southasiadisasters.net Special Issue, October 20132

INTRODUCTION

Odisha Braces for Cyclone Phailin, NDMASends Troops

The Odisha government ispreparing for Cyclone Phailin —

which is expected to hit the east coaston Saturday evening (October 12,2013) — on a war footing, Mihir Bhattfrom the All India Disaster MitigationInstitute, who is part of theprecautionary preparation, toldRediff.com.

"The Red Message, the highest alertfrom the Indian MeteorologyDepartment in Delhi, is not onlyconcise and to-the-point, but is alsousable to a large extent by the localdistrict officials. The alert also enlistswhere and what type of damage isexpected to shelter andinfrastructure," he said.

The Orissa State DisasterManagement Authority (OSDMA)team and the ministry for disastermanagement are managing thelargest-ever evacuation exercise inthe state and planning large-scalerelief preparations. Variousdepartments have taken an initiativein preparedness. The panchayati raj

ministry had issued detailedguidelines for preparedness for theimpending cyclonic storm as early ason October 9, 2013.

Control rooms have been set up inGanjam and other nine districts,mobile phone numbers have beenupdated and verified, leaves havebeen cancelled to have almost all thestaff on stand-by, and food and reliefstocks are being kept in readiness.Block Development Officers havevisited cyclone shelters to keep themready for the likely influx of thosefleeing from the cyclone.

The Odisha government has ensuredthat there is enough coordinationamong the various ministries, frompanchayati raj to social welfare. A plan

of action — on which department willdo what and when once the cyclonestrikes — has been drawn up in detail.

The state government has heldmeetings with international NGOs todraw up a roadmap to tackle theaftermath of the cyclone.

The National Disaster ManagementAuthority is facilitating local effortsin Odisha, mobilising rescue teamsand sending equipment to possiblehot spots.

The NDMA has deployed nearly 2,000personnel of the National DisasterResponse Force in Andhra Pradesh,Odisha and West Bengal.

Nearly 4.4 lakh people have beenevacuated from danger zones so farin Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

"This might be the second biggestevacuation exercise undertaken since1990 when six lakh people wereevacuated in Andhra Pradesh," saidNDMA Vice-Chairman M ShashidharReddy.

Rescue and relief teams have beenpositioned in vulnerable coastal areasof the three states. Some additionalteams have also been kept as reserve.

Twenty nine teams of the NDRF havebeen deployed along with rescueequipment in Odisha. In AndhraPradesh, 15 teams have beendeployed and four additional teamsare also being rushed from TamilNadu, while seven teams have beendeployed in West Bengal.

The teams have been equipped withsatellite phones and wireless sets tomaintain smooth communication.

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The NDMA has deployed nearly2,000 personnel of the National

Disaster Response Force inAndhra Pradesh, Odisha and

West Bengal for preparedness forCyclone Phailin.

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INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

UNISDR on Phailin Preparedness

Worldwide efforts are made toreduce losses due to disasters.

Heat is one example wherepreparedness paid. India witnessed amajor cyclone over the week endwhich could have killed hundreds ofpeople if an effective early warningand response system would not havebeen put in place.

Cyclone Phailin hit the Bay of Bengalon the eastern coast provinces (states)of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha onSaturday with winds over 200 kmphand heavy rainfall. The cyclone killedfifteen people so far, an astonishinglylow number considering the 12million people who live in thestorm's path.

Thanks to an efficient early warningsystem and rapid evacuationmeasures deployed by national andlocal governments, nearly 500,000people were able to be evacuated intime and moved to higher groundsand safer cyclone shelters.

As the cyclone approached, manyvillagers tried to stay behind tosafeguard their land and livestockduring the worst of the storm butalmost none were unaware of thecoming danger said witnesses, whichis a big change.

People knew about the coming stormand were able to take some measuresto reduce their exposure. Earlywarning messages sent out throughcell phones and TV channels helpedsaving lives even in the most remoterural areas. A boom in theconstruction of cement houses,schools and businesses is said to haveprovided also crucial shelter tovillagers who had somewhere to gofor safety.

"We have been able to keep the deathtoll to a bare minimum," said ShriShashidhar Reddy of the nationaldisaster management authority toreporters in Delhi. In 1999, a similarcyclone killed 10 000 people.

Lives have been spared but economiclosses are already high—in ruralagriculture, fisheries—this will havelong term consequences on people inthe region who are among the mostpoor. An estimated 5,000 sq km ofmostly paddy crops have beendestroyed by the cyclone causing anexpected loss of some $320m (£220m).Recovery in Delta will take time.

With some of the world's warmestwaters, the Indian Ocean is considereda cyclone hot spot. The Bay of Bengalregion is among the most vulnerablein the world to the effects of climatechange, and experts have predictedthat storms are likely to become moreintense and frequent.

