Women Organize for Cyclone Relief

Description

Tamil Nadu, India- On December 29 and 30 2011, Cyclone Thane hit the coast of Tamil Nadu on the southeast tip of the Indian subcontinent, destroying livestock, livelihoods and lives with waves reaching heights of 1.5 meters (5 ft) and winds up to 135 km/h (83 mph).
Fortunately, grassroots women-- trained to reduce and cope with the impacts of natural disaster-- have been mobilizing to respond to such crisis situations. Their early alert system helped prevent casualties, their assessment visits provided logistical and moral support to affected communities and their interaction with authorities continues to facilitate the recovery process.