Journal of Geography  & Natural Disasters
Open Access

Abstract

Warning, Evacuation and Community Response Reduced Loss of Human Life Due to the Impact of Tropical Cyclone Yaas in Odisha

Damodar Panda

A very severe tropical cyclonic storm Yaas crossed over the north Odisha coast at Balasore in the morning of 26th May 2021. The cyclonic storm was associated with heavy rainfall, high wind speed and high tidal surge at the coast. Due to its impact 11 coastal and adjoining districts were affected with 6 districts severely affected along the track of the cyclone. The coastal part of the state is highly populated with agrarian economy on fertile deltic plain. In addition to agriculture people have milching domesticated animal to support family income. These people are highly vulnerable to cyclonic storms as their life, livelihood and houses are easily affected by the cyclonic storm. In the past due to lack of proper disaster management plan of the govt. there was heavy loss of life and property. People were only advised to take precautionary measures for the safety of life and property. In the past the state experienced severe cyclonic storms occasionally, hence not much planning was made to prevent its impact. In the recent past the super cyclone of Odisha of 1999 is a grim reminder of the severe impact as more than 20,000 people died, lakhs of animals killed and crores of rupees of property damaged. In comparision to the super cyclone the loss of life due to Yaas was only 3. This could be possible due to the proper implementation of national disaster management policy by the state govt. After huge loss of life in 1999 super cyclone govt. took necessary measures to reduce the loss of life and to reach the target of zero casualty. The success of cyclone disaster management to minimize human casualty is possible due to accurate forecasting. Monitoring and dissemination of warning to the community, evacuation of highly vulnerable people to the shelters before the cyclone could strike the coast, adequate shelter with all necessary facilities and community willingness to volunteer for their safety unlike super cyclone people were unwilling to shift to shelters.

Published Date: 2025-04-17; Received Date: 2024-09-03