Waiting for Irene

Update: Our area escaped only with some rain and some high winds. But 50 miles east another story. Baltimore and Northwest Washington DC had significant rain and winds and some damage to the houses. Overall, thank God, it was a bit merciful. At least 15 died due to Irene and the death toll may climb further.

The worst hurricane I read about was the Bhola cyclone that hit the then East Pakistan (presently Bangladesh) in Nov 1970 and West Bengal. In East Pakistan alone nearly 500,000 died and perhaps even more. In fact the apathy of the Govt of Pakistan in the disaster relief was one reason for the eruption of the Bangladesh crisis. In Nov 1977, the Andhra coast (Krishna and Gunturu districts) was hit by a massive cyclone in which nearly 15,000 or even more died with surges of nearly 20 feet. Even a memorial for the victims was built in Avanigadda. Actually, it is after this tragedy that the Indian Govt woke up and ordered high ground shelters to be built in coastal villages. Villages were simply washed away in this cyclone. Of course, the one I experienced was the hurricane Floyd in Sept 1999 that hit the East coast of the US. This was the costliest hurricane in the US then. I remember this very well because I travelled to Delhi the day after Nearly a million people were moved in Florida alone due to this.

Regards! - mOhana