Ministry of Food and Disaster Management

Disaster Management Information Centre Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) Ministry of Food and Disaster Management Disaster Management and Relief Bhaban (6th Floor) 92-93 Mohakhali C/A, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh Phone: +88-02-9890937, Fax: +88-02-9890854

Email:[email protected],H [email protected]

Web:http://www.cdmp.org.bd,H www.dmb.gov.bd

Emergency Summary of Cyclonic Storm “AILA” Title:

Emergency Bangladesh Location: 20°22'N-26°36'N, 87°48'E-92°41'E,

Covering From: MON-25-MAY-2009:1115 Period: To: MON-25-MAY-2009:0345

Transmission Date/Time: MON-25-MAY-2009:0400

Prepared DMIC, DMB by:

Summary of Cyclonic Storm “AILA”

Current Situation

MARITIME PORT OF MONGLA HAS BEEN ADVISED TO KEEP HOISTED DANGER SIGNAL NO. SEVEN (R) SEVEN.

THE COASTAL DISTRICTS OF BHOLA, BARISAL, PATUAKHALI, BORGUNA, PIROZPUR, JHALOKATHI, BAGERHAT, KHULNA, SATKHIRA, JESSORE AND THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS WILL BE UNDER DANGER SIGNAL NO. SEVEN (R) SEVEN.

MARITIME PORTS OF CHITTAGONG AND COX’S BAZAR HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO KEEP HOISTED DANGER SIGNAL NO. SIX (R) SIX.

THE COASTAL DISTRICTS OF COX’S BAZAR, CHITTAGONG, NOAKHALI, FENI, LAXMIPUR, COMILLA, CHANDPUR AND THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS WILL BE UNDER DANGER SIGNAL NUMBER SIX (R) SIX. UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE STORM, THE COASTAL DISTRICTS OF KHULNA, BAGERHAT, BORGUNA, SATKHIRA, BARISAL, PATUAKHALI, BHOLA, PIROZPUR, JHALOKATHI, LAXMIPUR, NOAKHALI, FENI, CHANDPUR, CHITTAGONG, COX’S BAZAR, AND THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS ARE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE HEAVY/VERY HEAVY RAIN ACCOMPANIED BY SQUALLY WIND SPEED UP TO 90 KPH WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE STORM.

The Disaster Management Information Centre is the information hub of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management for risk reduction, hazard early warnings and emergency response and recovery activities Page 1 of 9 Actions Taken Government disaster management system has been activated and coordinating pre-impact preparedness. MoFDM, DMB, DRR have opened control room. Phone numbers are: 7162116, 7160454, 7164115, 8859634, Fax. Number: 7169623, 7174148. MoFDM ordered Deputy Commissioners and UNOs of coastal districts and upazillas to conduct disaster preparedness meeting for possible damage assessment due to cyclone. MoFDM has ordered volunteers of 32 upazillas of 11 coastal districts to be alerted in accordance with established operating procedures. DMIC has been activated and remains open round the clock to monitor and report on changing situations. Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) instructed the District Disaster Management Committees (DDMC) and Emergency Response Resources of coastal districts to stand by.

National Society Red Cross

BDRCS has alerted and mobilized CPP RCRC volunteers and staff. They are sharing the information bulletin through its radio network on hourly basis. An office order has been issued saying cancellation of all leaves of CPP staff is they are asked to be standby to respond any emergency situation. The CPP control room at NHQ has disseminating updates/bulletin received from the Met department and collecting local weather condition. At the moment, BDRCS is collecting info from local units regarding the situation there, while volunteers have been mobilized and hoisting flags at different cyclone shelters to warn people living in the vicinity, disseminating warning messages through mega phones while BDRCS is providing guidance in turn through VHF and HF radio networks. In the event the danger signal reaches 8 today evening, volunteers are ready to be mobilized to carry out evacuation operations and eventually Search and Rescue operations. The areas which are beyond the CPP command area in touch with the Relief department of BDRCS. The relief department has discussed with units to be more vigilant and requested to send info on regular basis. The finance department was asked to arrange cash, if required for emergency response and the transport department was asked to keep stand-by vehicles for going to the field. If the storm causes damage, BDRCS will provide Non-food packages and dry foods immediately to the affected; following the assessment of the damages, BDRCS will determine and provide services accordingly based on the needs identified of/by the affected people. Two assessment teams have been formed, comprising of BDRCS and Federation and two medical teams are kept standby.

The Disaster Management Information Centre is the information hub of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management for risk reduction, hazard early warnings and emergency response and recovery activities Page 2 of 9 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Bangladesh delegation The Federation Delegation conducted meeting with CPP and monitoring the situation closely. The Federation has attended the emergency coordination meeting of CPP and has advised to all RCRC Movement Partners to take necessary precautionary measures. Considering this emergency situation, Federation is preparing to release funds for the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) to ensure mobilization of volunteers and dissemination of warning messages using the required equipments.

