Perspectives on the Impact of Climate Change on Risk of Major Hurricanes

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Module 10:
tropical cyclones
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Terms for tropical cyclones
“Cyclones”, “hurricanes”, and “typhoons”
Cyclones
Indian Ocean
Southwest Pacific
Hurricanes
North Atlantic
Caribbean
Gulf of Mexico
Eastern Pacific
Typhoons
Northwestern Pacific
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2 key clusters of disaster
consequences that affect our health
Food security Water Sanitation
Exposure
to health
hzard
Morbidity Mortality

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Public services and disasters
Communication links
Roads
Telephones
Public Utilities
Water supply
Sewage-disposal
Trash pick-up
Energy Supplies
Gas
Electricity
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Disasters damage communities
Industrial facilities
Economic Base
Small and large businesses
Agriculture
Crop destruction
Health Infrastructure
Hospitals destroyed
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Public health consequences:
category - mortality
Death
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category - morbidity
Worsening of existing
chronic illnesses
Psychological illness
Increased pests and
vectors
Severe injuries
Toxic exposures
Food scarcity
Worsening of endemic
diseases
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Major causes of death for natural disasters
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Storm surge
As the wind rotates, water is
pulled into the spiral of the storm
Water piles up and is pushed
onto land by the storm causing
flooding
Flooding is more severe on a
shallow-water coastline
http://thatscienceguy.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/storm-surge_21.jpg
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Comparing the health impacts of tropical
cyclones to other natural disasters (1964-2013)
2nd most frequent natural disaster
Comprises 3 of the top 10 deadliest natural disasters
during the past 50 years
11
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The world’s 10 deadliest
tropical cyclones (1900-2013)
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Six common disaster myths
1. Disasters always cause epidemics
2. Mass hunger always happens after a disaster
3. Temporary shelters (like tents) are always the
best alternative when homes are destroyed
4. Foreign volunteers with any medical skills are
urgently needed
5. The international community should immediately
send anything it can
6. Things are back to normal in a few weeks
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category - environmental
Public concern for safety
Loss of hygiene
Loss of clean water
Loss of electricity
Loss of shelter
Loss of sanitation
Disruption of health
infrastructure
Loss of personal goods
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Secondary disasters caused by tropical
cyclones
Inland flooding, including flash floods
Landslides & mudslides
Tornadoes
Storm surges

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Measures that increase the
health impact of cyclone disasters
Human factors
Poor building design & construction
Flying debris, structural collapse
Poor coastal land use patterns
Lack of early warning
Lack of evacuation
Lack of resilient source of potable water
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Measures that increase the
Cause of death and extent of mortality differs
among high resource and low resource nations
Before 1990 –majority of US deaths occur during
impact phase and were due to drowning in storm
surge
After 1990- majority occur in the recovery phase
are due to clean-up injuries:
electrocutions from downed power lines
blunt trauma from falling trees
motor vehicle accidents
falls

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Measures that lessen the
Reducing Exposure
Hazard mapping, monitoring and forecasting
Early warning
Safe evacuations and sheltering
Risk communication, (including cleanup)
Building codes
Land use regulation
Injury prevention and control and worker safety
during recovery

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Reducing Vulnerability
Healthy people
Health promotion
Lessening health disparity
Lessen dependence upon daily medication or therapy
Improving personal mobility
Improving community communication
Reducing the burden of injury and chronic disease
Improved public knowledge and awareness

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Building Capacity to be resilient
Healthy people
Improve public education
Improve socio-economic status
Improve access to healthcare
Healthy buildings
Promote structural and non-structural mitigation
Healthy communities
“Safe Hospitals”, schools and clinics
Build resilient public services and infrastructure
Promote social cohesion and inclusiveness

Perspectives on the Impact of Climate Change on Risk of Major Hurricanes

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Perspectives on the Impact of Climate Change on Risk of Major Hurricanes