What are mitigation strategies for cyclones?

Answer 1

The National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Process was launched in India. The main objectives of the project are to minimize risk and vulnerabilities to cyclones, to strengthen the structural and non-structural cyclone mitigation efforts and to build capabilities and capacities of people for cyclone risk mitigation in harmony with the conservation of coastal ecosystems in coastal cyclone hazard prone States and Union Territories.

Mitigation means "measures taken in advance that are aimed to decrease or eliminate the impact of disasters on the community and environment". Today, the Policy makers and Disaster Management specialists are rethinking their approach to disaster management by increasing investment in risk reduction & mitigation measures rather than concentrating on post disaster response (relief & reconstruction).

The Mitigation Strategies could be

✓ Proper infrastructure development for providing accurate and prompt cyclone warning.

✓ Design and construction of robust buildings, roads, bridges and other infrastructure besides

"Cyclone proof" buildings, which have storage and sleeping areas high off the ground and

use water-resistant materials.

✓ Hazard reduction by trying to control the hazard in advance, such as, seawalls, diversion

drains, coastal shelterbelts, protection and promotion of natural sea side vegetation (mangrove)

etc.

✓ Land use planning, which "builds in" a distance between the hazard and the community.

✓ Management of Delta Zones.

✓ Contingency Plans at all levels (community, government and civil society), which include

disaster mitigation strategies.

✓ Awareness and Educational campaigns that provide advice to the community on cyclone

preparedness as well as mitigations measures

✓ Develop healthy partnerships between stakeholders at all levels -especially government,

private sector and the community to achieve sustainable mitigation strategies.