My Experience with Cyclone Fani

The extremely severe cyclonic storm #Fani recently visited Odisha. It is Peculiar to have a Cyclone in this time of year. Though history says earlier there are some cyclones hit Odisha coast during this summer season.
This Cyclone traveled a very long distance to destroy Odisha. This Cyclone originate near equator in Indian Ocean. it crossed east of Srilanka and gradually headed towards Tamilnadu. Without entering into Tamilnadu coast it headed northwards in Bay of Bengal. .

[Path Of Cyclone Fani]

It touched Land in the morning of 3rd May 2019 near Puri( rather On Lake Chilika). It devastated the surrounding. and proceed further to destroy Khurda, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

The Major damage it done is to the Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri. Several Stone carvings fell off from the temple The Age old banyan tree KalpaBata is severely damaged. Water sipped into the inner sanctum and deities were not worshiped.

I have seen several Cyclones including #1999SuperCyclone . Though Super cyclone has done a lot of damage, this one is no less. Wind speed of 200kmph with gust 220 to 250 kmph ripped everything in its path. major damages to infrastructures like power grids, cell towers under construction buildings are name a few.

In case of 1999SuperCyclone, Most of the trees are uprooted including several banyan trees. bent most of the electric poles. But this one ripped branches from trunks at some places trees are uprooted. in case of 1999SuperCyclone wind speed reached more than 300 kmph, but Fani reached upto 220 kmph maximum.

At Cuttack Wind started at 9am gradually intensified. Wind blew from North East direction till 1.30pm. Wind Direction suddenly changed due West. This wind caused major damage. 

My Preparedness

See this SWLING article

I was runner-up in that challenge. My preparation for Cyclone Fani was as per I have described. Well Not all. I have charged emergency light, arranged candles and lantern. Stocked Biscuits and Flat rice. Stored around 15Liters of drinking water. Emergency medicines and fully Charged 3 Baofeng Walkie Talkies. The GP5SSB I got as a gift from SWLINGPost, put new battery in it.   I have downed external antennae for HF and VHF. Baofeng handys are quite good as scanner. I monitored HAM band so I could know the situation in surrounding area and also if situation arises I could give a distress call to Nearby monitoring person. But that situation didn't arise. 

HAM volunteers from WBRC started their communication service since 5th May. They Have setup a VHF in state control room at Bhubaneswar, ADM office Puri and Khurda.

Since 5th may onward I was monitoring and in QSO with VU2IPL(Suresh). VU2FTP VU2XRY VU3YDA and VU3OXI are handling the communication between Puri, Khurda and Bhubaneswar. 

Going ahead

Gradually Normalcy return to Cuttack. water supply was restored from 6th may. And Electricity supply resumed in my locality on 8th May evening. 

Lessons Learnt 

"How much you be prepared for any natural calamity it is less."

My preparation was good no doubt. But the season is summer season. Every season have there advantage and disadvantages. Cyclone in summer brings very uncomfortable climate. Hot and Humid climate makes sweating like hell and dehydrates. So water stock should be more for a family of 8. 

Power backup is not sufficient. Hence a Solar power system or Genset is required to survive after effects of summer cyclones.

#FaniCyclone

#HAM

#HAMRescue

Alert Earthquake in India and Nepal

Since yesterday (25th april) #earthquakes are experienced at Cuttack,Odisha; my home town. Though Odisha faces Cyclone and Flood like natural calamities every year or every other year, but earthquakes are rare. But since yesterday Odisha have witnessed several quakes some are major and some are minor.

Why Earthquakes happen?

 Yesterday few school students for the first time (perhaps) experienced earthquake so they asked me "Uncle What is earthquake? why it happens? and how it happens?" Looking at their tender age and curiosity I described them as follows.

 During break you play in the school right? "Yes uncle we do". Do you run on the corridor? "Yes uncle". Good, now tell me do you hit during running? "Yes". So when you hit someone while running what happens? I asked, "It hurts" they replied. Similarly the surface of earth is moving constantly, as you have studied in your science book core of earth is not solid, it is molten rocks. and the upper surface which is cooler is harder and it floats on the molten rock. When these floating harder rock hits other floating rock earthquake happens. Like you also shake when you hit your friend, earth's surface also shakes, this is known as earthquake.

 In Technical terms, earth surface is divided into several tectonic plates. These tectonic plates are floating on the molten core of the earth. These tectonic plated are in constant movement. So they press with each other. Due to this pressure sometimes they break or one plate dives in and other plate goes up. Himalayan mountain is created by this tectonic plate movement. Our Indian plate hits Eurasian plate and dives under it, and Himalayas is created.

[Source of the image is "http://www.tectonics.caltech.edu/"]

Is there any way to predict

No. There are several attempts made to predict earthquake but there is no way it can be predicted. But there are precursors to earthquake.

1. Soil resistivity change
2. change in radioactivity profile of a place
3. sudden change in water table
4. unusual lights and sound

Measuring Earthquakes 

 There are 2 scales but the most common now a days is Richter scale and another scale is Rosi forel scale. The former is scientific based on mathematical formula, the later is a visual scale based upon experience.

The instrument which measures earthquake magnitude is known as seismometer. 

 Seismometer operates on the principle of Inertia of rest. a simple seismometer is a simple pendulum. A simple seismometer can be made by attaching a pencil to a pendulum.

Precautions

"Earthquake doesn't kill, structure collapse kills". So there is only precautions we can take. such as

1. Earthquake resistant construction practice
2. If earthquake happens then quickly get out to open sky
3. If getting out is not possible then go to a corner of the room and hold a pillow or some thing over head
4. If that is also not possible then hide yourself under a strong table with a pillow or something.

this way one can minimize the risk and fatality though it may not be possible to escape the collapsing building.