Cyclone Phailin in India: Preparation Saves Lives

Cyclone Phailin struck Odisha on India's eastern coast on Saturday night, October 12, with 140 mph winds. A full assessment of Phailin's toll will take weeks, but the number of reported casualties, 27 as of now according to the BBC, is astonishingly low considering that millions of people live in the storm’s path. A similar storm caused extreme devastation in the region 14 years earlier, and more than 10,000 people died. The difference this time was preparation and effective early warning systems. India's national and local governments responded swiftly to meteorological reports and evacuated over 1 million people from coastal areas ahead of the cyclone's arrival. Countless lives were saved. The human suffering is still immense. Tens of thousands of people remain trapped by rising flood waters. Villages and homes have been destroyed. Crops are ruined. In many areas, roads are blocked, and electricity is out. Thousands of people remain in shelters. UNICEF has offices in the affected Indian states and has been closely monitoring the situation as a member of the U.N. Disaster Management Team. UNICEF stands ready to respond with the team if requested by local and national authorities. Cyclone Phailin shows the immeasurable value of being prepared for natural disaster before it occurs. Your help allows UNICEF to act quickly in crisis situations and respond to more than 250 emergencies a year — from hurricanes to earthquakes to civil wars. Please donate today and help us be there for children in emergencies around the world.