The Cuddalore Experience -Anu George
Gist :
In the summer of 2004, the Cuddalore district witnessed a severe drought, followed by floods in October and the in December, the tsunami ! This disaster was different from any others for the intense havoc it wreaked : the spread was small but the damage huge. The tsunami left 618 dead in Cuddalore. Livestock loss was at 29 lack. A vast area of 527.7 hectares of land wad rendered saline. Over 97,000 people scarred the lives and thousands rendered homeless.
Immediate rescue and relief operations were taken place. First aid to injured was given. Mass burial of the dead bodies was taken to prevent the out break of diseases. Sanitary workers were appointed to clean the places. The power and water supply, in the villages were provided.
Control rooms were established to monitor the relief operations. Community kitchens were organized to feed the thousand of people. The Red Cross Society’s volunteers helped to identify the people who were in need of counselling.
The administration mooted for an enhanced compensation package for the farmers. Children were provided with all the basic amenities and comforts with the support from various donors. A large number of temporary shelters were put up with the help of the voluntary bodies and the Rural Development Department. It was concluded that disasters both natural and manmade expose the most vulnerable sections of society to grave danger.
Questions with Answers :
1. Immediately after the tsunami struck Cuddalore, what were some of the first tasks the administration had to do ?
The first and foremost task in disaster management in Cuddalore was that of rescue and relief which was a tough one. Hospitals had to be made ready to provide the First aid. Public information centres were set up for offering available information. Food and water were mobilized with the voluntary bodies. Rice was taken out of ration shops. Mass burial was taken place to control the outbreak of diseases.
2. What steps did the administration take to ensure that potable water was available ?
The water from all the sources was tested with the assistance from voluntary agencies and was found potable in all but one source. With the support of NGOs, three desalination plants based on reverse osmosis were setup in this area. 107 shallow bore-wells were dug to facilitate regular supply of water. All the temporary shelters were provided with pipelines for water supply.
3. What were the means used to established contact between the control rooms and the field staff ?
Control rooms were established in the three worst affected areas to coordinate the efforts of the field staff and to monitor the relief operations. The HAM radio operators helped in this process. Another priority task was to equip the top officials with mobile phones. This eased the channels of communication and helped to no end in tackling SOS calls.
4. How was the distribution of clothes and medicines that poured in for the tsunami victims handled ?
The authorities had a system to ensure the fair distribution of relief materials to make the operation smooth. The first thing was computerization of the inventory with the help of two volunteers. This made easy to track the materials. It was also positioned to ascertain the requirement of various goods and quantify the need. The cooperation of the police was sought and a coupon system evolved to facilitate the distribution.
5. What was some of the work done by the medical teams formed as part of the disaster management efforts in Cuddalore ?
The department of health rendered yeoman’s service in this crisis. Twenty-three teams comprising both government and private doctors were mobilized for medical camps. 80,117 people were given medical attention, 437 people were treated as in-patients, 9,373 dose of vaccines were given for measles and polio, 17,000 typhoid vaccines were mobilised through the voluntary sector. Red Cross Society’s volunteers also helped to identify the people who were in need of counselling.
6. After reading the account, do you think Cuddalore’s district administration did a commendable job ? Give reasons for your answer.
The Cuddalore’s district administration did a commendable job by providing the shelter for the people who lost every thing and became homeless. Disposing of the human dead bodies and carcasses was taken place to control the out break of diseases. Relief centres established for the purpose of providing the medical assistance. People were distributed the relief materials like medicines, food, clothes etc. The administration mooted for an enhanced compensation package for the farmers. Children were provided all the basic amenities and comforts.
Bits:
1. Cuddalore is in Tamil Nadu
2. The Cuddalore District had witnessed a severe drought in 2004
3. The tsunami occurred on 26th December 2004
5. The tsunami left 618 dead in Cuddalore
6. Livestock losss was put at 29 lakh
7. 517.7 hectares of land was rendred saline
8. Anu George an IAS officer in chare of the district administration of the relief and rehabilitation.
9. The tsunami had struck on a Sunday morning following Christmas
10. Tsunami had rendered the drinking water sources saline
11. With the support of NGOs three desalination plants based on reverse osmosis
12. HAM radio operators helped in communication process
13. The local NSS and NYK volunteers assistance was taken for the detection of dead bodies and carcasses
14. The World Health Organisation warned that more people would die of epidemics than tsunami.
14 Red Cross Society’s volunteers helped to identify the people in need of counselling
15. Children’s parks were built to introduce the play therapy
16. Bangalore University helped for the play therapy sessions
In the summer of 2004, the Cuddalore district witnessed a severe drought, followed by floods in October and the in December, the tsunami ! This disaster was different from any others for the intense havoc it wreaked : the spread was small but the damage huge. The tsunami left 618 dead in Cuddalore. Livestock loss was at 29 lack. A vast area of 527.7 hectares of land wad rendered saline. Over 97,000 people scarred the lives and thousands rendered homeless.
