Lives Lost in Big Rumble in Turkey

Sources say that nearly 500 people have died since a 7.2 magnitude quake that hit Southeastern Turkey earlier this week. Survivors in Eastern Turkey beg disaster relief for more tents as hundreds have been displaced and left to survive in the snowy, cold temperatures.


More at, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/72-earthquake-in-turkey/2011/10/23/gIQAOjWh9L_gallery.html#photo=12

Thai Declares Public Holiday for Flood Victims

The Thai Government declared October 27-31 a public holiday for flood victims to get everything in order, and prepare for predicted high tides in the near future. Bangkok city officials are concerned that nearly 13 districts along the Chao Pyraya River (the city's largest waterway) will not be able to escape the flooding that is expected to occur and warn victims to be prepared. Over the last three months, the Don Muang, which has drowned nearly a third of the country and killed 366 people in the last few months.

The airport has been home to nearly 4,000 displaced citizens and has quickly run out of room. Citizens are very concerned for what the future brings.

Image found: http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2011/10/25/mi-thai-water-cp-rtr2t627.jpg

More on this story can be found: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/10/25/thailand-flooding-bangkok-airport.html

Bangkok Prepares for the Worst Flooding in 50 Years.

As Thailand is experiencing the worst flooding in nearly half of a century, officials are quick to blame human activity for increasing the intensity of the usual monsoon season and making it a disaster. Monsoon season has claimed nearly 300 lives from the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, and displaced several thousands of citizens. As the flooding continues to spread through Thailand, officials warn that Bangkok could experience the worst (heavy rains, high tides and flooding from elsewhere)--so residents are taking several precautions, stripping stores of their food, water, and candles. Soldiers are frantic, trying to lay out hundreds of thousands of sand bags and protect dikes from boundary battles as people take any measure necessary to keep themselves and their families safe from mother nature.


Director of the National Disaster Warning Center, Cpt. Somsak Khaosuwan, says that Bangkok is simply not prepared for a disaster of this magnitude and blames it on the never-ending increase in population. “This is the sign that we should preserve the forest,” he said. “We’ve hurt nature for a long time, and right now it seems that nature wants to pay us back.” 


More on this, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/world/asia/a-natural-disaster-in-thailand-guided-by-human-hand.html

Mexico Prepares for the Worst With Hurricane Jova

Several beach/resort cities in Mexico, such as Barra de Navidad are bracing themselves and preparing their communities to expect the worst from Hurricane Jova. In this particular article, it discusses the different routes of preparedness and safety precautions different people are taking. Residents and tourists alike were advised to head inland, as Jova is predicted to collide with "tourist resorts and flood-prone mountain villages." While some immediately headed for shelter in cities like Jaluco, several decided to try and ride it out. Most residents in this region are migrant farmworkers and understood they must seek shelter elsewhere, as their houses were not sturdy enough to withstand such weather and protect their families. However, some tourists decided to stay, saying they have been through comparable weather in the past.

The hurricane is said to have maximum sustained winds up to 100 mph, and is predicted to Barra de Navidad and Puerto Vallarta around midnight this evening.

For more, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/11/ap/business/main20118714.shtml
Photo: http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2011/10/hurricane-jova-mexico-puerto-vallarta/552417/1

Flooding in Swampscott, MA!

Major floods in Swampscott, Salem and other areas of Massachusetts caused several problems for the residents in this area. I wanted to write about this story because my family lives in Swampscott, MA.

ENGINEERING APPROACH:

what are the physical causes for the magnitude and frequency of natural hazards at certain sites and how can protection be provided against the most damaging consequences?

Emma, in her street, Tuesday morning

A local meteorologist reported that most of the rain occured in a mere 45 minutes! During this, he reported two fifteen minute periods each had nearly 1.1 inches of precipitation alone. He suspects that this rainfall and flooding could boast record setting rainfall in such a short span of time.

BEHAVIORAL APPROACH:
While reading on this story, it sounds as though Swampscott residents did not hardly receive any warning of the intensity or magnitude of the flooding. There was a lot of damage done to homes, cars and other personal items that residents did not prepare for. One women even reported that she felt like there was no where to go, and had no idea how to get out. I believe this story was the first of it's kind in several years in this area, and the meteorologists seem just as stumped as residents but I believe there should be more of a system put in place in the event that a flood of this magnitude should occur again. It sounds as though the floodgate system may have also been slightly neglected, because residents had not implemented it in several years.

Lastly, I think the residents in this area really need to be educated on the dangers of flooding and what could happen if you attempt to go to work, go outside, etc. Several people were forced to abandon their cars in the middle of flooded areas because they reported they were not able to gauge the depth of the water. I think these situations could be greatly reduced if residents were not allowed to drive in these conditions.

DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH:
The residents of Swampscott and other areas affected by this storm could have benefited from education on the dangers of flooding in this area, and what sorts of precautions they can take at home to better prepare them for potential/future flooding. This area was particularly vulnerable I believe because they have not received a flood of this magnitude in several years.

COMPLEXITY APPROACH:
The city of Swampscott (among others) was not prepared for this type of disaster to occur. Several of the articles quoted residents that were willing to admitt they had no idea where the storm came from, why it happened, or how to handle the situation. Many of the residents reported a lack of confidence in their floodgate/structual system, and received no advanced warning that the storm was going to occur. Although there are often cases where there is not much advanced notice for residents, the residents were still not educated on what preparations or precautions to take in the event that a flood of this magnitude should happen. Additionally, houses in this area were not built to withstand floods, causing a lot of dangerous situations. The community needs to pull together to discuss what residents can do in the event that this should happen again.

http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2011/10/swampscott-rising-waters-swamped-cars-and-turned-streets-into-rivers/Qvjy26nFgGKGqh7hzMGDyN/index.html

http://swampscott.patch.com/articles/record-setting-rainfall

Typhoons Have Me Worrying!

[Near Manila, Philippines]
Back to back typhoons in the Philippines have left hundreds of people stranded on their rooftops for several days now, as they wait for rescue workers to provide them with much needed food and water! I have been following this story closely, as my best friend is currently living in the Philippines doing work with the Peace Corps. While I am anxiously awaiting contact from her, I continue to read the stories and see the pictures. The damaged caused by these two typhoons is estimated to reach nearly $726 million dollars, and the flooding is not predicted to go down any time soon. They have also predicted nearly 55 people have died, and as conditions make it increasingly harder to reach farming villages, they are afraid the number may only increase.

www.usatoday.com