WHO (Update from DGHS, MOHFW):

WHO, Bangladesh and DGHS, MOH&FW are monitoring the progress of cyclone ‘Aila’ jointly and the DGHS Control room at central and coastal districts have been made operational on 24/7 basis and all the Civil Surgeons of coastal districts have been directed to keep the medical teams at stand one position. While contacted, all the concerned Civil Surgeons mentioned that they have sufficient logistics to combat any immediate emergencies, if occurs following to the cyclone ‘Aila’. The Programme Manager, EHA & Assistant Director, Disaster, DGHS has advised all the EPR, Rapid Response Team at the district and Upazila levels to be fully alert and report of any situation that may arise from the cyclone. WHO talked with Control Room, Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) and updated them on health sector preparedness. The Control Room, DGHS informed to WHO BAN EHA program that all necessary steps have been taken to face the Cyclonic Storm ‘Aila’ and the following number of Medical team are activated for emergency medical service.

Muslim Aid Initial funds available with Finance of Tk. 1000,000 (one million). Around 100 staff and 200 volunteers ready to respond.

The Disaster Management Information Centre is the information hub of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management for risk reduction, hazard early warnings and emergency response and recovery activities Page 3 of 9 Special Weather Bulletin by Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) [http://www.bmd.gov.bd], Sl. No.: 14, Date: 25-05-2009, 15:30 BST

THE CYCLONIC STORM “AILA” (WITH ECP 987 HPA) OVER NORTH BAY MOVED NORTHWARDS AND ALREADY STARTED CROSSING THE WEST BENGAL-KHULNA (BANGLADESH) COAST AT 02 PM TODAY NEAR SAGAR ISLAND OF INDIA. IT IS LIKELY TO MOVE NORTHWARDS AND COMPLETE CROSSING THE COAST (WEST BENGAL-KHULNA COAST) DURING NEXT 04-06 HOURS. SEA WILL REMAIN VERY ROUGH.

MARITIME PORT OF MONGLA HAS BEEN ADVISED TO KEEP HOISTED DANGER SIGNAL NO. SEVEN (R) SEVEN.

MARITIME PORTS OF CHITTAGONG AND COX’S BAZAR HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO KEEP HOISTED DANGER SIGNAL NO. SIX (R) SIX.

THE LOW-LYING AREAS OF THE COASTAL DISTRICTS OF KHULNA, BAGERHAT, BORGUNA, SATKHIRA, BARISAL, PATUAKHALI, BHOLA, PIROZPUR, JHALOKATHI, LAXMIPUR, NOAKHALI, FENI, CHANDPUR, CHITTAGONG, COX’S BAZAR, AND THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS ARE LIKELY TO BE INUNDATED BY STORM SURGE OF HEIGHT 06-08 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ASTRONOMICAL TIDE.

ALL FISHING BOATS AND TRAWLERS OVER NORTH BAY HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO REMAIN IN SHELTER TILL FURTHER NOTICE

25,03UTC CS 25,00UTC CS 24,18UTC CS 24,12UTC CS 24,06UTC DD 24,00UTC D 23,21UTC D

23,09UTC D

Observed Track of Cyclonic Storm “AILA”

. [Source: Bangladesh Meteorological Department]

The Disaster Management Information Centre is the information hub of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management for risk reduction, hazard early warnings and emergency response and recovery activities Page 6 of 9 Figure 1: A graphic/map showing the position of the storm and its projected path using data current as of 20090524 12:00 GMT/UTC/Zulu time; equivalent to 18:00 Dhaka time

Tropical Storm Risk Bulletin on AILA:

Severe Cyclonic Storm AILA is forecast to strike land to the following likelihood(s) at the given lead time(s):

Red Alert Country(s) or Province(s) India probability for CAT 1 or above is 100% currently probability for TS is 100% currently Yellow Alert Country(s) or Province(s) Bangladesh probability for CAT 1 or above is 30% currently probability for TS is 95% currently Yellow Alert City(s) and Town(s) Kolkata (22.5 N, 88.3 E) probability for CAT 1 or above is 20% currently probability for TS is 90% currently Kharagpur (22.4 N, 87.4 E) probability for TS is 80% currently Rajshahi (24.4 N, 88.6 E) probability for TS is 70% within 12 hours

The Disaster Management Information Centre is the information hub of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management for risk reduction, hazard early warnings and emergency response and recovery activities Page 7 of 9 Jessore (23.2 N, 89.2 E) probability for TS is 70% within 12 hours Baleshwar (21.5 N, 87.0 E) probability for TS is 70% currently Khulna (22.9 N, 89.6 E) probability for TS is 60% within 12 hours Note that Red Alert (Severe) is CAT 1 or above to between 31% and 100% probability. Yellow Alert (Elevated) is CAT 1 or above to between 10% and 30% probability, or TS to above 50% probability. CAT 1 means Severe Cyclonic Storm strength winds of at least 74 mph, 119 km/h or 64 knots 1-min sustained. TS means Tropical Storm strength winds of at least 39 mph, 63 km/h or 34 knots 1-min sustained.

Figure 2: Current position (Source: http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com)

Note: Our next situation report will be issued as soon as we get the weather update.