Comparison and Hurricanes - Essay Example

Figure estimates indicated that less than 100 fatalities have been recorded in the United States. In addition, the Guardian reported that more than 50 million people had sufficiently prepared for the storm courtesy of early evacuation measures (Goldenberg). Moreover, emergency response teams of almost 5,000 personnel had been put in place in the United States Air force and National Guard. In comparison with the Japanese Tohoku earthquake and Tsunami, the effects were far more devastating compared to Hurricane Sandy.

Foremost, the casualties were more than 22,000 with thousands more reported missing. Furthermore, the economic costs were estimated to be over $300 billion (Choate). Over and above this, the tsunami had affected the nuclear power plant in Fukushima causing a meltdown. Among the lessons drawn included the failure to anticipate the occurrence of a high magnitude quake of 9.0 (Moskowitz). To this end, it should be noted the U.S early warning systems had anticipated a life-threatening storm with extensive ramifications.

Moreover, the early warning system in Japan did not effectively reach all persons in the coastal towns due to a disruption in power. Moreover, the timing of the early warning system was late in conveying the threat of the tsunami in time following the massive earthquake. In addition, the nuclear meltdown occurred due to the underestimation of the sea walls built. To this effect, the sea walls built were only 25 feet in length since the government did not anticipate that any future tsunami would rise as high as 30 feet.

Based on the two scenarios, it is quite evident that future disaster preparedness should always be planned through the anticipation of highly catastrophic disasters. In this respect, early warning systems should be updated beyond the contemporary, conventional detection mechanisms. Furthermore, in recognition of the loss of private property, governments of disaster-prone countries should devise a welfare scheme for persons adversely affected in the future.