Tropical Cyclones And Their Related Hazards
- Tropical cyclones are characterized by destructive winds, torrential rainfall and storm surges disrupt normal life with the accompanying phenomena of floods.
- Tropical cyclones have devastating potential to damage structures, viz. houses; lifeline infrastructure-power and communication towers; hospitals; food storage facilities; roads, bridges and culverts; crops etc.
- The most fatalities come from storm surges and the torrential rain flooding the lowland areas of coastal territories.
- The Indian subcontinent is one of the worst affected regions in the world. The subcontinent with a long coastline is exposed to nearly 10 per cent of the world’s tropical cyclones.
- Of these, the majorities of them have their initial genesis over the Bay of Bengal and strike the East coast of India. On an average, five to six tropical cyclones form every year, of which two or three could be severe.
Effective safety measures against cyclones
- A cyclone forecast and warning service.
- Rapid communication of warnings to the Government agencies, the ports, fishermen, ships and to the general public.
- Construction of cyclone shelters in the cyclone prone areas, and Administrative arrangements for moving people fast to safer places.
