How do these tropical storms (not even hurricanes) manage to kill dozens of people in the Carribean islands?

Question

How do these tropical storms (not even hurricanes) manage to kill dozens of people in the Carribean islands?

Answer 1

I have lived on a Caribbean Island.  The big issue is water.  If you could see where some of these houses sit, if you can call them houses.  They are poorly constructed with not building codes.  When you hear island you think of  a flat surface, many of these islands are very mountainous. Therefore, when there is water run off landslides occur. Those homes built along the mountain streams, and there are a lot of them, along with there poor construction i.e. plywood with a metal roof on top are doomed to topple. Don't get me wrong, there are some very beautiful homes there, but in the rural regions and mountains anything goes especially in the Dominican, Jamaica, El Salvador and Cuba.

Answer 2

They drown in the flood waters.  Debris flying through the air can also do a number on the human body.

Answer 3

The houses are not constructed as nice and it can easily get flooded with any amount of rainfall, and they were probably not very prepared for the natural disaster.  

Answer 4

Greetings,

Yes, I agree that the water is the most cause of damage.  If people were able to evacuate before the storm comes, then they should do so, otherwise face the wrath.

In tropical storms, it kicks up the water elevations higher, so naturally it comes towards land in full force, getting everything in it's path.

Hope this helped. Have a great day!

Peace,

FreeSpiritRunning...

Answer 5

Storm surge.  

Answer 6

Hurricanes in categories 3, 4 and 5 can cause widespread damage, from severe inland flooding to the loss of life, property, agriculture and livestock.

Hurricanes bring with them huge amounts of rain. A big hurricane can dump dozens of inches of rain in just a day or two, much of it inland. That amount of rain can create inland flooding that can totally devastate a large area around the hurricane's centre.

The prevailing winds of a hurricane push a wall of water, called a storm surge, in front of it. If the storm surge happens to synchronise with a high tide, it causes beach erosion and significant inland flooding. Hurricane winds often spawn tornadoes, which are smaller, more intense cyclonic storms that cause additional damage.

This combination of winds, rain and flooding can level a coastal town and cause significant damage to cities far from the coast.

Answer 7

ive seen those houses in person...i did not know they were houses at the time...i was 4 and i just thought they were little shacks...i would have never thought people would live in them...and the water flooding...its not just rain the wind is very strong...

Answer 8

A few years back I was living in South Korea when it was hit by a Typhoon (same as a hurricane, but different part of the world). There were no warnings on TV, no local preperation. People were killed walking home from a bar in the middle of a Typhoon.

So disasters occur for many reasons.

One of the main reasons here is poverty. No warning systems, nowhere to go during a storm surge, heaving rains causing flooding, substandard housing, illegal housing in vulnerable areas and so on.

Answer 9

Mostly because of the storm surge. Did you know that water is the cause for most of the damage? and death?

Answer 10

It is because many of these people live in total poverty, and live in "homes" constructed out of cardboard and sheet metal, having no real strength.  They also live in flood prone areas and many time do not even hear that a storm is approaching.  Even a weak tropical storm can produce terrific amounts of rainfall which can cause significant flooding.  Flooding is the #1 killer from tropical systems.