Bhubaneswar: In a major achievement, 24 coastal villages from Odisha have been officially recognized as Tsunami Ready by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This recognition, announced at the 2nd Global Tsunami Symposium in Indonesia on November 11, 2024, underscores Odisha’s commitment to disaster preparedness and its proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable coastal communities.
The villages, located across six coastal districts — Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, and Ganjam — are part of Odisha’s comprehensive tsunami preparedness program. These communities are now equipped with advanced systems and protocols for dealing with tsunami threats, making them the first line of defense against natural disasters in the region.
Two villages, Noliasahi in Jagatsinghpur district and Venkatraipur in Ganjam district, which were first recognized in 2020, have had their Tsunami Ready Recognition Certificates renewed, further cementing their status as model communities in disaster preparedness.
The Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP), implemented in these 24 villages, includes a series of essential activities aimed at increasing community resilience against tsunamis. These activities cover training programs, community awareness campaigns, the distribution of awareness materials like posters and leaflets, and the preparation of Tsunami Management Plans. Additionally, tsunami mock drills, evacuation route identification, and the installation of hoardings and signage have been part of the initiative to ensure a rapid and coordinated response in case of an emergency.
The National Tsunami Ready Recognition Board (NTRB), comprising scientists from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, and officials from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), visited the 26 coastal villages in September 2024 to verify compliance with the 12 indicators of the Tsunami Ready Programme. Following the verification, the board recommended to IOC-UNESCO that these villages be recognized for their exceptional preparedness.
At the symposium in Indonesia, the recognition certificates were presented by Vidar Helgesen, Assistant Director General of UNESCO and Executive Secretary of IOC-UNESCO, to E. Pattabhi Rama Rao, Scientist G at INCOIS, who represented India at the event.
The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has set its sights on making all of the state’s 381 tsunami-prone coastal villages and habitats Tsunami Ready in a phased manner. This comprehensive approach aims to equip every community with the knowledge, infrastructure, and resources needed to effectively respond to a tsunami and mitigate its impact.