EFFECTS OF TYPHOONS

The term "typhoon" refers to a tropical, cyclonic storm that originates in the western
Pacific Ocean (in the Atlantic, this type of storm is referred to as a hurricane). Typhoons
are characterized by large masses of clouds, which spiral around a central point, or eye.
Infamous for their destructive powers, typhoons can generate winds of more than 75
miles/hour and have been known to cause flash floods with their intensive rainfall.
Buildings and infrastructure, trees and other vegetation, watercraft and water
operations, and human and animal life can all be affected.
The two most destructive forces associated with typhoons are wind and rain. Typhoon
winds can affect buildings and other structures in two ways: through direct force and
through projectiles. Direct force is when a wind gust slams directly into a building or
structure and causes physical damage, such as when wind blows the roof off a home.
Wind can also inflict damage by picking up and launching debris and other items, such
as tree branches and building materials, into buildings and other structures. The heavy
and persistent rainfall that typhoons bring can also have devastating effects. In addition
to making homes uninhabitable, the flooding associated with typhoons can make roads
impassable, which can cripple rescue and aid efforts.
Typhoons can also affect the natural environment, and cause harm to trees and other
vegetation, including crops that communities may rely on for sustenance or trade, or
both. Strong winds can snap branches; detach and injure leaves, flowers, fruits and
seeds; and uproot trees and plants. Flooding can produce over-saturation and drown
out vegetation. Typhoons also deposit large quantities of salt onto plant life, which can
have adverse effects. According to the Green Fun website, trees and vegetation in
urban areas are more susceptible to typhoon damage, as they tend to grow in poor,
restricted soil conditions.
In addition to causing mayhem on land, typhoons are also well-known for stirring up the
seas. Individuals on watercraft or those performing water operations (such as on oil
rigs) not only have to contend with heavy winds and rain, but they have to deal with
massive waves and, in general, turbulent water conditions. According to the Naval
Historical Center website, typhoons have a history of causing harm out at sea, and this
was especially true during World War II, when Pacific naval fleets were regularly
battered by the storms. Today, fishing boats, cruise ships and other vessels rely on
sophisticated technology to help them predict and avoid the devastating effects of
typhoons.
Both human and animal life can be impacted, and ultimately taken, by the destructive
forces of typhoons. While this can occur directly, such as if an individual is struck by
debris or is caught in a building collapse, perhaps the more silent killer is the lack of
available resources and infrastructure that results. According to the Facts and Details
website, flooding from typhoons can destroy food stocks and supplies, and spread
disease. When communities are cut off by typhoons, individuals may not be able to get

the medical attention they so desperately need, and starvation becomes a big risk as
well.
Strong winds
Strong winds can damage or destroy vehicles, buildings, bridges, personal property and
other outside objects, turning loose debris into deadly flying projectiles. Typhoons often
knock out power to tens or hundreds of thousands of people, preventing vital
communication and hampering rescue efforts. Typhoons often destroy key bridges,
overpasses, and roads, complicating efforts to transport food, clean water, and medicine
to the areas that need it. Furthermore, the damage caused by tropical cyclones to
buildings and dwellings can result in economic damage to a region, and to a diaspora of
the population of the region.
Storm Surge
The storm surge, or the increase in sea level due to the cyclone, is typically the worst
effect from landfalling typhoons, historically resulting in 90% of typhoon related deaths.
The relatively quick surge in sea level can move miles/kilometers inland, flooding homes
and cutting off escape routes. The storm surges and winds of hurricanes may be
destructive to human-made structures, but they also stir up the waters of coastal
estuaries, which are typically important fish breeding locales.
Heavy Rainfall
The thunderstorm activity in a typhoon produces intense rainfall, potentially resulting in
flooding, mudslides, and landslides. Inland areas are particularly vulnerable to
freshwater flooding, due to residents not preparing adequately. Heavy inland rainfall
eventually flows into coastal estuaries, damaging marine life. The wet environment in
the storm aftermath, combined with the destruction of sanitation facilities and a warm
tropical climate, can induce epidemics of disease which claim lives long after the storm
passes. Infections of cuts and bruises can be greatly amplified by wading in sewagepolluted water. Large areas of standing water caused by flooding also contribute to
mosquito-borne illnesses. Furthermore, crowded evacuees in shelters increase the risk
of disease propagation.
Although storms take an enormous toll in lives and personal property, they may be
important factors in the precipitation regimes of places they affect and bring muchneeded precipitation to otherwise dry regions. Most regions receives over half of its
rainfall from typhoons.
Livelihoods
The typhoon and floods can wash away livelihoods, leaving many families with no
means to meet basic needs. Food reserves are depleted and small businesses