Immediate rescue and relief operations were taken place. First aid to injured was given. Mass burial of the dead bodies was taken to prevent the out break of diseases. Sanitary workers were appointed to clean the places. The power and water supply, in the villages were provided.
Control rooms were established to monitor the relief operations. Community kitchens were organized to feed the thousand of people. The Red Cross Society’s volunteers helped to identify the people who were in need of counselling.
The administration mooted for an enhanced compensation package for the farmers. Children were provided with all the basic amenities and comforts with the support from various donors. A large number of temporary shelters were put up with the help of the voluntary bodies and the Rural Development Department. It was concluded that disasters both natural and manmade expose the most vulnerable sections of society to grave danger.
Questions with Answers :
1. Immediately after the tsunami struck Cuddalore, what were some of the first tasks the administration had to do ?
The first and foremost task in disaster management in Cuddalore was that of rescue and relief which was a tough one. Hospitals had to be made ready to provide the First aid. Public information centres were set up for offering available information. Food and water were mobilized with the voluntary bodies. Rice was taken out of ration shops. Mass burial was taken place to control the outbreak of diseases.
2. What steps did the administration take to ensure that potable water was available ?
The water from all the sources was tested with the assistance from voluntary agencies and was found potable in all but one source. With the support of NGOs, three desalination plants based on reverse osmosis were setup in this area. 107 shallow bore-wells were dug to facilitate regular supply of water. All the temporary shelters were provided with pipelines for water supply.
3. What were the means used to established contact between the control rooms and the field staff ?
Control rooms were established in the three worst affected areas to coordinate the efforts of the field staff and to monitor the relief operations. The HAM radio operators helped in this process. Another priority task was to equip the top officials with mobile phones. This eased the channels of communication and helped to no end in tackling SOS calls.
4. How was the distribution of clothes and medicines that poured in for the tsunami victims handled ?
The authorities had a system to ensure the fair distribution of relief materials to make the operation smooth. The first thing was computerization of the inventory with the help of two volunteers. This made easy to track the materials. It was also positioned to ascertain the requirement of various goods and quantify the need. The cooperation of the police was sought and a coupon system evolved to facilitate the distribution.
5. What was some of the work done by the medical teams formed as part of the disaster management efforts in Cuddalore ?
The department of health rendered yeoman’s service in this crisis. Twenty-three teams comprising both government and private doctors were mobilized for medical camps. 80,117 people were given medical attention, 437 people were treated as in-patients, 9,373 dose of vaccines were given for measles and polio, 17,000 typhoid vaccines were mobilised through the voluntary sector. Red Cross Society’s volunteers also helped to identify the people who were in need of counselling.
6. After reading the account, do you think Cuddalore’s district administration did a commendable job ? Give reasons for your answer.
The Cuddalore’s district administration did a commendable job by providing the shelter for the people who lost every thing and became homeless. Disposing of the human dead bodies and carcasses was taken place to control the out break of diseases. Relief centres established for the purpose of providing the medical assistance. People were distributed the relief materials like medicines, food, clothes etc. The administration mooted for an enhanced compensation package for the farmers. Children were provided all the basic amenities and comforts.
Bits:
1. Cuddalore is in Tamil Nadu
2. The Cuddalore District had witnessed a severe drought in 2004
3. The tsunami occurred on 26th December 2004
5. The tsunami left 618 dead in Cuddalore
6. Livestock losss was put at 29 lakh
7. 517.7 hectares of land was rendred saline
8. Anu George an IAS officer in chare of the district administration of the relief and rehabilitation.
9. The tsunami had struck on a Sunday morning following Christmas
10. Tsunami had rendered the drinking water sources saline
11. With the support of NGOs three desalination plants based on reverse osmosis
12. HAM radio operators helped in communication process
13. The local NSS and NYK volunteers assistance was taken for the detection of dead bodies and carcasses
14. The World Health Organisation warned that more people would die of epidemics than tsunami.
14 Red Cross Society’s volunteers helped to identify the people in need of counselling
15. Children’s parks were built to introduce the play therapy
16. Bangalore University helped for the play therapy sessions