Cyclone Vardah

Cyclone 'Vardah' hit the Tamil Nadu capital on 12 December, 2016. Vardah uprooted trees, big broken branches blocking the roads, fallen name boards, hoardings, damaged compound walls and vehicles under fallen trees and power cut. Chennai’s green cover faced a considerable loss as thousands of trees were uprooted by the cyclone.

The major affected areas were the north coastal areas of Chennai , Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram district in Tamilnadu. People were evacuated to safety. Educational institutions were closed down due to the severity of the cyclonic storm.

The most vulnerable were the slums of Chennai. As a corollary of the storm, many were rendered homeless. The first and most onerous task was to collect data — and time was not a friend. The immediate thing we did was to supply some of the essential needs for the people who were stranded without water, food, tarpaulin sheets, toiletries, etc.  

The community was made aware of art of survival during times like these, by providing instant and quick measures such as first aid, how to save others who are in need according to the needs and conditions of their environment etc.

Through demonstrations and detailed presentations children were taught (eg) how to handle victims in case of broken limbs,  how to run for safety during times of earth quakes, in case of protection during fire, what types of remedial measures to be taken etc.

True Story:

During the relief operations volunteer and staff had met many families and had comforted them by providing the necessary items for immediate survival.   

When the beneficiary and his children came back on to their house near the center of the cyclone, they were distraught to see the roof of their house destroyed. To support the family we provided a tarpaulin to cover the roof of their house.   

This has certainly helped the family to be safe from the downpour; secondly they can restore everything. Now they are happy that children can peacefully sit and sleep under their roof.