India's cyclone response saves lives. Climate resilient infrastructure will save livelihoods
By Helen Regan and Swati Gupta, CNN
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Though the damage was extensive, large-scale evacuation efforts appeared to have saved many lives. An ambitious evacuation mounted by India and Bangladesh saw an estimated 3 million people moved to safety across the two countries, according to regional authorities.
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To avoid a repeat of the 1999 tragedy, India created a new disaster response infrastructure.
In 2005, the country introduced new laws to set up what's called the National Disaster Management Authority, a central agency charged with one thing: responding to and minimizing the impact of disasters.
A year later, in 2006, India established a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a specialized corps of highly trained men and women focused on disasters such as cyclones and earthquakes. It's now comprised of almost 25,000 personnel.
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India's preparedness measures have saved lives but there are calls for the country to now focus on protecting the livelihoods of its poorest and most vulnerable who live in these low-lying areas, which suffer the worst damage from cyclones and flooding. It's a move that would save billions of dollars from averted damage.
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