LEDC Tropical Storm Case Study

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LEDC Tropical Storm Case Study

• Cyclone One Bravo, Bangladesh

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What do you need to revise?

• Where is the cyclone region?
• What happened?
• What were the human, economic environmental
  effects of the cyclone?
• How had things improved since 1991?
• What relief was available?

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Where?

• Gathered intensity in Bay of Bengal and struck SE
  coast of Bangladesh on 19th May 1997.
• 250km per hr winds caused serious damage
  flooding of the eastern coastal belt of
  Bangladesh, home to approx 4 million people.
• The worst effects felt along coastal areas such
  as Chittong.
• The winds continued northwards bringing
  torrential rain to the Himalayas trapping 8 Mount
  Everest base camp expeditions.
• Effects were similar to those of the cyclone that
  hit the same area in 1991 killing 140,000 but
  this time death tolls were significantly lowered.

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Human effects

• 111 people died, 700 injured.
• 500,000 made homeless.
• Wells contaminated by sea water.
• Disease was common.
• Communication links between Maheshkhali Island
  and the mainland were severely disrupted.

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Economic effects

• 608 schools damaged.
• Fishermen lost their incomes as boats and nets
  were broken.
• 30,000 hectares of land were damaged.
• 2000 cows died.
• Electricity supplies failed in most areas.
• Roads, bridges cyclone shelters were destroyed.

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Environmental effects

• Fish ponds were contaminated.
• Flood embankments were damaged leading to
  increased risk of flooding.
• Many low lying islands in Bay of Bengal
  destroyed.
• Soil erosion in the foothills of Himalayas.

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How had things improved since 1991?

• -Quick international aid response, CARE (Worlds
  largest private international relief
  development agency)
• Low tide
• Protection schemes
• After many storms the Bangladeshi government had
  become experts at lessening the death tolls.
• With the help of International Aid materials for
  building shelter, food, water, clothing, washing
  resources were distributed to where they were
  needed.

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• Protection Schemes
• Earth embankments have been constructed but are
  not high enough or strong enough.
• In some areas cyclone shelters have been built,
  made of concrete and constructed above floodwater
  levels but in many areas the flimsy housing is
  completely destroyed.
• Education programmes have been implemented so
  people know how to react and deal with a storm.
• Tree Planting schemes to absorb the storm surge.

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Why to people continue to live in areas prone to
tropical storms?

• LEDC
• Im a farmer and cant leave my land
• All my family live here
• I havent got enough money to live anywhere else
• Cyclones dont happen very often Ill be ok!

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Why to people continue to live in areas prone to
tropical storms?

• MEDC
• All my friends are here
• Ive got good insurance
• My house is well built, it will be alright
• Ive got a good job and house. Why should I leave?

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Typical Questions

• Give 3 reasons why people continue to live in
  areas which are at risk from tropical storms. 3
• The effects of tropical storms are different if
  they occur in an MEDC rather than an LEDC.
  Explain how the effects are different. Refer to
  examples you have studied. 5