Differences in Hurricane Response - new 'giant' typhoon

[Randy W]

in the SCMP

 

Hundreds of thousands could be evacuated as ‘giant’ typhoon set to hit southeastern China this week

Typhoon Talim could be as powerful as Hurricane Irma that struck Florida last week, expert says

 

 

Most of the people affected live either in properties that might not be able to withstand the high winds, in areas that are prone to flooding or mudslides, or are close to construction sites where they could be hit by flying debris, she said, adding that school buildings and sports stadiums will be used as temporary shelters.

 

. . .

 

Talim formed east of the Philippines on Saturday and was on course to hit both Fujian and Taiwan, Liu said. It had been steadily gathering strength and by the time it made landfall would most likely have grown into a super typhoon, the highest level in China’s rating system and comparable to a category 4 or 5 hurricane in the United States, she said.

“Talim is a giant. It will dwarf any of the others [typhoons] we’ve seen this year,” she said.

If people chose not to leave, they would be forced to do so by inspection teams made up of Communist Party and government officials, she said.

. . .

The reason why mass evacuations were not as popular in China was mostly due to population densities, Huang said.

“In the panic of a disaster situation, the escape route can turn into a traffic nightmare,” he said. “In places like Fujian the roads get jam-packed even during the holidays.”

 

 

[Allon]

Key question is: what is the water temperature? A typhoon is clockwise rotation; a hurricane is the opposite -- usually. So the way this typhoon is heading it could well be stronger than Irma. The surge will hit north as it goes. With China's infrastructure so underdeveloped, it could kill a lot of people.

 

My wife is in China now. Farther north near Shenyang.

[True Blue]

I agree. Hurricane Irma killed a lot more people in the Caribbean where there are no building codes, than in the USA.

I suspect the lack of building codes and enforcement creates exponentially more casualties in less developed countries.

[Randy W]

Key question is: what is the water temperature? A typhoon is clockwise rotation; a hurricane is the opposite -- usually. So the way this typhoon is heading it could well be stronger than Irma. The surge will hit north as it goes. With China's infrastructure so underdeveloped, it could kill a lot of people.

 

My wife is in China now. Farther north near Shenyang.

 

 

"Because of the Coriolis effect, these storms rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere."

 

Don't forget that Chinese buildings are brick and concrete for the most part.

 

I expect the water temperatures are in the mid 80's to be spawning so many superstorms.

[Greg.D.]

Doesn't look like anything will happen with this typhoon:

 

https://okinawa.stripes.com/news/pacific-storm-tracker-sasebo-enters-tccor-2

 

 

1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, Japan time: Fleet Activities Sasebo has set Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 2. Destructive winds of 58 mph or greater are anticipated within 24 hours.

 

1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, Japan time: Talim has continued to weaken, down to Category 1-equivalent status, and has begun curving northeast en route to forecast rendezvous with Kyushu in southwestern Japan early Sunday morning, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

At 9 a.m., Talim was 222 miles west-northwest of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, headed north-northeast at 4 mph with sustained 92-mph winds and 115-mph gusts at center. U.S. bases remain in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness Storm Watch.