Thursday, September 29, 2022

Which is more damaging: Hurricane, or typhoon, or cyclone?

It is not the meteorology in which I am interested. All these are natural events.  A natural event by itself is merely a natural event.  

In such a framework, which is the more damaging event?  Cyclones, typhoons, or hurricanes?

First, a clarification.  Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are all storm systems with wind speeds that we normally do not experience--about 75 mph or more. The name for the storm systems depends on where they happen. 

In the old country, I grew up with news about cyclones.  Japan or the Philippines is battered by typhoons.  In Puerto Rico, "Always the hurricanes blowing, Always the population growing . ..."

Consider one of those tropical storms making landfall where no humans live.  It will, of course, uproot trees and flood the rivers.  Is there any damage?

This is the equivalent of the old philosophical question on whether a tree falling in a forest makes a sound if there is nobody to hear it.  These natural events become "disasters" and "catastrophes" only because they affect us humans.

Now, consider a typhoon blowing through the populated islands in the Philippines.  And then imagine a cyclone battering the Bangladeshi coast.  Now consider a hurricane hitting the southeastern coast of the US.

So, which one is more damaging an event?  A hurricane, or a cyclone, or a typhoon?

Does it matter that the average Pakistani is poorer than the typical Filipino?   Does the "disaster" become costlier because the typical American and the property are way more "expensive"? 

One doesn't even need to look beyond Wikipedia for this: 

The costs of disasters vary considerably depending on a range of factors, such as the geographical location where they occur. When a large disaster occurs in a wealthy country, the financial damage may be large, but when a comparable disaster occurs in a poorer country, the actual financial damage may appear to be relatively small.

So, we know the answer to the question.  Hurricanes cause way more damage than typhoons do, and cyclones are pretty darn cheap!

The relatively low cost of life and property in poorer countries, and the high price for every life in rich countries, is one of the many issues that I have struggling with ever since my graduate school days.  It is bizarre, godawful, that the "cost" of life varies.  Rich people's lives and property are valued more than poor people's lives are.  As long as this framework does not change, the "costliest" natural disasters will happen only in rich countries.  It boggles my mind.  I am always shocked that it does not boggle a lot of minds.

Consider the following image of a community that is under water:


What will be the cost of damage if this community were in Pakistan, versus in Fort Myers in Florida?

And, oh, a quick follow up: How many Americans would care if communities were flooded in Pakistan because of monsoon rains that have been massively above average because of climate change?

Most of us Americans will feel terrible about the damage to life and property that Hurricane Ian has caused, and will continue to cause as it makes another landfall in South Carolina.  And we should feel terrible.  The federal taxes that we pay even here in Oregon will help Floridians via FEMA and more.  Many of us will also personally contribute to the cause, and we should.

What is strange is that apparently our sense of humanity ends with political borders.

Guess how much of our federal dollars went to Pakistan to help with them recover from the Biblical flooding?

The United States has boosted assistance to Pakistan’s flood relief efforts, announcing $10 million in aid, in addition to Washington's already announced financial assistance of $56.1 million

About $66 million.  That amount is only slightly more than the $50 million that Aaron Rodgers will earn this year as the quarterback for the Packers!

Surely Uncle Sam can help out with more, yes?

Angelina Jolie has flown in and said that she’s never seen such devastation. President Biden casually mentioned at the U.N. General Assembly that Pakistan “needs help,” without any specifics. This all sounds like a lot until you remember that Pakistan’s losses are estimated to be around thirty billion dollars.

So, what can you do?

The first step is rather simple.  Elect public officials who have empathy.  For starters, do not elect people who toss paper towels to those rendered homeless after a hurricane wipes out communities.  Do not elect people who call Pakistan and other countries as shit holes.

The second step requires some effort.  Donate to help people around the world too.  Our cushy lives while condemning the rest of the world to eat cakes is not only immoral but also not sustainable in the long run.

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