Govt launches its website for disaster management

Chennai:17.08.2018

Against the backdrop of growing incidence of disaster, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday launched a web portal, www.tnsdma.gov.in, exclusively for disaster management. The government also signed a memorandum of understanding with Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) to provide training and disaster risk management strategies for government staff involved in disaster management.

The website, a comprehensive one, provides a wide range of services, including active alerts, helplines for each district, rainfall info, risk governance, policy and plan, capacity building, vulnerability assessment, awareness and programmes. Emergency contact numbers of various agencies are hosted on the website. “It provides a platform to people affected by disaster to upload the photographs and messages and get their problems highlighted. Monitored by the state-level officers, the district administration concerned will be communicated immediately for action for which they should register. Volunteers can also register their names,” revenue administration, disaster management and mitigation commissioner K Satyagopal said. Nongovernment organizations and first responders can also register.

Links are provided for weather updates, regional forecast, Chennai weather update and heavy rainfall warning from meteorology department, earthquake bulletin and tsunami early warning from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services. Along with Bangkok based ADPC, the state will provide a long-term training programme for government staff. Satyagopal said, “Final details are being worked out for programmes in Chennai and other districts. ADPC’s association is for a longer period to build capacity among staff.” TNN