Indian Red Cross braced for potential impact of Cyclone Phailin

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http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/asia-pacific/india/indian-red-cross-braced-for-potential-impact-of-cyclone-phailin-63526/

Coastal areas of India are on alert in preparation for the expected arrival of Cyclone Phailin. The Indian Red Cross Society is preparing for major impact, but says it is better prepared than ever to deal with both the storm and its effects.

The storm is expected to make landfall on evening of 12 October with maximum sustained wind speed of 210-220 km/h. The hope is that this storm’s impact will not match that of Cyclone Orissa in 1999, which killed over 10,000 people.

“The threat is increasing by the minute, but we are better prepared than in 1999,” says Mr. Mangla Mohanty, Indian Red Cross Society Odisha State Secretary. “In previous years we didn’t have the experience or the infrastructure. Today, we have both, with over 75 cyclone shelters built by the Red Cross in addition to our disaster management system.”

Reports indicated that nearly 400,000 people on India’s coast have fled to cyclone shelters after the government issued a red alert and warned of severe damage. The evacuations were supported by the Red Cross and led by local authorities.

This comes in the middle of what is the biggest holiday season in eastern India. As always, the Red Cross needs money, for those looking to help.

[FarCenter]

1. Times of India Live Blog - Cyclone Phailin makes landfall near Gopalpur in Odisha

Cyclone Phailin has hit land near Gopalpur in Odisha with a windspeed of around 200kmph, director general of IMD LS Rathore has confirmed.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cyclone-phailin-in-odisha-andhra-pradesh/liveblog/24035906.cms