Cyclone Fani Case Study

Where and when did Cyclone Fani make landfall?

8am, 3 May 2019, in Odisha, eastern India.

How effective was forecasting and communication before Fani?

The India Meteorological Department made an accurate forecast, while 2.6 million text messages warned people before the cyclone.

How were communities prepared for the evacuation?

45,000 volunteers helped, while community groups and volunteers worked together in vulnerable locations to provide food and water.

How many people were evacuated before Fani?

1.2 million people were evacuated to around 7,000 shelters.

Around 9,000 schools made functional as shelters.

What was the death toll from Fani in Odisha?

64 people died in Odisha.

What was a major infrastructure impact of Fani?

Major roads in coastal Odisha were damaged, with small trees and power lines scattered across roads, disrupting transport.

How did Fani affect Bhubaneswar?

900,000+ people in Odisha’s capital, Bhubaneswar, faced fallen trees and electricity was blocked on almost every major road for at least 4 hours.

Why were some homes particularly vulnerable to Fani?

Many homes had roofs that were not concrete, making them more vulnerable to the cyclone’s impacts.

What agricultural impact did Fani have?

Around 4,000 acres of agricultural land were hit.

What was the economic cost of Fani?

Approximately $8.1 billion in damages.

What happened in Bangladesh after Fani?

Fani passed through low-lying areas of the Bay of Bengal, and Bangladeshi police patrolled before the storm and warned those near the border.

Why is Fani a good example of effective hazard management?

Despite causing major damage, 1.2 million people were evacuated and the death toll in Odisha was 564, showing how accurate forecasting, communication, volunteers and evacuation can reduce vulnerability.