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Be Prepared - also for Typhoons

Thursday, November 11, 2010 2:29:38 PM

“Be prepared” is an excellent motto, not only for scouts, but certainly also for natural hazards (so that they don’t turn into disasters).

The highly populated coastal areas and deltas in many Asian countries makes populations in this region particularly vulnerable for tropical storms (known as hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones depending on the relevant region).

In September 2009 (about a year ago by now) typhoon Ketsana hit the Philippines (where it was known as "Ondoy"), killing more than 1,000 people and displacing hundreds of thousands.

The cities in the Philippines are generally ill-prepared for this sort of disasters, in spite of the number of typhoons hitting the Philippines every year. Disaster preparedness, disaster risk reduction, early-warning mechanisms - mapping risks to see what areas are not suitable for habitation, investing in early warning systems like rain gauges and flood markers, improving building structures, and contingency planning is urgently necessary.

Prevention is better than cure. Money spent on hazard preparedness and hazard mitigation could substantially reduce any need for money for help after a disaster, nut to mention any unnecessary human suffering.





Academics

Ocean Colour Determines Tropical StormsFjord, Firth, Förde - Fare, Ferry, Port

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