Citizens and authorities saved liveswith determination. Samedetermination will help address thechallenge of loss of livelihoods of thepoor in coastal areas.

– Madhavi Ariyabandu andBrigitte Leoni, ISDR, Sri Lanka

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DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

National Disaster Management Authority'sRole in Cyclone Phailin

This article tries to take anobjective view of all the work

done by the National DisasterManagement Authority (NDMA) aspreparedness to tackle the threat ofCyclone Phailin that hit coastalOdisha and Andhra Pradesh onOctober 12, 2013.

Cyclone Phailin struck with adequatewarning. Hence the administrationwas able to take preventive measuresto save precious lives andinfrastructure. The IndiaMeteorological Department (IMD) isthe nodal agency that issues earlywarnings for cyclones. Since theOrissa Super Cyclone of 1999, a lot ofmodernisation has been undertakenfor correct and timely early warning.The early warning starts from thetime the System is formed(Depression). The first warning is"Cyclone Watch", given 72–96 hoursbefore the land-fall. From then on aclose watch is kept on the cyclone'smovement, its speed, direction andlikely areas of land-fall. Theinformation is gathered throughsatellite imageries and Dopplerradars deployed at vulnerable places,with over-lap, sensors in the sea andthrough the ships. The secondwarning called "Cyclone Alert" isgiven 36–48 hours before the Land-fall and the third warning called"Cyclone Warning" is 24 hours beforethe cyclone hits the land. This is whenthe evacuation is ordered by theDistrict Collector. The last warningis the, "post land-fall alert", when theeye of the Cyclone hits the land,giving the direction it will follow,with speed of wind and rain fallprediction.

It should be noted that the evacuationof people from vulnerable places wasthe key to the successful preventivemeasures. As the number of cycloneshelters were less than the populationwhich was to be evacuated, a numberof other buildings, like schools,community halls, office complexesand other buildings away from theeffect of expected storm surge wereidentified and people were shifted tothese places 48 and 24 hrs before thevery severe cyclone Phailin hit theGopalpur area of Odisha. The safeplaces were also stocked with rations,water and medicines. A number ofdifficulties were experienced inevacuation of the people, especiallyelderly people who were notprepared to shift and wanted to stayback. Peer pressure from the familymembers, relatives, village head menwas brought about throughvolunteers. At places the Police hadto use limited force to evacuate thepeople to identified safe places.

NDMA also placed 56 teams of theNational Disaster Response Force(NDRF) at the vulnerable places as aproactive measure, with reserves foreach of the two states and WestBengal, kept in interior places. TheStates were also advised on where tokeep their State Disaster ResponseForce personnel to avoid duplicity ofefforts. The NDRF personnel, the onlyforce of its kind in the World, whichis highly trained exclusively indisaster management and has thestate of the art equipment, also helpedthe district administration inevacuation of population as alsoinforming them on actions to be takenby them at different timings.

Army columns and helicopters andfixed winged aircrafts from Indian AirForce were moved nearer to theimpact area at safe distances. TheIndian Navy and the Coast Guardhelped the fishermen and ships whichwere caught in the grip of CyclonePhailin. Central Medical teams werekept ready to be moved at shortnotice. Although the States hadcatered for rations, water andmedicines in each shelter for 36 hours,Centre also kept rations to be movedforward as and when the need arose.The Indian Railways were informednot to run trains in the impact areatill the cyclone passed over the area.The Department of Communicationand National Highways Authority ofIndia (NHAI) kept their resources(men, material and machines) readyto be moved at a short notice torestore the communications andmake the roads pliable forresponders.

NDMA also kept the media informedon the movement of the cyclone asalso the measures taken to minimiseits effect.

Visible Effects of NDMA's ProactivenessThe preparedness measures taken byNDMA bore the required results. Dueto the war footing measures taken byNDMA, India responded in a robustmanner to Cyclone Phailin.

Due to the prevention, mitigation andpreparedness measures undertakenby all the concerned stakeholders, viz.the States, Union Government, NGOsor the community at large, the loss oflife was restricted to 33 casualties. Itimpressed the world and the UN so

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much that the latter has requested theGovt. of India to permit it to be usedas a model of response for othercountries to emulate.

Fishermen pull a boat from the waters of the Bay of Bengal to safer ground atPodampata village in Ganjam district in the eastern Indian state of OdishaOctober 11, 2013. Credit: REUTERS/Stringer

MANUAL

What Every District Collector in Odisha Must Read?

The Manual on Administration ofState Disaster Response Fund and

National Disaster Response Fund is onething each district collector must readto start the relief and recovery work.

This is not only important for bettergovernance but also generating agreater impact an accountability oftoe relief and recovery work aftercyclone Phailin.

