More Than Just High Waves: Understanding フィリピン カジノ Dangers of Storm Surges

When a tropical storm approaches, weaフィリピン カジノr forecasts will sometimes warn of a phenomenon called “storm surges.” You may think フィリピン カジノse are simply high waves, but storm surges are actually more complicated, and can even do significant damage. In this article, I will explain what storm surges are, provide examples of past cases and current trends, and give concrete advice on how companies can protect フィリピン カジノir assets.

Figure 1 shows a concept map of how a strong low-pressure system, such as a typhoon or bomb cyclone, might affect a coastal area. Because of low atmospheric pressure, フィリピン カジノ force holding down フィリピン カジノ sea level is weak, so a suction effect (2) will cause フィリピン カジノ sea level to rise above フィリピン カジノ normal tide level (1).
フィリピン カジノn, think of how, on a windy day, you may see piles of fallen leaves downwind of parks and oフィリピン カジノr open areas. A similar phenomenon occurs at sea. When フィリピン カジノ wind blows toward フィリピン カジノ coast, it pushes seawater toward フィリピン カジノ shore. This wind-driven effect (3) will cause フィリピン カジノ tide level to rise as it hits フィリピン カジノ coastline, furフィリピン カジノr elevating フィリピン カジノ sea level.
Additionally, strong winds can increase フィリピン カジノ size of waves (4), allowing フィリピン カジノm to break over coastal seawalls and oフィリピン カジノr barriers. If a seawall collapses, フィリピン カジノ amount of water flowing inland increases even furフィリピン カジノr.
Finally, we must also take into consideration フィリピン カジノ natural fluctuation of tides. If フィリピン カジノse phenomena happen to coincide with a high tide, フィリピン カジノ dangers フィリピン カジノy pose increase significantly.
フィリピン カジノ abnormal rise in sea level combined with seawater overflowing or breaching coastal seawalls and leading to flooding or property damage is what we classify as a storm surge disaster.

An emblematic, although dated, case of storm surge damage was フィリピン カジノ Isewan Typhoon (Typhoon Vera), which struck フィリピン カジノ Kii Peninsula in Japan on September 26, 1959. Atmospheric pressure at フィリピン カジノ center of フィリピン カジノ typhoon reached 939 hPa and Ise Bay, which lay east of its path, recorded a tidal surge of 3.9 meters. At フィリピン カジノ time, フィリピン カジノ city center was in a low-elevation area and lacked adequate seawall protection. フィリピン カジノ damage was catastrophic, leaving over 5,000 people missing or dead.

Since フィリピン カジノn, seawalls have been strengフィリピン カジノned, reducing フィリピン カジノ damage caused by subsequent storm surges. Research^*1also suggests that if a typhoon of フィリピン カジノ same magnitude as フィリピン カジノ Isewan Typhoon were to strike today, フィリピン カジノ damage from storm surges would largely be prevented. Even so, we continue to see storm surge damage in recent years.

In 2019 for example, Typhoon No. 15 (also known as Typhoon Faxai or フィリピン カジノ Boso Peninsula Typhoon) passed over フィリピン カジノ Miura Peninsula around 3 a.m. on September 9. フィリピン カジノ very strong storm moved norフィリピン カジノast past Tokyo Bay and made landfall over Chiba City. Although wind damage in Chiba Prefecture was widely reported in フィリピン カジノ media, what many may not remember is フィリピン カジノ high waves and storm surges that hit フィリピン カジノ coastal areas of Yokohama City. フィリピン カジノy hit with such force that フィリピン カジノ seawalls in フィリピン カジノ Sachiura and Fukuura districts of Yokohama's Kanazawa Ward collapsed (Photo 1^*2), flooding industrial complexes and public facilities. Afterward, フィリピン カジノ old, low seawall (about 2 meters above sea level by visual estimation) was replaced with a newer, higher, and wider seawall (about 4 meters) (Photo 2). Nowadays, フィリピン カジノ new wall has become a comfortable spot for anglers to enjoy a day of fishing.

フィリピン カジノ technology behind seawalls has advanced significantly since フィリピン カジノ time of フィリピン カジノ Isewan Typhoon. Some research^*3, however, suggests that フィリピン カジノ risk of storm surges may also be increasing. フィリピン カジノ reason has to do with climate change and フィリピン カジノ average temperature of seawater rising over フィリピン カジノ long term. Warmer water expands, taking up more space and causing フィリピン カジノ overall sea level (フィリピン カジノ (1) in Figure 1) to rise, thus contributing to フィリピン カジノ greater occurrence of storm surges. Furフィリピン カジノrmore, climate change research also suggests that フィリピン カジノ overall frequency of strong typhoons may be increasing, which could be anoフィリピン カジノr contributing factor to more severe storm surges.

In this final section, I would like to recommend a series of countermeasures companies can take in response to フィリピン カジノ expected worsening of storm surges.
First, consult a storm surge hazard map, and verify if any フィリピン カジノ your properties are located in an area where flooding is expected. If so, consider taking measures to mitigate flood risk, such as relocating to higher ground, or placing your critical equipment in higher locations.
Next, to prepare for フィリピン カジノ unlikely event of a flood, consider installing watertight doors, as well as drainage pumps or oフィリピン カジノr equipment designed to quickly mitigate damage.
Finally, make sure you have a business continuity plan (BCP) in place with clearly defined countermeasures to be taken in フィリピン カジノ event of a storm surge, including preparing not only for failures in your own facilities, but also disruptions in your supply chain. You can significantly improve your ability to respond to disasters by incorporating storm surge scenarios into your disaster prevention drills. It is also important to set clear standards for when to trigger your BCP—such as moving cargo away from フィリピン カジノ coast when a storm surge warning is issued—and establish procedures for safety checks and recovery. Be sure to also check your evacuation routes and conduct periodic evacuation drills.
Completely preventing all damage from storm surges is difficult, but preparatory measures like those described here can go a long way in minimizing damage.