Andhra Pradesh better prepared for cyclones 12 years after Hudhud, say officials

A cyclone shelter and community hall built for fishermen’s families at Kotha Jalaripeta in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: V RAJU

Twelve years after Cyclone Hudhud made its landfall at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh is better equipped to face cyclones, with earlier forecasts, targeted alerts and a permanent response force, officials said on Tuesday, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Prakhar Jain, Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), said the State’s capability had improved “by leaps and bounds” since the cyclone struck on October 12, 2014. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) now shares the expected track, landfall area and intensity three to four days in advance, he said, and the State also draws on open-source models such as the European ECMWF. IMD radars at Visakhapatnam and Machilipatnam track the system.

Working with the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS), the APSDMA has pooled departmental databases, so that officials know where hospitals, vulnerable pregnant women, ration shops and habitations that are usually cut off are located, Mr. Jain said. Forecasts are overlaid on this data. The public can follow advisories on the AWARE platform at aware.ap.gov.in.