AP’s disaster management planning, resilience got a boost post Hudhud

Visakhapatnam: Cyclone Hudhud, which made landfall on Visakhapatnam coast on Oct 12, 2014, was the first cyclone to directly strike a major city on the eastern coast. It left a trail of devastation, and caused widespread public suffering and extensive infrastructural damage. However, the lessons learned from Hudhud have been instrumental in significantly enhancing Andhra Pradesh's disaster management capabilities over the past decade.Following the super cyclone, which saw wind speeds exceeding 180 kmph, the state developed a comprehensive cyclone preparedness and response plan by integrating mitigation strategies, preparedness efforts, risk reduction, and response measures. As a result, disaster alert dissemination, pre-cyclone drills, evacuation protocols, and establishment of emergency operation centres have significantly improved. Local bodies and govt entities also initiated several measures. For example, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) set up a city operations centre with a budget of approximately Rs 150 crore. The centre integrates data from surveillance cameras, pollution sensors, GPS systems, and other devices across the city to make informed decisions. It primarily provides disaster solutions, alerting citizens in advance of impending disasters, while also enabling the administration to deliver efficient services during emergencies. During non-crisis periods, the centre functions as a smart e-governance hub. GVMC has also adopted solar street lighting along the beach road.Similarly, Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited, which bore the brunt of the cyclone's impact, transitioned to underground cabling in the coastal areas of Vizag city. The structures, which were developed along the beachfront in Visakhapatnam after Hudhud, were designed keeping the cyclone's bad experiences in mind. Likewise, while constructing the TU-142 aircraft museum on the beach road, VMRDA used glass that can withstand wind speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour.Recounting how cyclone Hudhud revolutionised disaster management planning in AP, state disaster management authority (APSDMA) managing director Ronanki Kurmanath said the administration has become far more effective and proactive today. "Preparedness meetings with collectors from all coastal districts have now been made mandatory ahead of any weather system. Vulnerable areas are identified, and detailed assessments are made to determine who might be affected. By leveraging advanced prediction models from national and international weather agencies, authorities can create precise forecasts and plan accordingly for impending weather systems," Kurmanath told TOI.The state emergency operations centre (SEOC) has become a central hub for disaster management in Andhra Pradesh in recent years. Right from information management, resource management and decision making to coordination, communication, and recovery support, the centre plays a crucial role in coordinating disaster response activities, ensuring effective communication, and facilitating timely decision-making."AP has improved its disaster preparedness, planning, mitigation, and risk reduction efforts before, during, and after such events in the last 10 years. Advanced technologies have enabled more accurate predictions, faster communication, and efficient coordination, with the ubiquity of mobile phones allowing for timely dissemination of alert messages. The state emergency operations centre, which brings together personnel from the police, fire services, and weather scientists, acts as a command hub, closely coordinating with districts and developing dynamic strategies throughout the disaster planning and management process," Kurmanath explained.FIRST BIG STORM TO HIT EAST COASTCyclone Hudhud had its genesis as a low-pressure system over Tenasserim coast and adjacent North Andaman Sea on Oct 6, 2014It evolved into a depression on Oct 7, escalated into a severe cyclonic storm by Oct 9, and further intensified to a very severe level by Oct 10It crossed Visakhapatnam coast on Oct 12 with a wind speed of 180 kmphVizag city was heavily damaged, while Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, and East Godavari districts were also hitAbout 9.2 million people in over 7,285 villages in the coastal districts were affected61 people lost their lives, about 1.12 lakh houses were partially or fully damaged in the coastal areas of Visakhapatnam district alone3.3 lakh acres of cropped area were affectedOver 7.52 lakh households living on agriculture, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, and handlooms were severely affectedAtchuthapuram mandal in Visakhapatnam district received the highest cumulative rainfall of 527 mm1.35 lakh people were evacuated from low-lying areas
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