Timeline of Natural Disasters in the FSM Danko Taborosi & EDUCATION INITIATIVE Yvonne Neth
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Compiled by: Whitney Hoot ISLAND RESEARCH Timeline of Natural Disasters in the FSM Danko Taborosi & EDUCATION INITIATIVE Yvonne Neth 1987 Typhoon Nina killed 4 people and 2002 A major drought occurred 2010–2011 Drought affected the made over 1,000 homeless in Chuuk. and a disaster was declared in May. outer islands of Yap and Pohnpei TIMELINE of the major natural disasters About $3 million was spent for states, where water supplies, 1990 Supertyphoon Owen caused emergency relief. food crops and vegetation were Natural disasters that have affected islands in the FSM extreme damage on many islands. damaged. Most affected was 2002 Tropical Storm Chata’an (such as typhoons, 1990 Kapingamarangi Atoll, where Typhoon Russ struck in hit Chuuk. Heavy rains from the rainfall during the rainy season was floods, droughts, December. A major disaster was storm caused over 30 landslides 1775 Typhoon Lengkieki ravaged Pingelap 1958 A typhoon hit Satawal Island less than 20% of normal and food declared a month later. and mudslides, killing 47 people earthquakes, and Atoll and killed 90% of the people. and Lamotrek and Elato atolls. plants suffered severe damage. and injuring dozens of others. This Maximum recorded wind speed was 1991 Typhoon Yuri destroyed a other destructive 1815 A destructive typhoon struck the is the deadliest disaster in Chuuk’s 2012 Typhoon Bopha caused over 115 miles per hour. Extensive radio tower on Pohnpei and caused outer islands of Chuuk and Yap. Resources recent history. One death occurred major damage to housing and events) have been damage to property and vegetation $3 million in damages. were devastated and many people sailed to was visible for several years. on Pohnpei as well. Total damages livelihoods in the lower Mortlock impacting people Saipan and settled there. 1991 Landslides in the mountains in the FSM were $100 million. Islands region of Chuuk State. since the beginning 1960 Typhoon Ophelia struck Ulithi of southeast Pohnpei. Some farms 1845 Another strong typhoon struck the 2002–2003 Typhoon Pongsona 2013 Atoll and caused serious damage. were destroyed. Sediment dammed Typhoon Haiyan caused of humanity. These region. During this period, more people struck in early December 2002 and two rivers and destroyed several some damage in Yap State and migrated to Saipan. Their descendants in 1963 Typhoon Olive devastated a major disaster was declared in two pages show the shellfish-rich areas along the coast. went on to devastate Palau. Saipan are now known as Carolinians. Saipan. There was great damage January 2003. Chuuk State suffered timeline of disasters in the FSM as well, and a major 1992–1993 Drought on Kosrae, 2015 Typhoon Maysak wreaked 1874 A typhoon hit the Mortlock Islands. the most damage. disaster was declared. Pohnpei, and Chuuk. A state of havoc through the Chuuk and Yap that have occurred It destroyed homes and taro patches and emergency was declared and relief 2003 Typhoon Lupit struck Chuuk states. Reported wind speeds of in the FSM over the caused many fatalities. 1964 Typhoon Louise passed over was sent to Chuuk State. and Yap, where hundreds of homes up to 160 miles per hour ripped the islands and hit the Philippines, last two centuries. 1882 A typhoon struck Pohnpei. were destroyed. Throughout trees and homes from the land. In causing great damage there. 1992 Typhoon Axel struck the affected islands, food crops Chuuk, at least 4 people died. An Of course, disasters 1891 A typhoon struck Kosrae. Many Kosrae and Pohnpei states. On 1967 Typhoon Sally struck in March, were harmed and drinking water estimated 80-90 percent of houses people’s homes were damaged. Kosrae there was loss of crops, have happened before causing damage on several islands. contaminated. The worst damage were damaged. On Weno alone, the trees, and vegetation; some storm left 7,000 people homeless. as well, but have not 1898 A typhoon smashed into a group was suffered by Ulithi and Fais. 1968 buildings destroyed. Pingelap and In Ulithi, all structures not made of Ulithians traveling to Fais on canoes. Typhoon Jean struck in April, been recorded. Mwoakilloa had buildings and 2004 Typhoon Sudal struck Yap. of concrete were severely damaged About 120 people were lost at sea. damaging different islands. airstrips severely damaged by storm The storm lasted 5 hours, wind or destroyed. On different islands, 1971 Typhoon Amy struck in May. speed exceeded 125 miles per hour. 1899 A typhoon struck Yap, just as the surge. On Pohnpei, power supply between 90 and 100 percent of the The most common Wind exceeded 110 miles per hour. Coastal areas were submerged German officials were touring the island. was disrupted and buildings in banana, breadfruit, and taro crops under 6–12 ft of water. Nearly disasters are typhoons Germany had acquired the Mariana and 1976 Typhoon Marie caused low-lying areas flooded. Steep areas were destroyed. Water sources every building was damaged, many and droughts. Disaster Caroline Islands that year. damage on different islands. experienced landslides. Nearly 10 were contaminated. People affected inches of rain fell in 24 hours. people lost homes. were without shelter from the day’s can strike any island. 