‘State shows way in disaster management’

Addressing the media on the sidelines of a two-day disaster management, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, Udhayakumar said, “Tamil Nadu is the only State to involve community participation in disaster management by training first respondents during disaster relief. No where in the country there are first respondents; Tamil Nadu has shown the way for other States.”

Udhayakumar said that the HADR exercise was conducted to improve the skills of public and first respondents in handling disasters effectively, and would help re-examine the strategy adopted by the State government and the districts administrations on disaster management.

The exercise would also help them greatly in evaluating the readiness of the State in handling disasters and to identify the weaknesses, besides identifying the lapses in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), said Udhayakumar.

He added that a mock drill was already conducted to create awareness on the steps to be taken during tsunami and this exercise would help people understand about all the natural disasters. Whenever there are heavy rains or landslides, the State government gives priority to avoid human loss. This was evident when Cyclone Gaja wreaked havoc in the State but none of the fishermen who were fishing in the sea lost their lives, Udhayakumar pointed out.

The two-day HADR exercise conducted by Revenue and Disaster Management Department in association with Indian Navy concluded on Sunday. Public and students participated in large numbers and witnessed the drills conducted on Island Ground.