2021 North Indian Ocean Cyclone Season

Although only about 7 percent of cyclones worldwide originate in the North Indian Ocean, they usually pack quite a powerful punch and affect millions of people along coastlines in the area. To name a few, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Iran are all at risk when a cyclone in this region forms. Since it's common for people to build settlements along the ocean coastline, housing and infrastructure is destroyed when cyclones, like Tropical Cyclone Taukatae, come along. In the middle of May, this cyclone first appeared in the Arabian Sea and swiftly connected with the land in Gujarat. The cyclone transformed into a category 3 hurricane and the effects were devastating. It was the strongest cyclone of all time to hit the west coast of India, with winds up to 125 miles per hour. Storm surge was anywhere between 5 to 10 feet of waves. Although the storm weakened as it moved inland, it had already forced approximately 250,000 people to evacuate the coastal villages in Gujarat. Consequently, Cyclone Taukatae killed 122 people with around 11 million people that were severely affected. Residential damage peaked at upwards of 56,900 homes damaged in some fashion or another. One reason why housing could have been so greatly demolished would be due to the lack of proper foundations and solid roofing in rural India.

Another storm brewed up by the North Indian Ocean, which was named Tropical Cyclone Yaas. This storm had a similar degree to Taukatae and hit Odisha, an Indian State, on May 26th. Luckily, the storm dissolved the same night.

However, not only did these two hurricanes have adverse effects on the places they hit in India, but they were coupled with another deadly force: Covid-19. India has been at the forefront of the coronavirus battle for months now, with deaths peaking at 380,000 people and millions upon millions who contracted the virus. With cyclones like these, it's impossible for the Indian Government to administer treatments, vaccinations, and testing. Government officials are unable to reach areas where people are trapped, sick, and alone without medical assistance. Moreover, in the mass evacuations that usually develop when a cyclone is about to hit landfall, people are tightly packed together and in a state of panic, which means they disregard all regulations in the face of calamity. Unfortunately, this gives Covid-19 an easy way to spread; from one person to another through an evacuation center. Coronavirus testing in the facility amongst all the fear of the storm is generally hard to carry out. Global warming also makes matters worse by increasing ocean temperatures, therefore forming stronger, faster, and larger storms than ever before. There are two benevolent things you can do remotely to ease the situation. By directly addressing Covid-19 in India and helping cyclone victims, you will make a difference. Your act of donating now will help save lives and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Charities

-https://usindiaalliance.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjw_JuGBhBkEiwA1xmbRekYirh6ZumfZoIGfLPgGnESvU9RKikDabDBjjLp6diXqtAMjRLNURoC7EQQAvD_BwE

-https://support.savethechildren.org/site/Donation2?df_id=1631&1631.donation=form1

Works Cited

Disasterphilanthropy.org, disasterphilanthropy.org/disaster/2021-north-indian-ocean-cyclone-season/.

“Rapid Heating of Indian Ocean Worsening Cyclones, Say Scientists.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 27 May 2021, www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/27/rapid-heating-of-indian-ocean-worsening-cyclones-say-scientists.