disrupted or destroyed. Small markets/shops are closed due to the continued floods in
some areas and takes time to clean up after the floods.
Severe flooding will have a negative impact on the rice harvest. As such, there will be a
considerable shock to the local economy. Many tenant farmers, sharecroppers and
casual labourers who depend on agriculture and fishing will have lost a good
percentage of their future income.
Health and Hygiene Problems
Floods can potentially increase the transmission of water and vector borne diseases.
Other concerns will be leptospirosis and psychosocial support, acute respiratory
infections (ARI), diarrhoea and other diseases with outbreak potential.
Water sources that were inundated are often contaminated, causing issues related to
access to safe water in affected communities. Contamination of water sources and
damage to latrines bring with concerns relating to waterborne diseases. There is also
considerable debris and mud left behind by floodwater, which will require removal.

EARTHQUAKE EFFECTS
The amount of structural damage that can occur during an earthquake with a magnitude
of 4.0 or higher depends on the construction of the structure. Many newer structures are
specifically designed to withstand earthquakes, but some of the older buildings do not
respond well to ground motions.
Earthquakes are defined as an intense shaking of the ground that occurs when a
fracture in the earth's rocks causes the ground to shift. Rock fractures are also referred
to as faults, which is where the term fault line developed. Fault lines are the specific
locations of each fault, and they are continually studied and monitored by earth
scientists.
Earthquakes occur at a moment's notice, and it is important for homeowners to be as
prepared as possible in the event of a severe quake. This means keeping an
earthquake kit with flashlights, water, batteries and spare food, as well as taking steps
to ensure the home structure is secure.
Earthquake environmental effects are the effects caused by an earthquake on the
natural environment, including surface faulting, tectonic uplift and subsidence, tsunamis,
soil liquefactions, ground resonance, landslides and ground failure, either directly linked
to the earthquake source or provoked by the ground shaking. These are common
features produced both in their near and far fields, routinely recorded and surveyed in
recent events, very often remembered in historical accounts and preserved in the
stratigraphic record (paleoearthquakes). Both surface deformation and faulting and
shaking-related geological effects (e.g., soil liquefaction, landslides) not only leave
permanent imprints in the environment, but also dramatically affect human structures.
Moreover, underwater fault ruptures and seismically-triggered landslides can generate
destructive tsunami waves.
Earthquake Environmental Effects are divided into two main types:
1. Primary effects: which are the surface expression of the seismogenic source (e.g.,
surface faulting), normally observed for crustal earthquakes above a given
magnitude threshold (typically Mw=5.5-6.0);
2. Secondary effects: mostly this is the intensity of the ground shaking (e.g.,
landslides, liquefaction, etc.).
Ground shaking, in itself, is not dangerous. However, the resulting damage to buildings
and other structures and the risk of casualties from falling debris can make it extremely
hazardous. Some of the earthquake effects that can be harmful to people are:
Collapsing buildings, walls, bridges, falling furniture or objects, shattering glass
windows and mirrors. Debris from collapsing structures is one of the principal dangers
during an earthquake since the impact of large, heavy objects can be fatal to human
beings. Earthquakes sometimes cause glass windows and mirrors to shatter and this is

also quite dangerous. Earthquake aftershocks can result in the complete collapse of
buildings that were damaged during an earthquake.
Falling electricity lines. Earthquakes can cause electricity poles to fall and live wires to
become exposed or to start fires.
Ruptured gas lines and spillage of flammable substances. Earthquake-generated
fires can cause widespread destruction after a major earthquake. Escaping gas from
broken gas lines and the toppling of containers with flammable substances (e.g.
kerosene, household chemicals, etc.) present a significant threat of explosions and
fires, which can cause death and destruction of property. Additionally, water pipes are
sometimes ruptured during an earthquake and this compounds the problem of
controlling such fires.
Rock slides and/or landslides on mountains and hillsides. During an earthquake,
large rocks and portions of earth high up in the hills can become dislodged and rapidly
roll or slide down into the valleys.
Floods caused by the collapse of dam walls. Earthquakes can cause dam walls to
crack and eventually collapse, sending raging waters into surrounding areas and
causing severe flooding.
Tsunamis. A tsunami is a large sea wave or series of waves that can be generated by
an earthquake. Large tsunamis can completely devastate low-lying coastal areas.
Liquefaction. When sediments with high water content are subjected to prolonged
shaking, the pressure of the water held in pores in the sediment gradually increases
eventually, the sediments lose all cohesive strength and begin to behave as if they were
liquids. Building and other structures sink into the ground or overturn and buried tanks
and other cavities rise to the surface. This is known as liquefaction.