1905 A typhoon struck Pohnpei and 1976 Typhoon Pamela struck the intense heat, and food and drinking 1996 Typhoon Fern struck Yap in 2004 A major landslide occurred destroyed new administration buildings Mortlock Islands. Food crops, water had to be rationed. The outer islands December 1996. in the Pehleng area on Pohnpei. built by the Germans. houses, and public buildings were 2015-6 Drought caused by El Niño are most vulnerable, destroyed. Reefs were damaged. 1997 Rains from Typhoon Isa and 2007 Extremely high tides across 1907 is the worst ever in Micronesia’s but high islands can A typhoon struck the outer islands Tropical Storm Jimmy triggered the FSM caused flooding, erosion, 1979 Typhoon Alice struck. recorded history. The FSM, as well of Yap and Chuuk. Many people were over 30 different landslides and loss of beaches, destruction of experience severe as Palau and the Marshall Islands, killed in Ulithi. Afterwards, the Germans debris flows on Pohnpei, killing 20 croplands, and salt contamination 1979 Low-lying areas on different experienced a prolonged state of impacts too. Because relocated some survivors to Yap and people and destroying many homes. of drinking water. In some Chuuk emergency. Many islands received Saipan. The population of Ulithi was islands were flooded due to wave State atolls over 90% of all taro was of that, it is important 1998 virtually no rainfall for months. reduced from 260 to 70 inhabitants. Other action. A major disaster was Drought across the FSM. destroyed by saltwater inundation. for everyone, on every islands also suffered terribly. On Woleai, declared and FEMA assisted. communities ran out of water or Crops wilted or failed to produce 230 people were killed. Over 170 people had to ration water. Rivers dried up. 2007 Drought greatly impacted fruit. Wells and rivers could yield island, to be prepared. 1983 A severe drought occurred. died on Satowan and Lukunor atolls. Wells had low water levels and high Chuuk and aid had to be provided little or no water supply. The outer Even if you have never Many rivers dried up and this salinity. Crops were stressed, leading to outer islands across the state. islands required emergency relief, 1935 A storm struck Ettal, Satowan, stimulated the use of groundwater experienced a disaster to food shortages. On Kosrae, people Salt water in the soil damaged taro which has included the shipping and Lukunor atolls, then went on in the future. As a result, more than drilled deep wells to cope. Chuuk patches and breadfruit trees. of desalination units. People use in your lifetime, it to strike Chuuk Lagoon. 90 wells were drilled on the main suffered lots of wildfires during this desalination units to turn salty 2008 Extremely high tides damaged islands of the FSM. period. Outer islands of Pohnpei, water from the ocean to potable does not mean that 1947–1948 Four typhoons hit Yap one soil, crops, and property throughout nd th 1986 Chuuk, and Yap suffered greatly and water (water that people can it cannot happen. By after another (on Nov. 2 , Nov. 10 , Typhoon Lola struck in May, the FSM. On Kosrae, several houses rd th the government had to send them safely drink). Dec. 23 , and Jan. 13 ). This caused disaster was declared in June. This were flooded; the shore was locally being prepared, you emergency water supplies. considerable damage to property and food was the most destructive typhoon to eroded. In the outer islands of Yap, will help yourself and resources. Overall, 60% of the houses on hit Pohnpei in nearly 30 years. 2002 Typhoon Mitag devastated Yap many coconut trees were uprooted. your community in the island were destroyed. 1987 Typhoon Orchid destroyed State. Emergency food supplies sent On Kapingamarangi, the concrete FUTURE: We do not know what the future bridge connecting two islets collapsed will bring. The past teaches us that dangerous 1953 A typhoon hit Ulithi. One homes on Ulithi, Fais, and Faraulap. to Eauripik, Elato, Ifalik, Lamotrek, time of need. and 90% of the taro crops were lost. natural events will happen again and again. canoe with five men was lost at sea. FEMA funded the rebuilding. Nguluw, Satawal, and Woleai. We must be prepared for them in order to minimize their impact and avoid disasters..