated from $70 to $130 billion

• Areas affected: Bahamas, South Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida Panhandle, most of eastern North America

• At least 36 confirmed tornadoes associated with Hurricane Katrina: Mississipi-11, Alabama-4, Georgia-15, Virginia-1, and Pennsylvania-5

• Costliest tropical cyclone of all time

Information Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina

As of November 22, 2005 :

• The whereabouts of 6,644 reported missing after Hurricane Katrina have not been determined

• The death toll could be higher than the 1,306 recorded so far in Louisiana and Mississippi. Among those who died, 301 people were unidentified victims

• Nearly 1,000 of the 6,644 unaccounted-for people are children

Information Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20051122/ts_usatoday/6644arestillmissingafterkatrinatollmayrise As of November 17, 2005 , The American Red Cross:

• Estimates that Hurricane Katrina relief efforts will exceed $2 billion

• Estimate that their distribution of financial assistance will be approximately 1.2 million families (more than 3.7 million hurricane survivors)

• Provided hurricane survivors with nearly 3.42 million overnight stays in nearly 1,100 shelters across 27 states and the District of Colombia

• Had more that 215,040 Red Cross disaster relief workers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands have responded to their neighbors in need

• Has served more than 27.2 million hot meals and 24.8 million snacks to hurricane survivors to date with the coordination of Southern Baptist Convention

Information Source: http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/katrina_facts.html U.S. Census Bureau:

• Estimates nearly 10 million residents along the Gulf Coast were hit by Hurricane Katrina

• Estimate about 3.2 million people live within the imminent or occurring flood area

• Estimate 2.1 million people in Alabama , Louisiana and Mississippi lived below the poverty level

Information Source: http://www.census.gov/Press-        Release/www/releases/archives/hurricanes_tropical_storms/005673.html Animal Concerns

• The Humane Society of the United States (The HSUS) had received $15 million in donations within two weeks after the hurricane occurred to rescue and protect animals

• Many animals were left by their owners who could not take them to the evacuation shelters

• As with any major disaster, animals are affected as well as human beings

• In the case during Katrina, no order to support total animal evacuation was given

• An estimated 1,300 unaccounted-for people who lived in areas that were heavily damaged by Katrina, or who were disabled at the time storm hit

• As of September 20, 2005 , 6,301 animals were rescued and 400 were reunited with their owners

• Most of the 10,000 fish at the New Orleans Aquarium of the Americas died because the backup power ran out after four days

• The Audubon Zoo lost only three animals out of a total of 1,400 due to good disaster planning and location on high ground

Information Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina#Death_toll_.28summary.29  For more information: http://www.hsus.org