CYCLONES

• Tropical Cyclones are large rotating, migratory storms that form over the tropical oceans
• Tropical Cyclones are called Hurricanes in Atlantic, Caribbean, and Eastern Pacific
• Typhoon in western Pacific
• Cyclone in Indian Ocean
• They occur primarily during the late summer month

CYCLONE CATEGORY:

Cyclone are rated according to their wind speed on the Saffir-Simpson scale. This scale ranges from categories 1 to 5, with 5 being the most devastating. Under the right atmospheric conditions, cyclone can sustain themselves for as long as a couple of weeks. Upon reaching cooler water or land, cyclone rapidly lose intensity.

Category/Wind Speed

1. 74-95 mph
2. 96-110 mph
3. 111-130 mph
4. 131-155 mph
5. 156+ mph

Cyclone are formed from simple thunderstorms. However, these thunderstorms can only grow to cyclone strength with cooperation from both the ocean and the atmosphere. First of all, the ocean water itself must be warmer than 81 degrees F. The heat and moisture from this warm water is ultimately the source of energy for hurricanes/cyclone. Cyclones will weaken rapidly when they travel over land or colder ocean waters -- locations where their heat and/or moisture sources do not exist.

Hurricane/Cyclone Structure

• Hurricane/Cyclone winds blow in a counterclockwise spiral around the calm, roughly circular center called the eye. In the eye, which is roughly 20 to 30 miles wide, it is relatively calm and there is little or no rain. The eye is the warmest part of the storm. Surrounding the eye is the eyewall, a wall of thunderclouds. The eyewall has the most rain and the strongest winds of the storm, gusting up to 225 mph (360 km/h) in severe storms. The smaller the eye, the stronger the winds. The winds spiral in a counterclockwise direction into the storm's low-pressure center.
• Long bands of rain clouds appear to spiral inward to the eyewall -- these are called spiral rainbands. Hurricanes/Cyclone can be hundreds of miles across.
• In addition to rotating with wind speeds of at least 74 mph, a hurricane/cyclone travels relatively slowly across the ocean or land, usually at about 20 to 25 mph.
• If you are facing in the direction that the hurricane/cyclone is traveling, the right side generally has the fastest winds, and the left side usually has the most rain.

Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclones:

• Settlement located in low lying coastal areas (direct impact);
• Geography of immediate vicinity;
• Poor building design, or construction;Irregular;
• Terrain Insufficient lead time for warning and evacuation;
• Non compliance with evacuation procedures;
• Inadequate shelter.

Immediate Effect:

• The most serious immediate consequence of cyclones is the loss of human lives. The death rate is significantly higher where communications are poor and warning systems and evacuation plans are inadequate.
• The most dramatic impact of cyclones is the damage they cause to houses and other physical structures. In addition to damaging homes and buildings, cyclones destroy or damage critical facilities, supply lines, crops, and/or food stocks, disrupt economic activities and create financial burdens.
• They may destroy or damage facilities that are critical for responding to disasters;. among these are communications installations; electrical generating and transmission facilities; water storage, purification, and pumping facilities; sewage treatment facilities; hospitals; police stations; and various other public and private buildings.
• High winds destroy some standing crops, especially grains, and damage orchards and forests. Flooding from intense rains damages certain crops, and may cause excessive erosion. Storm surges scour and erode top soils; deposit salts on fields, and may increase salinity in subsurface water, damage to roads, bridges, railways, etc.
• During the emergency, people must leave their jobs and devote their time to disaster-related activities such as search-and-rescue or caring for survivors.
• In addition, the cost of relief and reconstruction creates a financial burden on the government. Increased expenditures for preventive and curative medicine, aid to the unemployed, and repair or replacement of housing are required, at a time when there is a decrease in public resources due to an overall decrease in economic activity and tax receipts.

Immediate Needs in Cyclone Situation:

The occurrence of a disaster is a critical time and the response must be quick and complete. The initial response by local authorities after a cyclone includes:

• Search and Rescue operation
• Emergency Medical assistance
• Emergency Shelter for evacuation
• Food & Water for short term
• Special Nutritional need for children
• Water purification
• Debris clearance
• Re-establishment of communications network
• Damage assessment
• Epidemiological surveillance
• Strengthen Communities livelihood for; recovery, rehabilitation & reconstruction

Long Term Risk Reduction Coping Mechanism

Risk Mapping, Assessment and Analysis:

The first and probably the most complex task of cyclone mitigation is to map the hazard, risks and vulnerabilities of cyclone at all levels, analyze and assess the levels of risks and monitor it continuously. It is only on the basis of such a knowledge base that a proper and effective strategy for cyclone risk mitigation and preparedness can be developed.

Cyclone Shelter:

A large number of people in the coastal areas live in thatched houses which cannot withstand the high velocity of wind and storm surges resulting in extensive damages of such houses and deaths and injuries of a large number of poor people.

The high rates of casualties in cyclones in Pakistan are primarily due to unsafe buildings in the coastal areas. The poor economic conditions of the people may not permit them to rebuild their houses as per the cyclone resistant designs and specifications.

Therefore, community cyclone shelters constructed at appropriate places within the easy access of the habitations of the vulnerable communities can provide an immediate protection from deaths and injuries due to the collapse of houses.

