Cyclone Fani(3rd May 2019, Odisha, India)

Aftermath of Cyclone FANI, Source: The Hindu, Date: 6th May, 2019.
Submitted toGADRI
By

Ms. Payal Nayak,Assistant Professor
School of Climate and Disaster Studies (SCDS)

Centurion University of Technology and Management
Ramachandrapur, PO: Jatni, Khordha, 752050, Odisha, India
http://www.cutm.ac.in
24th May 20191

1. Context
The current report briefly describes the immediate impact of very severe tropical cyclone, named ‘Fani’,that made landfall at 8.12 AM on 3rdMay 2019 at Puri, Odisha, East Coastof India. The Category 4 cyclone hadan estimated maximum sustained
surface wind speed of 175-185 km/hr,gusting to 210 km/hr. Along the pathit moved through the densely
populated coastal Odisha, affecting
16.5 million in 14 districts, withsevere destruction of life and property
in the districts of Puri, Khurdha,Cuttack,Jagatsinghpr
andKendrapara.
Fani evolved from a depression inIndian Ocean, on the west of Sumatra Satellite image of Fani intensifying in the Bay of Bengal (Nationalston 26th April 2019. It maintained its Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1 May 2019).
ndintensity after crossing the sea, even Source: Dhaka Tribune, Date:2 May, 2019
after an interaction with land, and did not cause heavy rainfall. Its track remained closer to Odisha coast
during its lifespan of 11 days, in the sea and land put together.

2. Pre-Cyclone Initiatives
Till 27th of May, 2019, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) did not predict any major impact on
Odisha. However, The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) suggested possible impact of the cyclone
on the Odisha. IMD issued warnings on 30th ofMay, 2019 predicting that Fani would likely
move northwestwards from its position andrecurve towards Odisha coast. Skymet predicted
intensification of Fani while it gained latitude.
More than 1.2 million people from 14 coastal
and interior districts were evacuated to 900
cyclone shelters in 24 hours creating a record
history. People were informed about the cyclone
and coping strategy through regularannouncements in electronic, print and social
media. 2.6 million text messages were sent towarn about the cyclone. Fishermen were asked
Police officer requesting a resident to evacuate
to refrain from the sea from 30th April night.
(Source: Outlook India, Date: 4th May, 2019)

3. Immediate Impact
In spite of such huge evacuation and communication, the state witnessed a loss of 64 precious
human lives, 8 million livestock, 10 million trees, electricity, telecommunication and roadinfrastructure and other property.

2Loss of Agriculture and agriculture based livelihood
The estimated damage to standing crops has been
pegged at US$ 20 million, besides destruction ofstorage facilities and harvested crops. About 150,000
hectares of agricultural land has been affected by thecyclone. About 30,000 hectares of horticulture land withperennial crops such as mango, cashew, coconut andbetel vine have been affected. These crops are relatively
more valuable and were still standing in the field when
the cyclone hit. Infrastructure used for floriculture, such Ripped off coconut farms in Puri District.
as greenhouses, drip irrigation and sprinkler systems, Source: New Indian Express, Date: 10th May, 2019.
have also taken a heavy hit.

Loss of non-farm livelihood
The cyclone has also destroyed the livelihood of craftsmen, who depended on natural products such as coir(for handicraft) and natural dyes (for painting) derived from trees. Tourism has got major blow. Over 600
hotels buzzing with tourists during summer days are mostly unoccupied. At the same time in previous year,
129 hotels in Puri had accounted for 84,000 summer tourists. The debris, damaged hotels and electricity
infrastructure has brought down tourists to almost nil in the city. As far as fishermen are concerned theirlivelihood has gone due to loss of boats andfishing equipment.

Loss of infrastructure
The Odisha government has estimated Fani
induced physical infrastructure loss at US$1700 million. It includes half a million houses,
roads, culverts, electricity poles and wires,street lights, drains, community centers, town
halls, parks, etc. 200,000 electric poles, 5030
km of 33 kV lines, 38613 km of 11 kV lines,
79485 km of low tension lines and 64304
distribution transformers are reportedlydamaged. 2000 telecommunication towers have Aftermath of Cyclone, Devastation of electrical infrastructure
Source: Outlook India, Date: 7th May, 2019.
been damaged. (Hindu, 15th May, 2019).

4. Relief and Restoration Initiatives
44 teams of National Disaster Response Force, 20
teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, 525
teams of Fire Services and 8 teams of Odisha Forest
Development Corporation were deployed for eearchand rescue, tree cutting and road clearance in theaffected areas.
200 gang men from Andhra Pradesh and 50 eachfrom Telangana and West Bengal were engaged inthe restoration of the electric poles. Heavy duty
generators were engaged by Public Works
Relief Distribution at Nimapada Block, Puri District
Department to supply drinking water, since water Source: Payal Nayak, CUTM, Date:17th of May, 2019.
storage and treatment facilities were majorly hit due
to uprooting of trees.
3Because of devastated telephone towers, HAM radio and satellite phones, were used to communicate withdistrict headquarters. As relief measures for affected populations, rolls of polythene, food items, andsurvival kits were distributed by the state, market and civil society organisations.

5. Concluding Remarks
The state of Odisha, on the eastern seaboard of India, with 480 km of coastline, 11 major river systems
and the geo-climatic conditions is vulnerable to different disasters such as floods, cyclones, droughts andheat waves. It has been witnessing a growing intensity of frequent disasters over the past 50 years.

The ‘zero casualty’ policy of the country has been driving the state’s disaster management strategy
and it has done a commendable job in issuing early warnings and evacuations of vulnerable people.
However, there is a need to strengthen its post-disaster restoration and rehabilitation strategies. It
can be strengthened through building of strong community based institutions and developing
robust linkages with government departments. While the pre-disaster operations are mostly
centralized due to the nature of its interventions requiring prompt actions, rehabilitation andrestoration lacked considerable state and civil society partnership. It was reported that food relief
was not received by some areas even after 48 hours and the communities and civil society agencies
came forward to fill the gap. These groups have the potential to supplement the humungous taskof relief and restoration during and post-disasters, because of their proximity, local knowledge andvoluntary spirit.
Finally, there is a large need to develop context specific knowledge, and affordable disaster
resilient technology and infrastructure to deal with the frequent occurring of cyclones in thiseconomically backward coastal state in the long run, if it has to come out of the vicious cycle ofdisaster and economic underdevelopment.

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Reference

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