Cyclones are huge revolving storms caused by winds blowing around a central area of lowatmospheric pressure.

In the northern hemisphere, cyclones are called hurricanes or typhoons and their winds blow in an anti-clockwise circle. In the southern hemisphere, these tropical storms are known as cyclones, whose winds blow in a clockwise circle.
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same [1][2] direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inwardspiraling winds that rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere andclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale cyclonic circulations are centered on areas [3][4] of low atmospheric pressure. The largest low-pressure systems are cold-core polar cyclones and extratropical cyclones which lie on the synoptic scale. According to NHC glossary, warm-core cyclones such as tropical cyclones and subtropical cyclones also lies within synoptic scale. Mesocyclones, tornadoes and dust devils lie within the smaller mesoscale. Upper level cyclones can exist without the presence of a surface low, and can pinch off from the base of the Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere. Cyclones have also been seen on extraterrestrial planets, such as Mars andNeptune. Cyclogenesis describes the process of [9] cyclone formation and intensification. Extratropical cyclones form as waves in large regions of enhanced mid-latitude temperature contrasts called baroclinic zones. These zones contract to form weather fronts as the cyclonic circulation closes and intensifies. Later in their life cycle, cyclones occlude as cold core systems. A cyclone's track is guided over the course of its 2 to 6 day life cycle by the steering flow of the cancer or subtropical jet stream. Weather fronts separate two masses of air of different densities and are associated with the most prominent meteorological phenomena. Air masses separated by a front may differ in temperature or humidity. Strong cold fronts typically feature narrow bands ofthunderstorms and severe weather, and may on occasion be preceded by squall lines or dry lines. They form west of the circulation center and generally move from west to east. Warm fronts form east of the cyclone center and are usually preceded by stratiformprecipitation and fog. They move poleward ahead of the cyclone path. Occluded fronts form late in the cyclone life cycle near the center of the cyclone and often wrap around the storm center. Tropical cyclogenesis describes the process of development of tropical cyclones. Tropical cyclones form due to latent heat driven by significant thunderstorm activity, and are warm [10] core. Cyclones can transition between extratropical, subtropical, and tropical phases under the right conditions. Mesocyclones form as warm core cyclones over land, and can [11] lead to tornado formation. Waterspoutscan also form from mesocyclones, but more often develop from environments of high instability and low vertical wind shear.

Role of PPS Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) immediately responded with emergency relief, as [7] did BAPS Care International (BAPSCI). The Orissa state branch extended the emergency relief phase to a three-month relief operation and a six-month rehabilitation program with the help of the Federation. The overall humanitarian response spanned well into the late 2000. The Orissa State Branch (OSB) immediately shipped emergency buffer [4] stocks from the Indian Red Cross headquarters in New Delhi. BAPSCI dispatched about 2,340 volunteers to 84 villages greatly affected by the storm. BAPSCI also cremated 700 bodies and buried 3,500 cattle carcasses because many people were superstitious about touching the dead bodies of those they did not know. Three villages were "adopted" by BAPSCI in January 2000 to rebuild, Chakulia, Banipat, and Potak, all in Jagatsinghpur. A total of 200 concrete homes were constructed, as well as two concrete schools and two village tube-wells. The project was finally completed in May 2002, two and a half years [7] after the cyclone hit. As of October 30, 1999, 50,000 people were evacuated from lowlying flooded areas on the coast of the Ganjam andJagatsinghpur districts. More people on the coast of Paradeep were evacuated by the Orissa Government. The Federation withdrew 200,000 CHF from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to send to India, but the Indian Government refused the money, saying the cyclone was not [4] a national disaster. Many people died of starvation and diseases after the storm, since rescue workers could not reach everyone in time
[4]

Impact The cyclone dumped heavy torrential rain over southeast India, causing record breaking [1] [5] flooding in the low-lying areas. The storm surge was 26 feet (8 meters). struck the [4] coast of Orissa, traveling up to 20 km inland. 17,110 km (6,600 mi) of crops were [6] [7] destroyed, and an additional 90 million trees were either uprooted or had snapped. Approximately 275,000 homes were destroyed, leaving 1.67 million people [7] homeless. Another 19.5 million people were affected by the supercyclone to some [7] degree. A total of 9,803 people officially died from the storm, with 40 others still [1] [8] missing, though it is believed that 15,000 people died. 8,119 of those fatalities were from the Jagatsinghpurdistrict. Another 3,312 people were injured. 2,043 out of 5,700, or [5] 36% of the residents ofPadmapur perished. The number of domestic animals fatalities [7] was around 2.5 million, though the number of livestock that perished in the cyclone
[6]

amounted to only 406,000. The high number of domestic animal deaths may have possibly had to do with around 5 million farmers losing their livelihood. The damage across [7] fourteen districts in India resulted from the storm was approximately $4.5 billion [3] (1999 USD, $5.1 billion 2005 USD). Ten people in Myanmar were reported to have been killed by the tropical cyclone, while [9] another 20,000 families were left homeless. When Cyclone 05B reached its peak intensity of 912 mb, it became the most intense Tropical Cyclone of the North Indian Basin.