Disaster Management Division,Ministry of Home Affairs,Government of India has revised itsManual on Administration of StateDisaster Response Fund and NationalDisaster Response Fund in 2013. Inthe event of a severe natural disasterthis manual is a guide in preparationof Memoranda to the State

Governments/UTs seekingadditional financial assistance. Therevised items and norms of assistance,instructions and formats forsubmitting of monthly/annualreports relating to the response fundsare highlighted in it. The overallobjective of the revised manual is tofurther streamline the entire processof timely release of funds for disasterresponse and making the processingof financial assistance proposalssmoother and quicker.

The district collector who will beaddressing livelihood loss issues mayneed to find out more informationfrom the Government of Odisha. Butit is up to the District Collectors tomake things more gender sensitivewith the help of this manual.

The manual can be viewed at http://ndmindia.nic.in/OM-NDMC-170413.pdf.

There are challenges yet at the groundlevel, as the people have to be fed inrelief camps, as a large number ofhouses have been destroyed. It also

needs to be ensured that no epidemicis spread as a result of the stagnantwaters of the storm surge.Rehabilitation and reconstructionwork have simultaneously started torestore normalcy which is going totake some time. Odisha will recoverin due course of time with financialsupport from the Union Government,other States and the corporate worldand organisations/individuals, for achange! We in India should feelrelieved and proud that we have beenable to face a very severe cyclone,with minimal collateral damage. Weshould give a pat to the ones whodeserve it – NDMA is one of them,besides the Govt of Orissa and AndhraPradesh and the IMD. Come onIndian media, say a few words ofpraise for all who deserve!

– Brig. (Dr.) B.K. Khanna,Senior Specialist in NDMA, Ministry of

Home Affairs, Govt. of India;and

Nina Khanna, Ph.D.Research Scholar in Disaster Management

southasiadisasters.net Special Issue, October 20136

EARLY WARNING

Movement of Phailin Over Indian Sub-Continent

Octber 8, 2013 Octber 10, 2013 Octber 11, 2013

Octber 12, 2013 Octber 13, 2013 Octber 14, 2013

Octber 15, 2013Source: Images of Bay of Bengal picked up by ICIMOD MODIS.

1. Low pressure zone over the Andaman and Nicobar Island group in IndianOcean giving rise to cyclone formation.

2. The Depression taking shape of a massive cyclone 'Phailin' over the watersof bay of Bengal.

3. Phailin gathering strength and it became one of the strongest cyclone tohit Indian Ocean before making landfall.

4. The eye of Phailin approaching coastal belt of Odisha and Andhra Pradeshas they prepare for one of the worst cyclone impact.

5. The cyclone enters Indian landmass moving northwards and graduallylosing strength.

6. Phailin, after landfall turns more into a depression zone bringing heavyrainfall over the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, andeastern parts of Uttar Pradesh.

7. The cyclone can be seen as a low pressure zone and accompanied byheavy, torrential rains over the covered area.

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OPINION

Leadership during Cyclone Phailin

The prompt response by thegovernment apparatus of Odisha

to cyclone Phailin is evident in theminimal loss of life witnessed in theaftermath of this disaster. It seemsthat the government of Odisha hasredeemed itself from the infamy thatit earned following the humantragedy that took place after the 1999super cyclone in the state resulting in9894 casualties1.

While the government of Odisha hasbeen praised for its preparednesslevel, the stewardship of ChiefMinister Naveen Patnaik to see hisstate through this dark hour deservesa special mention as well. Firmlybelieving that disguised opportunityis an inevitable concomitant of anycrisis, the Chief Minister identifiedthe opportunity of showcasing thepreparedness levels of hisadministration to the country duringthis crisis.

The state administrative machinerywent into full swing at the behest ofthe Chief Minister as soon as thewarning of the cyclone started todisseminate. The effective responseof the state government wasevidenced in massive and forcefulevacuation drives conducted in thestate. For, as many as 10, 13,647 peoplehad been evacuated from the coastalareas in the state2. The stategovernment was ably supported bythe UNDP in its efforts to effect anevacuation on a scale unprecedentedin the recent history of India.

The contributing factors which led tominimal loss of life from the cycloneare better weather monitoring,formalising of standard operatingprocedures, coordination amongvarious agencies, mass evacuations,preparation of cyclone relief spaces andmore3. The Chief Minister's effectiveleadership during this crisis was also

noted and praised by Ms. MargaretaWahlström4 (special representative ofUnited Nations Secretary General).Ms. Wahlström congratulated theChief Minister over the phone.

