The effects and responses to tropical storms significantly impact people living in areas affected by tropical storms. Effects can be primary or secondary. Responses can be immediate or long-term.

Primary Effects of Tropical Storms

The primary effects of a tropical storm are the immediate impacts of strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surges. These include:

• People are injured or killed by debris being blown around
• Drowning
• Buildings are destroyed or damaged
• Electric supplies are cut off due to power lines being destroyed
• Sewage is released due to flooding
• Water supplies become contaminated

Secondary Effects of Tropical Storms

Secondary effects are the impacts following the storm. This can include:

• People being left homeless
• A lack of clean water and sanitation – water-borne diseases can affect local people.
• Road and rail networks can be blocked by debris, making it difficult to provide support and aid for people affected.
• Unemployment is caused by businesses being damaged
• If crops are destroyed and/or livestock is killed, there can be a shortage of food

Immediate Responses to Tropical Storms

Immediate responses occur before the storm is forecast to make landfall and immediately after the event.

• people are evacuated before the storm lands
• rescue people trapped and provide medical support for injured people
• temporary shelters are set up for people made homeless by the storm
• provide water and food for people
• recover dead bodies
• digital maps are updated immediately after the storm using satellite photographs to support emergency services on the ground
• Aid provided by Governments and NGOs such as Oxfam

Long-term Responses to Tropical Storms

Long-term responses involve returning an area to the way it was before the storm and preparing for future storms.

• repair and rebuild properties
• rehouse people
• repair the transport infrastructure
• improve forecasting and early warning systems
• provide grants and aid to people to help rebuild their homes
• improve building regulations so that properties are constructed to withstand the impacts of tropical storms better
• Offer incentives such as tax breaks to encourage economic recovery