Preparations[edit]

Amphan shortly after being classified as a depression on 16 May

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing a high-level meeting to review the response measures against cyclone Amphan, in New Delhi on

May 18, 2020.

Amphan's forecast track placed 38.9 million people in India and Bangladesh at risk of exposure to the storm's
winds, according to the US Pacific Disaster Center.[19] The formation of the precursor low-pressure system
prompted the IMD to issue a cyclonic alert for India's coastline along the Bay of Bengal, advising fishermen not to
sail to susceptible locations in the Bay of Bengal from 15 to 18 May.[20] Fishermen from Sri Lanka were also
advised by the national government to return to or remain in the country,[21] and additional maritime traffic
from Singapore and other countries were advised to remain clear of Amphan's vicinity.[22] Ships and aircraft of
the Indian Coast Guard directed fishing boats to harbour in coordination with the administrations and fisheries
departments of Odisha and West Bengal.[23] The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Chennai activated an
International Safety Net for the Bay of Bengal.[22] Ports were cleared and their operations suspended along the
Bay of Bengal, while ferry service along major routes in Bangladesh was suspended by the Bangladesh Inland
Water Transport Corporation.[24][25] Bangladeshi ports suspended the loading and unloading of goods onboard
ships.[26] Smaller vessels in the harbour at Chittagong were moved to safety upstream the Karnaphuli River.
[27]
 Ships were ordered out of some ports, such as the port of Paradip, to avoid damage.[28] Public works
departments were called upon by the government of Odisha to ensure infrastructure resiliency;[29] crews and
backup systems for electricity and telecommunications were deployed to meet these needs,
[30]
 establishing helplines for emergency response.[31] Rail and vehicular traffic in Odisha and West Bengal was
halted or rerouted.[32] The Shramik train service for migrant workers was halted in both states for up to four days,
with service expected to be curtailed in the storm's aftermath.[33][34][35][36] Other migrants travelling to Odisha were
asked to wait out the storm.[37] AC Express special trains operating routes between New
Delhi and Bhubaneswar were diverted to avoid the cyclone's effects.[38] Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International
Airport in Kolkata was closed until 21 May, with planes evacuating or chocked and the airport terminal roof
fortified to minimize damage.[39][40]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, Chief Minister of West
Bengal Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik and other officials on 18 May to review
preparations and evacuation plans.[41][42] Teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and National
Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were pre-positioned across districts in Odisha and West Bengal on 17 May to
assist in preparations for Amphan and render aid where necessary,[29][43][44] with additional units placed on standby;
[45]
 these units could be readily airlifted to affected areas onboard Indian Air Force transport aircraft.
[46]
 The National Disaster Management Authority advised that these crews and other first responders would also
need personal protective equipment and N95 masks due to the ongoing pandemic.[47] A diving team from
the Indian Navy was sent to Kolkata to aid relief efforts,[48] with ships from the navy placed on standby for relief
operations.[49]
The Bangladesh Cyclone Preparedness Programme and National Disaster Response Coordination Group
convened on 18 May to outline preparations for Amphan.[50] Several non-governmental agencies coordinated with
the Cyclone Preparedness Programme to support Rohingya refugees at camps in Cox's Bazar during Amphan.
  The Department of Public Health Engineering distributed sanitation supplies and set up 15 water treatment
[51]

plants.[52] All 32 Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar were staffed with relief volunteers.[53] Health services in
Bangladesh during the storm were reinforced by 1,933 medical teams distributed around Bangladesh.[54] Fifteen
thousand volunteers and 284 medical teams were prepared to render aid around Chittagong.[27] According
to Inter-Services Public Relations, 145 disaster management teams from the Bangladesh Armed Forces were
placed on standby with special equipment. The Bangladesh Army deployed 71 medical teams and arranged
18,400 packets and relief materials in preparation for Amphan's aftermath. Twenty-five ships were dispatched by
the Bangladesh Navy to handle emergency, rescue, and relief operations, with aerial support from
the Bangladesh Air Force.[55] The Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh advised coastal farmers to harvest all
mature paddy fields to mitigate the estimated loss of 12 percent of crop yield.[56] Seven thousand domestic
animals were also moved to shelter under the direction of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.[57]
An IMD yellow alert was active for 13 of Kerala's 14 districts on 18 May,[58] while an orange alert was issued by
the agency for West Bengal, anticipating extensive damage in six districts.[59] The Bangladesh Meteorological
Department issued cyclone danger signal #10, their highest warning, at the Port of Mongla and the Port of
Payra on 20 May, signifying "great danger" due to Amphan with winds expected to exceed 89 km/h (55 mph).
Signal #10 was also issued for eleven coastal districts, in addition to offshore islands and islands within
the Ganges Delta.[60] Flood and landslide warnings were issued by the Disaster Management Centre of Sri Lanka
on 19 May. Boats, helicopters, and crews were stationed by the Sri Lanka Air Force and Sri Lanka
Navy throughout the island to bolster emergency response.[61] Coastal provinces of Thailand along the Andaman
Sea were warned by the Thai Meteorological Department of the threat of heavy rain on 19 May.[62] Storm alerts
issued by the Thai Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation encompassed 62 provinces,
including Bangkok,[63] while warnings for flash floods, high waves, and landslides were issued for 14 provinces
in southern Thailand.[64] The National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology of Bhutan warned of the possibility of
flash flooding and landslides in the country.[65] The Bhutanese Department of Disaster Management advised
against travelling, particularly in southern Bhutan.[66]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Amphan