Another remarkable feature ofMr. Patnaik's leadership duringcyclone Phailin was the fact that hegave a carte blanche or a free hand toofficials and people's representativesto achieve his vision of zero casualtiesin the cyclone. The Chief Minister'strust in his ministers and thebureaucrats working under them wasfully vindicated by their competenceand commitment. For instance,Mr. Surya Narayan Patro, a ministerof the Odisha government reachedout to listen to as many voices aspossible during the cyclone. He tookdecisions by consulting people fromvarious quarters, right from the headof the Indian MeteorologicalDepartment to the district collectors(of the affected districts) to the

various community members. Theswiftness of the ongoing recoveryand rehabilitation process whichresulted from quick decision makingat the top also bears testimony to theeffective leadership of the ChiefMinister of Odisha.

Perhaps the greatest achievement ofChief Minister Naveen Patnaik is thathe has restored the faith of the commonman in the ability of the state to takepre-emptive measures to avert largescale tragedies. It can only be hopedthat this response by the state ofOdisha under Naveen Patnaik servesas a benchmark for future disasterresponses in a country still comingto grips with an epic tragedy thatstruck Uttarakhand just a few monthsback. A new standard of leadershiphas been set. Let us hope that the ChiefMinisters of other states are able tolive up to this new standard when thenext disaster strikes.

1 Facing Disasters Saving Lives Preparing for cyclone PHAILIN 2013, http://www.osdma.org/userfiles/file/Sashidhar%20Reddy-15%2010%202013.pdf

2 Facing Disasters Saving Lives Preparing for cyclone PHAILIN 2013, http://www.osdma.org/userfiles/file/Sashidhar%20Reddy-15%2010%202013.pdf

3 Cyclone Phailin: We must all follow lessons Patnaik learned from 1999. Readmore at: http://www.firstpost.com/india/cyclone-phailin-we-must-all-follow-lessons-patnaik-learned-from-1999-1170481.html?utm_source=ref_article

4 UN appreciated Odisha Government for effective handling of cyclone Phailin.See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=44894#sthash.ZXssw9N4.dpuf

southasiadisasters.net Special Issue, October 20138

RISK REDUCTION

Reducing Loss and Damage of Poor

The World Bank has praised India'sevacuation of nearly 10 lakh

people in Odisha and AndhraPradesh, which ensured minimal lossof human lives, before the cyclonePhailin made landfall and attributedit to its years of disaster managementpreparedness.1 The lessons learntfrom 1999 super cyclone was veryhelpful to community and Odishagovernment. However the impact ofcyclone is severe when we see theaffected shelters, livelihoods,agriculture field. The economic lossis huge in coastal districts of Odisha,especially poor localities.

From Cyclone Phailin, we must learnto reduce the economic impact oncommunity especially on poorcommunity. One realistic option is –

microinsurance that covers life andnon life both. The pilot isimplemented through joint efforts.Concern Worldwide India facilitatedthe process in Odisha; AIDMIprovided technical support; SWAD,Puri based organisationimplementing the policy andcovered 950 poor and vulnerablefamilies living in Puri district ofOdisha.2

The opportunities for developmentare extremely restricted by differentconditions like political, economic,living in disaster prone areas likecoastal areas prone to cyclone, floodsas was seen in Cyclone Phailin.Through different micro finance andinsurance policies, the poor couldattain a better standard of life through

programmes prepared in the field offinancial business services. Demandof microinsurance is very huge andconstantly increasing. There areseveral factors contributing to thisreality including frequency of disasterevent due to high vulnerability,increasing population and awarenessof insurance.

The poor and vulnerable familiesreally required microinsurance thatcover non-life component especiallyshelter and livelihood. Single partycannot do this effectively. Acombination of insurance companiesand non-government organisationswith focus on effective facilitation andtime-to-time follow up with poorcommunities can produce desiredresult. The above-mentioned case isone such initiative.

For microinsurance to be successful— for the insured and for the risk-bearers — many elements areimportant; such as simple andaffordable insurance productsreaching large numbers of people;stream-lined administration,including premium payment; asimplified claims procedures andverifications; and rapid delivery ofbenefits. If most of these elements arepresent, it can be possible formicroinsurance schemes to becomesustainable, to perform well and toprovide "real value" to the poor.

– Prashanta Bahera,United India Insurance Co. Ltd.,

Bhubaneswar

A case of non-life insurance protection mechanism

1 The Hindu (October 2013) http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/world-bank-praises-indias-phailin-evacuation-efforts/article5247063.ece?homepage=true; Access on October 18, 2013

2 Process Documentation: Microinsurance for Disaster Risk Reduction (2012) AIDMI with Concern Worldwide India. https://www.concern.net/sites/www.concern.net/files/media/resource/process_documentation.pdf.

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THEMATIC

When Preparedness Works: The Case ofCyclone Phailin

The preparedness to mitigate theadverse impacts of cyclone

Phailin has invited praises from allcorners. With the death toll resultingfrom the cyclone being 25, thepreparedness level in the face of thisnatural disaster has been exemplary1.