Early Warning and Communication:

Early warning of cyclones and its dissemination to the coastal habitations is an important preparatory measure to reduce the losses of life and property during cyclones.

It is important that warning should reach every one in least possible time and in right (understandable language) format particularly to people living in the shoreline/coastline.

People should be oriented about the warning signals and system. Warning message should be short & clear; in phases to avoid panic.

Community Based Disaster Preparedness:

Communities are the first real time responder to any disaster situation. However developed or efficient a response mechanism could be there would always be a time gap between the disaster and the actual response from the government and other agencies.

If the communities are mobilized and trained to assess their own risk through participatory risk assessment process, develop their own contingency plans and set up their own teams for evacuation, search and rescue, emergency shelter, first aid etc, the risks of cyclones can be managed with significant reduction in number of deaths and injuries.

Capacity Development and Training:

Capacity development is the most cost effective method of reducing the vulnerabilities of the people living in the coastal areas. The coastal communities have a certain degree of capacities built into their social systems and practices acquired through inherited experiences of generations. Therefore, the local capacities have to be continuously upgraded and further developed according to the changing needs and the developments of science and technology and other improved practices in various sectors.

Training programs have to be practical, scenario based and exercise and problem solving oriented so that the functionaries are aware of their specific responsibilities and are able to discharge those responsibilities efficiently before, during and after the cyclonic disasters.

Such trainings may include maroon search and rescue, first aid, evacuation, temporary shelter management, arrangements of drinking water and sanitation, provision of cooked food etc.

Awareness and Education:

While training and capacity development target specific groups according to their specific training needs, awareness generation is more of a general in nature which sensitizes common masses about the risks, vulnerabilities of cyclones and the preventive, mitigative and preparedness measures that can be taken at the government, community, household and individual level.

General (Repair Work):

Roads/culverts/bridges in the cyclone prone areas need to be maintained well and if they are in a bad shape their repair and strengthening works also to be given utmost attention.

Roads are always associated with culverts and bridges as the terrain demands, and routine maintenance of these infrastructures is crucial for post disaster response.

Where the general road condition is found to be bad due to poor sub grade, and the bridges and culverts are in a distressed condition their restoration work has to be accorded high priority.

Awareness Programs for population prone to cyclone

Preparation for Cyclone:

• Listen to radio and TV for warnings. If possible have a battery radio available.
• Well before the storm, move your vehicle out of low lying areas to a higher ground and park away from trees or other high wind hazards.
• Secure your facilities and bring outdoor object to indoor.
• Store several days water & food for each member of family.
• Act quickly when advised to evacuate to other safe areas.
• Follow instructions of local authorities or follow your own evacuation plan If not required to evacuate, stay indoor.
• Secure yourself & away from windows & blast doors.Have access to flashlights. Do not use candles or any open flame lantern, etc. These are highly dangerous in a power outage.
• Since the floors can get wet, all articles such as shoes, rugs, clothes, bags, suitcases, etc., should be placed on closet shelves, in dresser drawers, or on a bed.
• All loose objects should be placed in drawers or closets. Papers, books, etc. , should not be left on top of desks or dressers.
• Valuables should be placed in a theft secure place (or securable location). All doors should be locked when the occupants are not in the room or apartment.
• All windows and drapes/curtains must be closed tightly.
• Due to heavy rain and wind, move all personal belongings away from the outside wall(s) in your room. Have a container with some fresh water in case water supply is affected.
• Check food for spoilage in case electrical current is interrupted.
• If caught outside, avoid contact with dangling or loose wires, likewise, do not touch trees or other items outside, because they may conduct electricity.
• Emergency shelters may be set up at various locations.

What to do after a Cyclone:

• Stay turned to local news organizations, such as a radio or television station, for important announcements, bulletins, and instructions concerning the storm area, medical aid and other forms of assistance, such as food, water and shelter.
• Remember that you may not have immediate access to your home. Emergency rescue crews, power crews, and other personnel may be attending to special needs. Roads could be blocked, power lines could be down, and people may be trapped and in need of assistance.
• Make sure that you have current identification. You may have to pass through identification check points before being allowed access to your home/neighborhood.
• Avoid driving, as roads may be blocked. Avoid sight-seeing, or entering a storm ravaged area unnecessarily. You could be mistaken for a looter.
• Avoid downed power lines, even if they look harmless. Avoid metal fences and other metal objects near downed lines.
• DO NOT use matches in a storm ravaged area, until all gas lines area checked for leaks (Keep flashlights and plenty of batteries at hand).
• Avoid turning the power on at your home if there is flooding present. Have a professional conduct a thorough inspection first.
• Consider having professionals/licensed contractors inspect your home for damage and help in repairs. This includes electricians, as well as professionals to inspect gas lines, remove uprooted trees, and check plumbing. Remember that downed or damaged trees can contain power lines that can be a hazard.
• Use a camera or camcorder to record thoroughly any damage done to your home, before any repairs are attempted.
• In certain areas, the flooding rains that accompany a storm can create pest problems. Be aware of potential pest problems in your area, such as mice, rats, insects or snakes, that may have "come with the storm".
• Telephone lines will likely be busy in the area; use a phone only for emergencies.
• Flooding brings with it the risk of waterborne bacterial contaminations. You should assume that the water is not safe and use properly stored water, or boil your tap water.