[1]

Mitigation
A tropical disturbance developed in the South China Sea in mid-to-late October. It tracked westward and organized itself enough to have the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) on October 23. But the system failed to organize itself any further in the Pacific, and the TCFA was cancelled. When the system reached the Andaman Sea on October 25, another TCFA was issued. Shortly after, the convective area consolidated, and it became Tropical Depression 5B on October 25 over theMalay Peninsula. The depression tracked northwestward under the influence of theSubtropical ridge to its north. Warm water temperatures and favorable upper level winds allowed further strengthening, and it became Tropical Storm 5B on October 26, [1] 210 miles (345 km) south-southwest of Yangon,Myanmar. The storm passed to the south of Myanmar and continued to strengthen, and intensified to a cyclone on the 27th in the open Bay of Bengal. On October 28, the cyclone rapidly intensified to a peak of 160 mph (260 km/h) winds, the equivalent of a Category 5 [1] hurricane. The system was the first storm to be given the new meteorological label [2] "super cyclonic storm" by the IMD. Just prior to its Indian landfall, the cyclone weakened slightly to a 155 mph (250 km/h) [3] cyclone with an estimated minimum central pressure of <912 mbar. On October 29, the cyclone hit the Indian state of Orissa near the city of Bhubaneswar. The ridge to the north blocked further inland movement, and the cyclone stalled about 30 miles (50 km) inland of the ocean. It slowly weakened, maintaining tropical storm strength as it drifted southward. The cyclone re-emerged into the Bay of Bengal on October 31, and dissipated on November 3 over the open waters.

Condition of People
Tens of thousands of families from the coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, and Ganjam were forced to evacuate their homes before the storm's arrival. More than 44,500 people took shelter in [4] twenty three Red Cross cyclone shelters.[1]. Cuttack and Khorda further inland were also severely affected

The arrival

On October 17th '99, the first cyclone struck Ganjam district with a wind speed of 180 kms per hour. This first cyclone, which lasted 6 hours, devastated large parts of Ganjam and Gajapati districts and affected a few mandals in Andhra Pradesh. The super-cyclone struck on October 29th with wind-speeds of 300 kms per hour and tidal waves rising 12 metres (30 to 40 feet) high. The area around Paradeep Port, bore the full brunt of the storm. Twelve districts were affected, the worst being Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada. Unlike most cyclones, which pass within 8 hours, this cyclone continued for 34 hours wrecking havoc in 40% of Orissa. By November 30th the entire region, including the state capital, Bhubaneshwar, was cut off from the rest of the world. The destruction can be imagined from the fact that even the state capital, which was 150 kms away from the centre of the storm was not able to restore power to all parts of the city even 11 days after the calamity. Twenty-four lakh hectares were inundated with water. both from the storm and tidal waves. And it was only a fortnight later, when the water began to recede, did the full impact of the holocaust begin to emerge. displaying lakhs of animal carcasses and thousands of bloated human bodies. Death, disease and destruction were all around. Wild dogs attacked the carcasses; politicians and bureaucrats, the relief money and goods. While the Paradeep port authority, with access to the high-tech warning systems, took all precautions well in advance, the masses were left stranded to face the full fury of the cyclone. The super-cyclone had given enough indication of its savage fury long before it struck. For four days the cyclone circulation lay in the Bay of Bengal acquiring monstrous proportions. The Indian Meteorological Department (I.M.D.), which has a separate division for cyclone warning, had sent out a warning to Orissa and West Bengal on the super-cyclone, 4 days in advance. The Doordarshan, though it broadcast warnings, it was in such technical language, that it could not be understood by the common people. Besides, the reports were conflicting. In fact on the very morning of October 29th, TV reports, quoting I.M.D. officials in Bhubaneshwar said the latest reports say that the cyclone, centred just 180 kms from south-east of Paradeep, has changed its path slightly and is heading for the West Bengal coast". Yet, within hours of this broadcast the cyclone struck Paradeep.

