As climate change fuels more intense storms, floods and heatwaves across Asia, countries from Bangladesh to the Philippines are confronting escalating risks. South Asia, home to nearly two billion people, remains one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions where the poorest communities often face the harshest impacts. The Bay of Bengal alone accounts for nearly 80 per cent of global cyclone-related deaths, making resilience-building not just urgent, but vital for survival.
In this context, Odisha has emerged as a global example of how preparedness, governance and community participation can turn tragedy into resilience. Once one of India’s most cyclone-affected states, Odisha transformation began after the devastating 1999 super cyclone, which claimed over 10,000 lives and exposed major gaps in early warning and relief mechanisms.
When Cyclone Phailin hit in 2013, Odisha evacuated more than one million people a remarkable feat that saved thousands of lives. Six years later, during Cyclone Fani in 2019, the state again faced widespread destruction, but fatalities remained under 100. These outcomes reflect a complete shift in disaster management from reactive response to proactive preparedness.
Building a Culture of Preparedness
The turning point came with the creation of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) in 2000. The state adopted a “zero casualty” policy, focusing on three pillars — early warning, resilient infrastructure, and community participation. Thousands of cyclone shelters were built across coastal districts, equipped with communication tools, food supplies and trained volunteers.
Odisha’s unique approach placed people, not just policy, at the heart of disaster management. Local self-governments, women’s groups and youth volunteers became integral to the preparedness system. Community drills, local committees and self-help groups ensured that evacuation plans were practical, trusted and swift. This “people-first” strategy transformed disaster management from a bureaucratic exercise into a grassroots movement.
lessons for Asia and Beyond
Odisha success provides critical lessons for other climate-vulnerable nations. It underscores that resilience is not achieved by technology alone but through trust, participation and local capacity.
Two lessons stand out clearly:
- Empowered local leadership: Local leaders and groups, with their knowledge of terrain and community networks, act as effective first responders. Their trust and coordination are key to saving lives during emergencies.
- Resilient infrastructure and rapid response: Early warning systems, robust shelters and trained response teams ensure faster evacuations and safer relief operations, reducing casualties even during severe cyclones.
A Shared Global Responsibility
Experts emphasize that Odisha model could serve as a blueprint for global resilience where local action meets international support. Governments play a leading role by funding infrastructure, setting “zero casualty” targets, and empowering local institutions. International organizations like UNDRR and ESCAP can scale these successes by supporting early warning systems, financing community programs, and promoting South-South knowledge exchange.
Meanwhile, the private sector can drive innovation from telecom networks that strengthen disaster communication to fintech solutions that deliver mobile-based relief payments and renewable energy systems that power cyclone shelters.
Beyond Borders, Toward a Resilient Future
Odisha’s evolution from devastation to preparedness shows that resilience is built over time through inclusive governance, deliberate reform and collective effort. As climate change continues to intensify disasters across Asia and the Pacific, the Odisha model proves that saving lives is not only about better technology, but about stronger communities.