Bhubaneswar: Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Deoranjan Kumar Singh on Tuesday issued a set of preparedness measures for the Collectors of 14 districts to address the potential impact of heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds due to Cyclone Dana.
The cyclone is expected to cross the north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island on the night of October 24th and the morning of October 25th, as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph.
The SRC sent a letter to the Collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, and Keonjhar, outlining the necessary steps for preparedness:
- Administrative Machinery on High Alert: Ensure that all administrative units are fully prepared and kept on high alert.
- Evacuation of Vulnerable Residents: Evacuate people living in kutcha houses, low-lying areas, and other vulnerable locations to safe shelters.
- Care for Vulnerable Groups: Special care must be taken to evacuate the elderly, physically challenged, sick, women, and children.
- Food and Shelter Arrangements: Provide dry food, free kitchen facilities, and baby food to those evacuated.
- Essential Services at Shelters: Ensure that shelters have adequate supplies of safe drinking water, lighting, and sanitation facilities.
- Shelter Management Teams: Identify teams of three local officials (two male and one female, such as ASHA workers, AWW, lady teachers, constables, or home guards) to manage each MCS/MFS or other shelters.
- Evacuation of Livestock: Evacuate livestock and domestic animals from low-lying and vulnerable areas to safer locations.
- Fund Requirements: Notify the department immediately of any fund requirements.
- Expense Coverage: All expenses incurred will be covered under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) as per actuals.
These measures aim to minimize the impact of Cyclone Dana and safeguard residents in the affected areas, ensuring a coordinated response across districts. The state government is urging district officials to remain vigilant and proactive as the cyclone approaches.
