Cyclone Titli Dos and Don’ts, Forecast, Warnings, Preparedness
The India Meteorological Department has classified Titli as a very “severe cyclonic storm” with very high wind speeds and forecast.
SNS | New Delhi | October 10, 2018 11:44 pm
Sand art by Sudarsan Patnaik at Puri sea beach. (Photo: Twitter/@sudarsansand)
With Cyclone Titli likely to cross the coastal areas of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal on October 11 morning, the Centre has deployed 21 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams in the three states along with necessary rescue equipment, and put Army, Navy and Coast Guard on standby. Union Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha shared the information while chairing a National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The meeting was attended by senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Defence, National Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Response Force, India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Integrated Defence Staff (IDS). Chief Secretaries and Additional Chief Secretaries from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal participated in the meeting through video-conference.
The states informed the NCMC about the measures taken for evacuation, warnings issued to the fishermen, and preventive decisions such as closure of schools and colleges.
The India Meteorological Department has classified Titli as a very “severe cyclonic storm” with very high wind speeds and forecast.
“The wind speed at the time of landfall is predicted in the range of 145-165 km per hour. After the landfall, the cyclonic storm is expected to re-curve north-eastwards and move long Odisha coast towards Gangetic West Bengal and will cause heavy to very heavy rainfall,” the IMD said.
Cyclone Titli: IMD warnings
Wind forecast: Gale wind speed reaching 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph prevails over west-central and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea. It is likely to increase becoming 135-145 kmph gusting to 160 kmph by 11th October 2018 evening.
Sea condition: Phenomenal around the system centre. Likely to remain same over west-central Arabian Sea till 13 October and over Gulf of Aden during 11th to 13th October.
Warning for fishermen: The fishermen have been advised not to venture into deep sea areas of west-central Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden till 14 October and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea till 11 October.
Fishing boats anchored on Puri beach amid Cyclone Titli alert on October 10, 2018. (Photo: IANS)
Cyclone Titli checklist: Dos & don’ts
According to the National Disaster Management Authority, the actions that are required to be taken in the event of a cyclone threat can broadly be divided into:
Immediately before the cyclone season
When cyclone alerts and warnings are communicated
When evacuations are advised
When the cyclone has crossed the coast
888;
Immediately before the cyclone season:
Secure loose tiles in the house and get doors and windows repairs, it required
Remove dead branches or dying trees close to the house; anchor removable objects such as lumber piles, loose tin sheets, loose bricks, garbage cans, sign-boards etc.
Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be boarded if needed
Keep a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, battery operated torches and enough dry cells
Keep some extra batteries for transistors
Keep some dry non-perishable food always ready for use in emergency
***
When the cyclone starts
Listen to radio for weather warnings
Keep monitoring the warnings to prepare for a cyclone emergency
Pass on the information to others
Ignore rumours and do not spread them; this will help avoid panic situations
Believe in the official information
When a cyclone alert is issued for your area, continue normal working but stay alert to radio warnings
A cyclone alert means that the danger is within 24 hours, so stay alert for the next 24 hours as
Get away from low-lying beaches or other low-lying coastal areas; leave before your way to high ground or shelter gets flooded
If asked to evacuate, do not hesitate to leave
Board up glass windows or put storm shutters in place
Provide strong suitable support for outside doors
Store extra food that can be eaten without cooking, extra drinking water in suitably covered vessels
In case of evacuation, move your valuable articles to upper floors to minimise damage from floods
Ensure your hurricane lantern, torches or other emergency lights are in working condition and keep them handy
Be sure a window and door can be opened only on the side opposite to the one facing the wind
Make provision for children and adults requiring special diet
There will be a lull lasting for half an hour or so if the centre of the cyclone is passing directly over your house. Do not go out during this time, because very strong winds will blow from the opposite direction immediately after that
Pack essentials, including medicines, special food for babies and children or elders, to last a few days
Head for the proper shelter or evacuation points
Do not worry about your property
At the shelter follow instructions of the person in charge
Remain in the shelter until you are informed to leave
***
Post-cyclone measures
Remain in the shelter until informed that you can go back
Get inoculated against diseases immediately
Avoid any loose and dangling wires from lamp posts
Drive carefully
Clear debris from your premises immediately
Report correct losses to appropriate authorities
Cyclone Titli: Weather forecasts
Very heavy rainfall in coastal Odisha districts over the next two days
As many as 13 districts — Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore, Kandhamal and Dhenkanal — are likely to be affected
Landfall likely in Odisha’s Gopalpur around 5.30 am
Tidal surge of about 1 meter predicted during the landfall
After landfall, the cyclonic storm it is likely to re-curve northeastward, move towards Gangetic West Bengal across Odisha and weaken gradually
Cyclone Titli preparedness
Navy, Coast Guard and Army put on alert
Flights from Bhubaneswar cancelled
Train services on southern section towards Vijayanagaram cancelled
Evacuation process on in low-lying areas of coastal belt
NDRF, Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force positioned in vulnerable districts.
All schools, colleges and anganwadi centres closed on Thursday and Friday
College student union elections put off
Total suspension of fishing operations
Hoisting of local warning signal LW-4 at all ports of Odisha
Around 300 motor boats arranged to assist in rescue operation
All 836 cyclone and flood shelters kept in state of preparedness and adequate relief materials arranged
The Election Commission has approved the lifting of model code of conduct in 11 districts in Odisha to facilitate speedy relief and rescue operation in view of cyclonic storm Fani.
The administration took more than 32 hours to realize that 16 tribals had been swept away on the day of the cyclone in the Gangabada, while in many other places, landslides and sudden surge in water-level led to many deaths.
