Preparedness for a Cyclone in India (about 60-80 words)
Answers
Answer:1.1 Background
A long coastline of about 1600 km of flat coastal terrain, shallow continental shelf, high
population density, geographical location and physiological features of its coastal areas makes
Gujarat, extremely vulnerable to cyclones and its associated hazards like storm, high velocity
wind and heavy rains.
This plan provides the cyclone vulnerability and risk assessment, preparedness measures to be
undertaken by each and every department of the State Government, the existing system of
cyclone forecasting and warning dissemination to various stakeholders and the measures to be
taken by the concerned departments for emergency response.
1.2 Objectives
x To protect and minimize the loss of lives and property/infrastructure from cyclones.
x To minimize the suffering of people due to cyclones.
x To build the capacity of all stakeholders in the State to cope with the cyclones and
promote community based disaster management.
x Develop efficient cyclone response/relief mechanism in the State.
x To provide clarity on roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders concerned with
cyclone management.
x To ensure co-ordination by promoting productive partnership with all other agencies
related to cyclone management.
1.3 Trigger Mechanism
The plan would be put into action considering the situation prevailing at a given point of time as
per the provision made vide SECTION 2 (h) of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Act, 2003.
1.4 Plan Authority
The Revenue department is primarily responsible for emergency response and relief (DM Act -
Section 12(2)(b)) in the State, while the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA)
is designated as the nodal agency for formulation of policies, long-term planning, coordination
and monitoring body for mitigation, reduction and preparedness for disasters in the State (DM
Act - Section 12). The responsibility for initiation and execution of emergency preparedness and
response measures before, during and after the cyclone rests with
Explanation:
Answer:
Cyclones are caused by atmospheric disturbances around a low-pressure area distinguished by swift and often destructive air circulation. Cyclones are usually accompanied by violent storms and bad weather. The air circulates inward in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere. Cyclones are classified as: (i) extra tropical cyclones (also called temperate cyclones); and (ii) tropical cyclones. The word Cyclone is derived from the Greek word Cyclos meaning the coils of a snake. It was coined by Henry Peddington because the tropical storms in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea appear like coiled serpents of the sea.