Typhoon Questions

[Oriellien]

Hi,

I just have some questions about Typhoon Wipha. Is it a big deal in China? 1.8 million people evacuated is a lot of people. Is Shanghai being completely evacuated? When I think of a big storm heading towrds a big city I think of Hurricane Katrina. When is it expected to hit Shanghai?

Sorry for all the questions, thanks :)

[Sinosphere]

Here is some current information Oriellien. :)

Casualties from typhoon Wipha low due to preparations

BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Effective preparations and accurate weather forecasts greatly reduced the number of casualties caused by typhoon Wipha, Zheng Guoguang, head of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), said on Thursday.

"Up to now only five people have died from landslides triggered by the heavy rain. The number of casualties is rare in history," said Zheng.

The fact that the central government has paid great attention to natural disasters was one of the reasons for the few casualties, while meteorological authorities stepped up forecasts to allow local governments to have time to evacuate people, Zheng added.

A total of 2.67 million people in Zhejiang, Fujian, Shanghai and Jiangsu had been relocated by Wednesday, said the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The typhoon destroyed more than 9,600 houses and damaged 42,000 others.

In Zhejiang alone, 1.79 million people were evacuated before Wipha struck, the largest mass evacuation in the history of the province. More than half a million were evacuated because their houses were in poor condition.

Typhoon Wipha hit Wenzhou, in Zhejiang Province, at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday but was later downgraded to a tropical storm.

It turned into a temperate depression at noon on Thursday in the Yellow Sea, and was still weakening, according to the Liaoning Meteorological Observatory.

Xinhua News.

[Oriellien]

Ok, thank you Sinosphere :) If only every country knew how to evacuate people.

[Sinosphere]

Ok, thank you Sinosphere :) If only every country knew how to evacuate people.

Your welcome :)

I think life is fragile as it is, with unpredictable force of nature, all countries should be prepared for these type of situations.

After witnessing the tragedy of the Asian Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. We must not underestimate the force of nature and be always prepared.

On a off topic, Hows the situation with the people struk by Katrina? are they all living normal lifes now and compensated by the government? Also, has the government set up any departments to handle these type of crisis in the future?

[Oriellien]

Your welcome :)

I think life is fragile as it is, with unpredictable force of nature, all countries should be prepared for these type of situations.

After witnessing the tragedy of the Asian Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. We must not underestimate the force of nature and be always prepared.

On a off topic, Hows the situation with the people struk by Katrina? are they all living normal lifes now and compensated by the government? Also, has the government set up any departments to handle these type of crisis in the future?

I agree we underestimate nature too much.

Actually I was in New Orleans just a month ago for the aniversary of Katrina. Many still live in trailers, but neighborhoods are slowly being rebuilt. About 75% of the residents are back, although some want to leave because they cant support themselves. I think the city is coming back, largely due to tourism since Katrina. It could be done faster and better but I think they will come back regardless.

I don't think they have set up any new departments. I know the state governments are taking it more seriously, but chances are thats only because the current Govenor wants to look like she's learned from her failure's of Katrina. I worry that once she leaves office everything will go back to normal.

[Sinosphere]

I don't think they have set up any new departments. I know the state governments are taking it more seriously, but chances are thats only because the current Govenor wants to look like she's learned from her failure's of Katrina. I worry that once she leaves office everything will go back to normal.


I see, but if there are no dedicated departments for these situations. How are they going to prevent the same crisis from happening again? Sure they can't just reassure the public with words that they are taking it seriously?

Are there no concrete actions?

[Oriellien]

I see, but if there are no dedicated departments for these situations. How are they going to prevent the same crisis from happening again? Sure they can't just reassure the public with words that they are taking it seriously?

Are there no concrete actions?

Sadly there aren't really. Even the levee's which hold back the waters were only rebuilt to the pre-Katrina levels, meaning if a storm as strong as Katrina hits again the same thing will happen.

[Sinosphere]

Sadly there aren't really. Even the levee's which hold back the waters were only rebuilt to the pre-Katrina levels, meaning if a storm as strong as Katrina hits again the same thing will happen.

I see, this is risky, hope nothing like Katrina would happen again.

[Oriellien]

I see, this is risky, hope nothing like Katrina would happen again.

Yea, me too. An earthquake in LA could happen soon too.

[Sinosphere]

Yea, me too. An earthquake in LA could happen soon too.

Was there a warning?

[Oriellien]

Was there a warning?

No, but LA sits right on two major fault lines, and there are minor earthquakes all the time. There was a moderate one in the 90's that killed some people and damaged a lot of buildings. There was a major one around 1910 that destroyed the city much like Katrina hit New Orleans. It could happen again just like a Hurricane.

[Sinosphere]

No, but LA sits right on two major fault lines, and there are minor earthquakes all the time. There was a moderate one in the 90's that killed some people and damaged a lot of buildings. There was a major one around 1910 that destroyed the city much like Katrina hit New Orleans. It could happen again just like a Hurricane.

I see, you had me worried then, I thought you meant there was a warning on the news. :)

[Oriellien]

I see, you had me worried then, I thought you meant there was a warning on the news. :)

Oh no hehe. But its probaly just as probable as another Katrina.