The greatest contributing factor to theminimal loss of human life resultingfrom this cyclone is the massevacuations that took place in Odishaand Andhra Pradesh. In Odisha alone700,000 people have been evacuatedfrom the coastal districts to variousstorm shelters. The evacuees were putup in some 20,000 cyclone shelters,schools, colleges and other safe places.In Andhra too close to 80,000 peoplehave been evacuated which wasresponsible for minimal deaths2.

This raises the question of whatactually worked to lead to minimalloss of life. All evidence points to theindomitable will of the stategovernment to effectively plan andcoordinate the one of thelargest evacuation exercisesthat in India in recenthistory. The stategovernment in its effortswas also supported by anempathetic and alert centregovernment that was wiseenough not to dictatedecisions to the stategovernment. Theuniqueness of thepreparedness efforts for thiscyclone was that the centrefacilitated the processes thatwere initiated by the stategovernment.

The efforts of the OdishaState Disaster Management

Authority (OSDMA) merit a specialmention. The OSDMA wasinstrumental in coordinatingbetween various governmentdepartments to affect this massevacuation. For instance, thePanchayati Raj Department, goadedby the OSDMA issued detailedguidelines for preparedness for animpending cyclonic storm as early asOctober 9, 2013. Similar preparednessactivities included the setting up ofcontrol rooms in Ganjam and othernine coastal districts, updating andverification of the mobile numbersof all public officials, the cancellationof the holiday leaves of all back-bonestaff on stand-by and stocking foodand other relief material at thedistrict level.

Another important reason for thesuccessful preparedness duringcyclone Phailin is that theGovernment of Odisha (GoO) soughtcounsel from the best in the field:United Nations Development

Programme (UNDP) forcoordination and clusterpreparedness as well as the visitingCDKN global chief for ways tointegrate climate change anddevelopment concerns inpreparedness from evacuation torescue teams. This advice includedways to reduce mismatch betweenwhat citizens expect and what publicinstitutions can deliver. Loss oflivelihoods of women, especiallyduring evacuation was discussed.

Thus, it can be inferred that it was theactive and assertive coordinationbetween various departments thathelped in making preparednessdrive by the government of Odishafor Cyclone Phailin successful. 1 After Cyclone Phailin, Odisha battles

floodshttp://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/after-cyclone-phailin-odisha-battles-floods_883201.html

2 Phailin's trail, http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/phailins-trail

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DISASTER RECOVERY

Gender Balanced Recovery Post CyclonePhailin

The minimal loss of life resultingfrom Cyclone Phailin has

relegated this disaster to theperiphery of our collectiveconsciousness. For, as news of theminimal loss of life post CyclonePhailin started to circulate, the quotaof eyeballs, column inches and newschannel specials to be expended onthis disaster waned considerably. Butbefore we heave a collective sigh ofrelief, certain important issues needto be addressed and certainuncomfortable questions need to beanswered.

Among these issues and questions ofimportance, is the ongoing recoveryprocess. The importance of therecovery process emanates from thedevastating economic loss and theincreased vulnerability of floods inOdisha following the cyclone. Thus,a renewed focus on recovery effortsin the post disaster situation hasbecome imperative.

Within the broad area of a robustrecovery, the issue of gender parityin the recovery process needs specialattention. It is almost conventionalwisdom that women bear a greaterburden of disasters than men. Thesource of the greater vulnerability ofwomen to disasters is the differencebetween the socially determinedroles of men and women. Thisdifference in turn, perpetuates areduced access to resources anddecision making powers to women.The most common manifestation ofthis difference in socially determinedroles of men and women is thelimited access of women to food

resources and life saving skills suchas swimming and tree climbing1.

The recovery of Cyclone Phailinpresents an opportunity to carry outa gender sensitive recovery in India.At a time when gender is one of theweakest areas of humanitarianresponse, the moral and pragmatic

imperative to have a gender sensitiverecovery post Cyclone Phailin seemsindispensable2.

Gender issues are inextricably linkedwith all aspects of disaster recoverycutting across several themes. Unlessthese issues are addressed clinically,all recovery efforts will fail when

More relevant efforts accelerate recovery,broaden positive impacts, and build resilience

1 A Practical Guide to Gender Sensitive Approaches to Disaster Management, http://www.ifrc.org/PageFiles/96532/A%20Guide%20for%20Gender-sensitive%20approach%20to%20DM.pdf

2 Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action, 2005, http://www.humanitarianinnovation.org/about/alnap

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3 Guidance Note on Recovery, http://www.unisdr.org/files/16775_16775guidancenoteonrecoverygender1.pdf

4 Guidance Note on Recovery, http://www.unisdr.org/files/16775_16775guidancenoteonrecoverygender1.pdf

assessed on the parameters of genderparity. In order to have a gendersensitive recovery for CyclonePhailin certain basic conditions needto be met. These conditions includemainstreaming gender in recoveryinstitutions, identifying genderspecific recovery needs, engagingwomen in recovery initiatives andfacilitating a gender balancedeconomic recovery3.

