Storm surges and relief: Why India should rethink its cyclone response

News: Factors such as the cyclone’s intensity, high tides and topography results in storm surges, which are the principal cause of destruction in major cyclones.

It is important that, in this period, we recognise that there is more to cyclone risk management than the total number of evacuees. However, the usual approach has certain deficiencies for cyclone management.

What are the deficiencies with the present approach?

Over-emphasis on a total evacuee figure, particularly in states such as Odisha: response effectiveness is calculated by over-emphasis placed on the total number of evacuation done from all areas, rather than focussing specially on some vulnerable areas.

– In evacuations in Odisha, the distinct threat from tidal or storm surges is mixed with the impact of high wind speed. Consequently, all areas where the cyclone is likely to travel are given similar scale attention. The high storm surge vulnerable areas don’t get specific attention.

The current strategy of horizontal evacuation (Under this type of evacuation, the region where maximum storm surge is likely, is completely secured by moving residents away) have worked in the past few cyclones only because the tidal surge was limited at the most up to 1 km. It will prove to be inadequate, if tidal inundation reaches up to 20 km.

Inadequate focus on response aspects other than evacuation: Our existing approach gives too little attention to key disaster response functions other than evacuation. Some of them are:

– Delay in financial assistance to those eligible for house reconstruction is often delayed beyond a reasonable time period.

– Distress selling and premature harvesting because of the cyclone.

– Power failures for days.

What is the way forward?

Pre-cyclone:

– India can learn from developed countries such as the United States and Australia, which follow a practice of identifying the most vulnerable zone and ensuring that no one except emergency officials are allowed there.

– Forewarning the farming communities

Post-Cyclone:

– Farmers need to be provided with financial input and immediate credit to restart the agriculture work immediately.

– The government should consider writing off the agricultural loans of small farmers. It should also provide sufficient cattle feed and support to people who own livestock.

– There should be emphasis placed on the quality and quantity of the relief distributed.

– Media’s role: A general pattern in disaster management observed around the world is that the media focus typically is limited to the emergency period. This should change too.

Source: This post is based on the article “Storm surges and relief: Why India should rethink its cyclone response” published in Down To Earth on 4th Dec 2021.