Ash Wednesday February 1983 – el Nino
The term El Niño ("the child" or "the Christ child") refers to a warming of surface waters and the increase in average air temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
· Natural Disaster
• The Ash Wednesday bushfires were a series of bushfires that happened in south-eastern Australia on 16 February 1983. Over 180 fires were raging with winds traveling up to and beyond 110 km/h. 75 fatalities and 2,676 casualties were confirmed. This includes the 17 volunteer fire-fighters.
· How la Nina effected the Natural Hazard
• The El Niño drought over eastern Australia in 1982 led to tinder dry conditions throughout the grasslands and forests of south-eastern Australia. The summer rainfall for Victoria that year, was up to 75% less than in previous years. The heated air and strong winds would have increased the volume of the fires.
· Preparations
• The residents of Adelaide Hills were not very prepared for the disaster, as it was in 1983, and the safety cautions were not taken as seriously we do know. The intense heat, and low rainfall, was hard to overcome and prepare for against. Despite this, the 8,000 residents were evacuated beforehand, saving numerous lives.
· Social Impacts
• Ash Wednesday of 1983 was argued to be the disaster to have the greatest impact on Australian National psyche. The amounts of lost lives were terrible and would have ruined the lives of manyh and their communities. The survivors were asked to tell their stories on the 25th anniversary at museums hosting exhibits.
· Environmental Impacts
• 2,080 km2 in South Australia and 2,100 km2 in Victoria were affected in one day. 5,196 km2 burnt throughout the 1982/83 season of the fires. Urban/rural fringe areas, farmland, and forest reserves were also affected by the fires.
· Economic Impacts
• Over 3,700 buildings were destroyed or damaged and 2,545 individuals and families lost their homes. A total of 4,540 insurance claims were paid totalling $176 million with a total estimated cost of well over $400 million. Over 340,000 sheep and a further 18,000 cattle were killed.
· Local Effect
• A systematic review of fire safety was undertaken; areas under high tension pylons were cleared and local domestic lines considered to be at risk were replaced with insulated three-phase supply lines.
· State Effect
• Many of the lessons learned in building better homes for fire survival, bush management and emergency response efficiency. In South Australia, an inquest into the fires found that the communication systems used by the Country Fire Service were inadequate and, as a result, the Government radio network was installed.
· Federal Effect
• 20,000 national volunteer fire-fighters battled the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires. The next year, it rocketed to 30,000 national fire-fighters and even more Emergency Response Units. The fedral government began a new fire-fighting service the next month.
Tropical Cyclone Yasi – la Nina
La Niña is the name for the cold phase of ENSO, during which the cold pool in the eastern Pacific intensifies and the trade winds strengthen.
· Natural Disaster
o Yasi was a category 5, (Australian Scale [4 on SSHS]) tropical cyclone in February 2011. It had formed as a tropical low on 26 of January in southern Fiji, in the tropics as a tropical storm. It travelled towards Australia’s north-eastern coast at about 70km/h. As la Nina took effect, the Cyclone reached 120, then 160km/h, rocketing towards the Australian east coast.
· How la Nina effected the Natural Hazard
o La Nina is the reason for all the terrible weather this year. The weather is opposite of El Nino, as there is a lower ocean surface temperature and atmospheric pressure. Results of La Niña, in the southern hemisphere, the rainy season generally has heavier rainfall and stronger tropical cyclones.
· Preparations
o Thirty thousand residents of Cairns were evacuated temporarily to live in Brisbane for at least 3-4 days until the cyclone had passed completely. Patients of hospitals were airlifted by the RAAF and RFDS to Brisbane.
· Social Impacts
o More than 10,000 homes were to be flooded. This would have been terrifying for the local resident of Innisfail and Cairns. Approximately 30,000 people were evacuated and about 350,000 people were to be affected by the severe cyclone. This would have affected the society because of the aftermath of the events of the economy, and agricultural results with the shortage of food.
· Environmental Impacts
o The Great Barrier Reef was the most destroyed environment in the cause of cyclone Yasi. 300 of the total 2,398 km were affected by the cyclone. The areas that were affected are Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Victoria.
· Economic Impacts
o The cyclone’s main impact areas were Innisfail and Cardwell, the heavily populated agricultural and tourist region. Right next door the Great Barrier Reef! This caused more money to be put into cleaning up and rebuilding the cities rather than into the agricultural and tourism. Approximately $3bn worth of damage to the two cities.
· Duration
o Yasi formed on January 26th 2011. It intensified into a cyclone category (3) on 31st January, then a category 4 on the 1st of February. February 2nd, the cyclone strengthened to a category 5 system.
· Local Effect
o Premier Anna Bligh told residents that they had about three hours to get out before cyclone Yasi started to pelt the Queensland coast just hours before the full brunt of Cyclone Yasi had hit .The Bureau of Meteorology had warned the storm is "likely to be more life threatening than any experienced during recent generations" and predicted winds of up to 320km/h and 2m tidal storm surges. This would have terrified the residents of Innisfail.
· State Effect
o The Queensland state emergency coordinator warned residents that they would be on their own for up to 24 hours, as the conditions would be too dangerous for emergency responders. Sfter the cyclone had passed, the state fire brigade, police force and emergency responses were immediately dispatched and sent to the worst affected areas.
· Federal Effect
o The Australian Defence Force response was designated Operation Yasi Assist. The ADF established Joint Task Force 664, operational command on 2 February 2011.
