More than a year has passed since two
cyclones struck within days in Orissa, India. CARE staffer Basant Mohanty
explains how a natural disaster became a catalyst to change things for
the better.
By Gretchen Hemes, CARE associate
writer
Twin cyclones in October 1999 devastated the Indian state of Orissa. Nearly everyone lost something: a loved one, a livelihood, a home. Yet, in the face of such destruction and loss, today there is hope for a brighter, safer future.
CARE was the first international aid organization to arrive in Orissa following the storms. Its commitment to relief and rehabilitation for the people of the northern Indian state has continued since the tragedy.
Basant Mohanty, director of CARE's programs in Orissa, says after the storms, it took between three and five days to even reach some communities affected by the storms. When CARE staff did arrive, they found people in absolute shock.
"Survivors seemed to be struck deaf and dumb," Mohanty says. "The losses were so profound."
Within the people of Orissa, however, there was a wellspring of courage, and a determination to persevere.
And CARE was there to help. The first step to managing the crisis was identifying the needs and the means available to meet them.
"We sat down with them and admitted CARE had limited resources, considering the scope of the disaster," says Mohanty. "We said, 'We have some blankets, who should get them?' and the community decided the elderly should. We went through that process for all the supplies we had. The people made the decisions."
In this way, CARE earned the public's trust and became a partner in the relief and rehabilitation process.
"They know us as people, not as banner holders or a brand name or officials," says Mohanty. "I think they have identified CARE as an extension of the community."
The evolution in the relationship between CARE and the communities of Orissa reflects an evolution in the organization's work, as well. In the year since the storms, the focus in Orissa has shifted from meeting basic needs to planning for the future.
This shift is exemplified in CARE's efforts to provide shelter for the people of Orissa, Mohanty says. A year ago, shelter meant plastic sheeting and blankets. It was incomplete, but it was relief.
Today, CARE is bringing resources to the community to help with the construction of cyclone shelters and new homes that will withstand the kind of storms that hit Orissa. Using local materials and technology, Orissa is rebuilding, stronger than ever, says Mohanty.
The communities expect to put their new shelters to good use, even under fair skies. They will become training centers where villages can prepare emergency response plans tailored to their location and their needs, Mohanty says. Neighbors can share technological and traditional forecasting information to better prepare for bad weather. As a gathering place, cyclone shelters may be a new venue for sharing information on farming, fishing, sanitation or education.
"The cyclones brought people together to find the best possible solutions to help each other," Mohanty says. "We cannot prevent natural disasters. But we can use information and technology to reduce the impact and make sure both the community and CARE are prepared to respond when they strike."