Key Points
- Cyclone Dana is expected to hit near Kendrapara, Odisha, on October 25, 2024.
- The 1999 Super Cyclone affected 1.89 crore people.
- Odisha has improved its disaster management strategies over the last 25 years.
- The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) is crucial for response efforts.
- Evacuations and community awareness campaigns have helped cut down cyclone casualties.
Looma News
Cyclone Dana is set to make landfall near Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara, Odisha, on October 25, 2024. This marks 25 years since the terrible 1999 Super Cyclone, which had a massive impact on the state. Odisha’s commitment to better disaster management has made it a leader in resilience.
The 1999 Super Cyclone affected 1.89 crore people across 14 districts, leading to around 10,000 deaths along with heavy losses of livestock and trees. The disaster prompted a major rethink of how Odisha handles emergencies.
From Catastrophe to Preparedness
After the 1999 disaster, Odisha set up a strong disaster response system, including the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF). This specialized team, equipped with modern tools, is essential for search and rescue. The Odisha Fire Service has also adapted to become a multi-hazard response unit.
Some key actions taken by the state include better early warning systems that give timely alerts to coastal communities and large-scale evacuations before cyclones hit. For example, during Cyclone Fani in 2019, about 1.2 million people were evacuated, which helped keep the death toll much lower compared to 1999.
Recent Cyclone Preparedness
Odisha’s improved readiness has shown in recent cyclones:
- Cyclone Phailin (2013): Wind Speed 250 km/h; Death Toll: Around 44. Evacuated 1.2 million residents.
- Cyclone Fani (2019): Wind Speed 120 mph; Death Toll: Nearly 100. Major evacuation efforts were made.
- Cyclone Amphan (2020): Wind Speed up to 185 km/h; Death Toll: 98 (across India). Odisha evacuated over 500,000 people.
- Cyclone Titli (2018): Wind Speed 150 km/h; Death Toll: 77 in Odisha. Timely evacuations helped minimize casualties.
- Cyclone Jawad (2021): Wind Speed 70-80 km/h; No deaths reported due to effective preparedness measures.
These cases highlight how well Odisha’s proactive disaster management strategies work and their commitment to protecting the state’s people from cyclone impacts.
