IOWave23: 32 Tsunami Prone Villages Across Six Coastal Districts of Odisha Participate In Tsunami Mock Exercise

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services is conducting the IOWave23 Tsunami Mock Exercise in 32 tsunami-prone villages across six coastal districts today. The focus areas include the swift channel of warning dissemination, pre-defined evacuation routes, evacuation duration, identification of safe shelters, shelter arrangements, etc.

As a part of the mock exercise, Tsunami early warning system of INCOIS will issue test Tsunami bulletins through various modes of communication channels to all its stakeholders at regional and national level.

The aim is to generate public Awareness on Tsunami Preparedness, Emergency communication procedures and systems to be strengthened, and Response Mechanism to remain in readiness to be revitalized. It will also augment the capacity of the government officials and other stakeholders for better response activities.

IOWave23 is being coordinated by Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) of Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)-UNESCO, and is aimed to fine-tune Tsunami preparedness, evaluate response capabilities in each state and improve coordination throughout the region.

All the Disaster Management Organisations (DMOs) of coastal States/Union Territories, Navy, Coast Guard, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), personnel from Critical Installations such as Nuclear Power Plants, Port and Harbours are also participating in the exercise.