Disaster Preparedeness

MISSION: Making Chennai a prepared city

Droughts
Chennai is more drought prone than flood prone, with water scarcity being a chronic stress. The city is currently facing severe and acute water shortage.
Cyclones & Floods
As a coastal city, subject to an annual cyclone season, Chennai has experienced 6 major flooding events since 1943. The 2015 floods were dubbed a man-made disaster as unplanned urbanisation and encroachments greatly exacerbated risks and losses.
Tsunami 2004
The entire state of Tamil Nadu was extensively damaged during the Boxing Day Tsunami, 2004, with significant loss of life.

Overview

Historically, Chennai has been disaster-prone, experiencing climate and non-climate related disasters. However, the frequency of disasters in Chennai—specifically, floods and droughts—has increased, and its impact on Chennai’s residents, economy and infrastructure is widespread. While integrated and proactive actions in planned urbanisation, a well-managed water system and collaborative urban governance can help prevent certain events, or at least minimise their intensity, Chennai must simultaneously prepare itself to face and tackle disasters when they do happen. Special attention needs to be given to vulnerable communities and small businesses, which typically tend to be most affected by disaster events.

Goal 3.1 Leverage data and technology to cope with disasters more efficiently.

Goal 3.2 Specifically address challenges faced by vulnerable groups living in disaster prone areas.

Goal 3.3 Support small and medium scale businesses through a combination of economic and non-economic measures to help them cope better with disasters.