Condition of people during the cyclone

Millions of people remained homeless and over 20 thousand dead in the century's worst cyclone that ripped through coastal Orissa. Super-cyclone with winds 260-300 km/hour (hurricane category 5) hit the 90 mile coast of Orissa with a storm surge that created the Bay-of-Bengal water level 30 feet higher than normal. The water rushed violently to submerge the coastal areas including the port city of Paradip and areas within 30 km from the shore. The escaping water was 15 feet deep. Throughout the day of October 29th and in the complete darkness of the fateful night, the water (the sea water, the rain water and the flood water) rushing with its violent speed and monstrous wind with its devastating force played their most brutal mischief with thousands of helpless people. There was no kindness, no mercy, no food or drink, nobody to hear your cries and hunger. For many it was the ghost-town experience with the darkened sky roaring above pouring high speed rain water, the violent winds all around and inches and inches of muddy water below. Some closed their eyes forever and some who couldn't close their eyes, now can't see their future. At least 15 lakh (1.5 million) marooned and 25 lakh (2.5 million) houses have been estimated to be either totally destroyed or damaged in the coastal districts of Orissa. Gamang said ten districts suffered extensive damage with Kendrapara and Jagatsingpur bearing the brunt of the cyclone. A huge sheet of water covered almost entire Kendrapara and Jagatsingpur which were hit by ten-metre high tidal waves whipped by the gale packed with windspeed of 300 km per hour. As relief efforts get underway in India's cyclone-ravaged Orissa state, a grisly picture is emerging of the storm's death and destruction. While the official death toll has been put at 600, relief and government officials have estimated a much higher casualty figure. A senior army official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that the death toll could be between 10,000 and 20,000 -- a figure that would mark it as the deadliest cyclone ever to hit the storm-prone country since a 1971 cyclone killed 10,000. Relief officials have said the death toll could reach 5,000. Politicians and journalists touring the devastated state have reported seeing hundreds of bodies burned together in mass cremations throughout the damaged area. One local politician told reporters that he saw hundreds of carcasses floating in the street, and another official in Paradip told the BBC that some 500 people had died there alone. Thousands have lost their homes, livestock and rice fields to the relentless floods. And as officials struggle to bring food and fresh water to the survivors, it is feared that the death toll will continue to escalate. Millions have been stranded or left homeless in Orissa state. Photo courtesy of the BBC Vast areas of the disaster zone remain inaccessible after one of the most powerful super cyclones ever to strike India roared ashore from the Bay of Bengal Friday, slamming the coast with 160 mph winds and 30-foot tidal waves and washing away the mud homes of millions. After the severe weather abated Monday afternoon, relief helicopters finally lifted off to bring help to the millions left homeless and stranded by the floods. Helicopters dropped packets of protein-rich food and fresh water but were only able to reach thousands of the estimated 2 million people stranded along the 90-mile stretch of the northeastern coast. Communication difficulties, continued flooding and looting continue to hamper relief efforts, and officials fear that some people may die before help can arrive. Many already have gone four days without fresh water or food. Some desperate and hungry storm victims are trying to leave town as the main road inland is cleared of fallen trees by the military. Others stand along the highways waiting for packets of rice and water to be dropped from air force helicopters. Without food or water, officials fear that stranded cyclone victims will die of disease and hunger, adding to an already ghastly death toll. Some already are drinking contaminated water in the flooded streets. Red Cross officials said they are trying hard to get to cyclone shelters where thousands have been without food, fresh water or medicine. "It will be at least a week before relief will reach all parts of the state. By then many people would have died of hunger and diseases," Anadi Sadhu, a member of parliament from the state, told The Indian Express newspaper. There is also fear of water borne epidemics of cholera and gastro-enteritis. As the desperation grows, officials are preparing to deal with increased vandalism and lawlessness. Food riots erupted in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Orissa, which has had electricity, drinking water or food since the storm struck last Friday. Residents looted warehouses and vehicles carrying emergency supplies, the Press Trust of India reported. In the coastal town of Baleshwar, where women have reported being molested and looting is widespread, civil authorities asked the army to help restore order. A helicopter delivers food and water to cyclone victims. Photo courtesy of the BBC Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes was mobbed by crowds of desperate residents as his helicopter landed in the devastated port city of Paradip. "The experience in Paradip defies any kind of

description. There is utter chaos," Fernandes said. "There is complete breakdown of law and order. Police are inadequate." He said the houses of Paradip Port Trust officials had been ransacked and about 50,000 food aid packets had been looted. The whole state of Orissa is still without electricity, with many roads blocked with debris, fallen trees and downed power lines. Outside the coastal town of Baleshwar, hundreds of people huddled under plastic sheets along the roadside, waiting for packets of rice and water to be delivered by the army. In the densely populated area surrounding Baleshwar, at least 14 villages were totally submerged and 15,000 people were taking shelter in one public college building, said Asim Kumar Vaishnav, the senior administrator in the Baleshwar district. As many as 15 million people live in the stricken area and millions of them may be displaced.