State-wide mock drill on flood and cyclone management on June 19 in Odisha

Odisha Uncategorized
Bhubaneswar, May 30, 2018: Ahead of the onset of monsoon, Special
Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi has reviewed the arrangements in all
districts to handle possible flood during monsoon. A mock drill on cyclone and
flood management will be held on June 19 in all the districts. 
Sethi who also acts as the Disaster Management Commissioner-cum-Secretary
called a meeting of Additional District Magistrates (ADMs) and District
Emergency Officers (#DEOs) of all 30 districts to review of status of pre-flood
arrangements in the district level to tackle the possible flood situation
during Southwest Monsoon-2018.
Meanwhile, District Level Natural Calamity Committee (DLNCC)
meetings have already been held in 26 districts and that in remaining four districts
shall be held shortly.
The District Level Natural Calamity Committee, comprising of
Collector as chairman and all MPs and MLAs of the districts and various
district level officers as members, meets in May every year to review the
status of preparedness at various levels in the districts to face the possible
disasters, especially flood and cyclone, during the year.
The district authorities were instructed to furnish their
updated District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP) by June 10 for approval by the
State Disaster Management Authority. After approval, the updated plans shall be
uploaded in the website of respective districts.
The ADMs and DEOs intimated that the flood-prone inaccessible
areas, which are likely to be cut off during floods, have been identified for
stocking of Public Distribution System (PDS) commodities for the next 2-3
months in advance, so that these are available in these villages during the
entire rainy season.
It was instructed that the Collectors would ensure this
before onset of Monsoon and furnish information regarding the quantity of food
grains stored at different points.
The districts will also take steps to make pre-contract with
the traders following due procedure for supply of dry foods like chuda, gur and
other essential commodities, if required, in the event of any calamity.
This exercise is to be completed soon and arrangement
reported to the office of SRC.
There are 301 power boats of the State Port Engineering
Organisation under the SRC available in the districts in charge of Tahasildars,
BDOs and other officers under the control of the respective Collectors.
Test-run of these boats is going on in different districts.
The State Port Engineer was directed to complete the test-run of the boats by
second week of June.
The ADMs/ DEOs were directed to complete the process of
engagement of temporary crew staff as per sanction communicated to them by May
31.
All the districts will furnish information on availability
of private boats in the districts, along with contact numbers of boat owners to
the office of SRC by June 10. Besides, the information shall be uploaded in the
official website of the concerned districts.
The representative of Chief Engineer and Basin Manager,
Lower Mahanadi Basin indicated that one breach had occurred during 2017 which
have already been closed.
As many as 108 vulnerable points have been identified at
different river and saline embankments out of which three have been identified
as critical vulnerable points.
It has been decided to store required flood-fighting
materials at these critical vulnerable points and arrange patrolling during
flood.
It has been assessed that 33.35 lakkh gunny bags, 67627 cum
of sand, 19430 of bullahs,15125 sqm bamboo mat and 10320 bamboos would be
required to be stored by June 1 at strategic locations.
The Executive Engineers have been instructed to verify the
status of sluices and make those operational by June 1. Mock drill will be
conducted before onset of Monsoon.
It was stressed on proper coordination in the matter of
deployment of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF) and Fire Services.
For any local search and rescue requirement, the Fire
Services should be first contacted and depending on size/ intensity of
disaster, if there is further requirement, ODRAF and NDRF can be requisitioned.
Rainfall in all rain gauge stations must be measured in time
(at 8.30 AM) and posted in the rainfall monitoring portal latest by 10 AM.
In case there is some problem in updating the portal at the
block level, the same may be done at the district level. If for any justified
reason, updating of the portal is also not possible by the district office,
then the information must be immediately furnished to the State Emergency
Operation Centre by fax/ phone/ e-mail/Whatsapp.
All districts will ensure functioning of their District
Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC) round the clock.
Additional manpower shall be deployed for the purpose and
basic training in control room management and operation of communication
equipment shall be provided to the personnel.
The ADMs / DEOs were asked to see that all equipment in the
District Emergency Operation Centre are in proper working order. In case any
equipment is out of order, steps be taken for repair/ replacement.
All the districts shall ensure that Toll Free No.1077 is
working and a separate telephone has been provided for the said number.
All the districts shall make necessary arrangement to
disseminate the weather warnings / flood bulletins to concerned district level
offices and subordinate offices promptly from the District Emergency Operations
Centre (DEOC).
A check list should be there and the information may be
transmitted preferably through e-mail. Arrangements must also be there to
disseminate such information among people by subordinate offices if the people
need to be alerted.
All the districts shall send daily situation report on
rainfall and flood situation to the State Emergency Operation Centre during the
entire period of Monsoon from June 1 to October 15 by 2PM regularly.
The districts were advised to make prior arrangement for
supply of safe drinking water during and in the immediate aftermath of flood,
in coordination with RWSS & PH (Urban) Organisation.
The districts must also have their contingency plan for
health, sanitation, veterinary and agricultural measures prepared by the
concerned departments at the district level.
The districts were advised to identify required number of
flood shelters in the vulnerable areas for accommodation of people in case of
flood.
Arrangements of water, food and lighting must be made for
the people taking shelter. Additional sanitation arrangement may also be
required to be made, where necessary.
A compliance report on this along with number of shelters
identified may be sent by each district by June 10.
The districts were advised to hold coordination meetings
with the stakeholders, including the line department officials, to ensure due
preparedness to encounter possible flood situation in the district.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *