18. Emergency action

Describe the Emergency action (action taken when the tropical cyclones occur)

i) Evacuation of people

Governments can move people to cyclone proof places such as community cyclone shelter

These shelters are usually located near homes and the use of these shelters has greatly reduced the number of casualties in countries such as Bangladesh and India

ii) Provision of emergency aid

NGOs such as Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children often organize and send relief teams to countries struck by tropical cyclones

These organisations provide victims with food, clothing, shelter and health care

An example is the aid provided by the Red Cross when Typhoon Megi hit the Philippines in 2010

Watch the video “Inside Burma: exclusive video” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7385289.stm).

· What do you think is meant by the word ‘measures’?

· What kind of measures would need to be taken after a cyclone hits a country?

· Who should take these measures?

• What are the short-term measures?

o Manage short-term casualties (injuries, sicknesses)

o Provide food and clean water to deal with hunger and prevent spread of disease

o Managing the dead bodies (burial, cremation etc)

o Set up temporary shelters (tents)

• What are the long-term measures?

o Set up hospitals to cater for those suffering from anxiety, depression, loss of loved ones

o Set up orphanages for children who lost parents

o Rebuild farming capacity

o Rebuild homes

o Rebuild infrastructure (public property)

o Rebuilding industries

o Replanting natural vegetation