Such a gender sensitive recovery planwill lead to certain indicativeoutcomes which include an equitabledistribution of resources in recoverybetween men and women, increasingthe visibility of women's issues in allareas of humanitarian action such ashousing, human settlements, water,

sanitation, health, livelihoodrecovery, etc. The diagram aptlyportrays the outcomes to be expectedout of a gender sensitive recoveryprocess4.

Thus, it is proposed that a genderparity review of the recovery effortin Odisha post Cyclone Phailin istaken up to address the followingimportant questions:1. Is there a decreasing impetus on

gender themes in relief andrecovery projects?

2. Is there an uneven distributionof loans and grants addressinggender concerns in relief andrecovery?

3. Is there limited visibility ofgender equality in certain

districts and certain sectors ofOdisha?

4. Are there gender specialists inplace to sustain increased genderequality in areas where it exists?

5. How can gender parity beincreased in other sectors likeemergency, transport, citydevelopment, ruralinfrastructure, etc. in Odisha afterCyclone Phailin?

The state government of Odisha hasjustifiably won many accolades forits stellar handling of the disastersituation resulting from CyclonePhailin. It is sincerely hoped that justas the Odisha government has set anew benchmark in preparednesslevels in response to Cyclone Phailin,similarly it sets a new standard of anincreased gender sensitive recoverypost the cyclone for others toemulate.

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CAPACITY BUILDING

Human Resource and Capacity Developmentafter Cyclone Phailin

So what are the human resourcesand capacity development needs

of Odisha after cyclone Phailin? Whowill estimate these needs? And howthese needs will be addressed? In facthow do we start thinking about it?And needs will be different atdifferent level and in differentsectors.

Luckily National Institute of DisasterManagement (NIDM) has publisheda detailed report on Human Resourceand Capacity Development Plan forDisaster Management and RiskReduction in India for theGovernment of India in 2013. In manyways it is a Human Resource Plan forDisaster Risk Reduction in India, withdetailed need assessment as well as

institution analysis. It is a usefuldocument to start work for Phailin.

Odisha must take this plan and evolveit further. Similar rapid needassessment as well as institutionalanalysis in coming weeks can be doneby Government of Odisha byexcellent local institutions such asXavier Institute of ManagementBhubaneswar (XIMB) or KalingaInstitute of Industrial Technology(KIIT) or other. There are many otherable institutions. The main purposeof making such a plan is to come upwith capacity gap as well as prioritiesof training needs. With these twodetails time frame and budget can beworked out to be included in recoverypurposes.

But this is not enough. Such a planmust go beyond the NIDM work inthe following areas:(a) Building capacity for innovations

in shelter reconstruction;(b) Developing trainings for

accelerating economic growth inagriculture field;

(c) Develop tools to watch and catchnew and original ideas on waysto revive micro enterprise; and

(d) Use of social media for guidingand informing remainingrecovery but also upcomingpreparedness.

Human resource and capacitydevelopment are as important asrebuilding income and assets forsustainable recovery in Odisha.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

The Act and the Actions

The remarkable success of cyclonePhailin related preparedness in

Odisha calls for a third partycomparison of the DisasterManagement Act, 2005 ofGovernment of India and the actionstaken to be prepared for cyclonePhailin by the Government of Odisha.How do the Act and the actions matchup? What does one say about theother?

In fact there is a detailed Report ofthe Task Force of Government ofIndia that conducted the review of theDisaster Management Act, 2005 forMinistry of Home Affairs,Government of India in March 2013.

The resulting report is detailed andmeticulous. The main person behind

the report is Shri P. K. Mishra who isfamous for aiding the recovery ofthousands of victims of the 2001Gujarat Earthquake.

We do not know when the Task Forcefindings will be put to use to revisethe Act but what we can do iscompare the national act and theactions taken on the ground and findways for other states to be as effectiveas Odisha in preparing for the nextpossible disaster.

Such a comparison warrants a specialfocus on the following four keyquestions:• How would preparedness have

been different if it were a slowonset disaster such as a severedrought?

• How was preparednessmonitored and evaluated at thestate and district levels?

• What worked in terms ofpreparedness from the decadelong education, information, andcommunications inputs at thedistrict level?

• How did the private sector andbusinesses respond to thepreparedness call by theauthorities?

The above list is only indicative andby no means exhaustive. It can beexpanded and be used to develop adetailed Terms of Reference (ToR) toset up an Odisha Task Force to capturethe lessons emerging out of thepreparedness actions.

