Author(s)

Mohammad Zahangeer Alam^1*, Joan Halsey², Md. Manjurul Haque¹, Mimi Talukdar¹, Md. Moniruzzaman¹, Alex R. Crump³

¹Department of Environmental Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh.
¹Department of Environmental Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, BangladeshBangladesh.
²Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
³Department of Soil and Water Systems, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.

Bangladesh has experienced a number of severe natural disasters. Most recently, tropical storms Aila, Sidr and Mohaseen have affected the Kuakata coastal belt. These natural disasters have had substantial negative impacts on natural resources. Development of coping strategies for the protection of natural resources across this belt is significantly important. The present research is focused on the effects of tropical storms on crops, humans, fish, livestock and infrastructure. There were 99 fatalities recorded during the Sidr and Aila natural disasters. These disasters impacted 910.94 ha (Sidr) and 973.69 ha (Aila) of cropland. The total number of affected livestock and fishes such as, 18,200 fish ponds, 1209 cattle, 3324 goats, 6888 chickens, 1716 ducks, 103 buffalo and 144 sheep. After tropical cyclones of Sidr, Aila, Heavy rainstorms and Mohaseen 12,970, 17,703, 10,050 and 2500 households respectively reported some form of damage. Cattle, goat, chicken and buffalo were found more injured than other livestock due to the natural disasters of Sidr. Temperature and wind speed were both found to be statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) with humidity. Climatic parameters trend has been increased significantly since 1979. Regular monitoring of climatic variables, preparedness activities, and coping strategies would be significantly important for this coastal communities.

Tropical Storm, Natural Disaster, Coping Strategies, Coastal Belt, Preparedness

Alam, M. , Halsey, J. , Haque, M. , Talukdar, M. , Moniruzzaman, M. and R. Crump, A. (2018) Effect of Natural Disasters and Their Coping Strategies in the Kuakata Coastal Belt of Patuakhali Bangladesh. Computational Water, Energy, and Environmental Engineering, 7, 161-182. doi: 10.4236/cweee.2018.74011.