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DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

A Day before Cyclone Phailin

A lot is known about whathappens after a disaster strikes.

However, little if any knowledgeresources are available that describewhat transpires before a disasterstrikes. The war like footingpreparedness measures of the Odishagovernment before the advent ofCyclone Phailin provide such a rareopportunity to peek into theimportant events taking place beforedisaster in the form of CyclonePhailin struck Odisha. The followingis a summary of the important eventsand activities taking place in Odishato enhance its preparedness in the faceof an imminent Cyclone Phailin.

The All India Disaster Mitigation Institute(AIDMI), which is championingOdisha's unique and pioneeringexperience in reducing risk,established and facilitated a series ofmeetings for Dr. Sam Bickersteth,Global CEO, Climate and KnowledgeDevelopment Network (a globalnetwork in key 74 developingcountries to mitigate and manageclimate change) when he visitedOdisha in October 2013 to learn fromthe UN Development Programme,civil society and the governmentabout climate smart disaster anddevelopment initiatives in Odisha.

Shri Arvind Behera, a long standingnational expert on disaster riskreduction explained the first everinitiative of Odisha post the supercyclone 1999; and how that has beenuseful for taking preparedness actionsagainst cyclone Phailin.

Shri Surya Narayan Patro, Ministerof Revenue and DisasterManagement, Odisha shared hisviews about how the intensity andfrequency of climate related extremeevents have increased. He furtheradded that defence and other agenciessuch as National Disaster ResponseForce (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster

Response Action Force (ODRAF)have been positioned in vulnerableareas; and that immediate relief foodwas being prepared for the people.

Humanitarian organisations wereallotted responsibilities to reduce theduplication of relief efforts in anemergency pre-Cyclone Phailinmeeting called by the Odisha StateDisaster Management Authority(OSDMA) and the Special ReliefCommission (SRC). This meeting wasattended by several national NGOand international NGOs. ShriAmbika Prasad Nanda, StateProgramme Officer at UNDP, Odishaexplained how humanitarianorganisations can play an active roleby mobilising thousands ofvolunteers across the cyclone-proneregion that are trained in first aid andcan support evacuations and aiddistributions post disaster.

A visit to Balapur village (Puridistrict) by AIDMI and CDKNmembers along with discussions withthe community members helped tounderstand if the early warnings hadreached the communities and if thenecessary preparedness actions weretaken by the community. Thecommunity members said that theywere cutting the tree branches (as apreventive measure to stop deaths bybranches falling on people); stocking

essential goods such as kerosene,water, keeping important documentsin plastic bags and moving to closestshelters or safer locations.

Mrs. Binapani Mishra, Secretary of acommunity based organisationcalled the Society for Women ActionDevelopment (SWAD) in Puri districtrelated how the sarpanch and thepanchayat ward members kept onreceiving early warnings and alertsfrom state government to worktowards achieving the goal of zerocasualties by evacuating the villagesin the most vulnerable and low lyingareas to safer locations or cycloneshelters.

Odisha has set an example for the restof India by using all the resourcesefficiently in the pre-disaster stage.This efficient planning ofpreparedness activities in the pre-disaster state is perhaps the greatestreason behind the minimal loss of lifeafter the cyclone. Other reasonsinclude the constant monitoring ofweather patterns and warnings, clearinstructions to district authorities,positioning of relief materials andteams well in advance, coordinationwith the central government fordefence and other agencies' assistance,and most importantly, the evacuationof a large number of vulnerablecitizens to safe locations.

Octob

er 10

, 201

3. Ph

oto: A

IDMI

.

Preparation for cyclone Phailin: An emergency meeting called by Odisha StateDisaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and Special Relief Commission(SRC) to allot responsibilities to humanitarian agencies.

southasiadisasters.net Special Issue, October 201314

KNOWLEDGE SHARING

Advice from Dr. Ian Davis to Students Seeking Workin Cyclone Phailin Relief and Recovery

1. Understand basic principles ofdisaster risk management climatechange adaptation and recoveryNote the many examples to befound in various sets of guidelines

2. Read around these subjectsRead as widely as possible,noting the old maxim "read whenyou write and write when youread…"

3. Become involved withcommunity dynamicsGain experience as a volunteerin community initiatives andsocial action wherever you live,in order to understand howcommunities operate, patterns ofleadership, and theirrelationships with other groupsand local government.

4. Work with vulnerable peopleWithin your locality, find waysto support and encouragecommunities in need: peoplewith special needs, ethnic

minorities, the elderly, those inprison etc

5. Examine the way local hazardsare managedWhat structural and non-structural measures are beingused in your locality to managefloods, landslides, earthquakes,high winds etc.?

6. Build your knowledgeKeep in touch with the subjectsof DRM, CCA and generalDevelopment Practice throughthe media, Google searches andlocal societies with an interest insocial development.

7. Become better qualifiedBecome as highly qualified asyou can through attending shortcourses and post graduatecourses or modules

8. Gain first- hand experienceVisit disaster recovery siteswithout becoming a burden on

busy assisting groups workingin the areas. Observe thesheltering and recoveryprocesses, seek ways tounderstand the varied interestsand standpoints in recoverymanagement:• Survivors role• Local Government• Local NGO's and local

institutions• International NGO's• International Donors• Private Sector• Local leaders

Such visits are also extremelyuseful many months or yearsafter a disaster, when it ispossible to note long termrecovery progress, or theopposite

9. Develop your own disaster planPut into practice what you havelearned as protection for yourselfand your family.

Photo

: AID

MI.

southasiadisasters.netSpecial Issue, October 2013 15

PREPAREDNESS

Field Updates: Cyclone Phailin

On October 12, 2013 at around13:30 hours, Vishal Pathak and

Khyati Halani, team members fromthe All India Disaster MitigationInstitute (AIDMI) visited Jaipurvillage in the Puri district of Odishato assess the preparedness of thecommunity ahead of the advent ofcyclone Phailin expected to makelandfall between 18:00-20:00 hours atGopalpur.

It was observed that the communitymembers were moving to saferlocations such as schools and puccabuildings with important documentsand materials. In addition to this,several trees have been felled bycommunity members as pre-emptivemeasures to prevent death caused bytrees falling over people during orafter the cyclone. All these actionsprovide incontrovertible evidencethat not only has the communityreceived the early warning messagesbut have taken them seriously aswell.

Photo

: AID

MI.

There has been continuous rainaccompanied with strong windssince last night, i.e. October 11, 2013.This explains massive power outage.It is expected that as the cyclone getscloser to the coast the communicationand transport facilities will be

severely affected. It has also beenobserved that the government hasundertaken a massive evacuationdrive. Considering the severity of theimpending cyclone, it can be safelyinferred that immediate relief will beneeded post the cyclone.

– Vishal Pathak and Khyati Halani

ANNOUNCEMENT

International Conference on Humanitarian Logistics

Background The International Conference

on Humanitarian Logistics (ICHL)2013 is the first conference organisedin India to address this key issue ofHumanitarian Logistics and willprovide the platform to variousstakeholders to deliberate on thesame.

ObjectivesThe Conference aims to:• Provide an essential update on

natural and manmade disaster,future trends, disasterresponse, preparedness andgovernance issues.

• Identify strategic issues inhumanitarian logistics includinglogistics planning, coordinationand delivery systems, in goodcondition, in the quantitiesrequired, and at the places andtime they are needed.

• Sensitise towards thehumanitarian supply chainmanagement processes due to theincreasing complexity andmagnitude of global emergencyrelief operations for their business

• Understand the responsibilitiesof all the stake holders includinggovernment, governmentorganisations, NGOs,

international relief agencies,and academia and their role toequip the business leaders withthe skills and knowledge tomanage unpredictableenvironment.

• Highlight how efficient andeffective logistics system canmake significant contributionin managing disaster andhumanity.

• Provide an opportunity forprofessionals to meet peers andcolleagues in positiveenvironment of learning andsharing. For details:

http://www.iimraipur.ac.in/ichl2013/

southasiadisasters.net Special Issue, October 201316

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TITLEKNOWLEDGE PRODUCT

OverviewDenis Nkala was a young management trainee, fresh out of graduateschool and newly returned to his home country of Zimbabwe, whenhe met Fidelia aboard a staff bus on his way to the hospital to visithis mother. Her kindness and genuine concern for the plight of astranger touched him, and their friendship blossomed quickly. Beforelong, her easy smile and air of dignity carved their way deep into hisheart.

When they joined their lives together in marriage, they had no ideaof the difficult trials they would be called upon to face. Fidelia, withher husband always by her side, battled various cancers in an effortto live long enough to see their children grow. Now Denis writes tocommunicate the courage, love, and faith that she held throughouther struggle.

This touching true story details the life of a wife and mother as shebattles an aggressive, mutative cancer. Told from the perspective ofher husband, who was her diligent caregiver throughout her twelve-year battle, this narrative encompasses the gravity and pain of along fight with cancer as well as the suffering and dedication ofthose who supported the fight.

About the AuthorDenis Nkala was born in Zimbabwe. He holds a PhD in applied management and decision science and works foran international organisation. He currently lives in New Rochelle, New York, with three of his children and fondmemories of his wife, Fidelia.

For more information: http://www.amazon.com/Where-Will-Help-Come-From/dp/1491705167

Where Will My Help Come From?A Story of Courage and Positive Thinking in a Fight against Elusive and Transforming Drug-Resistant Cancer